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When buying cabinets for a remodeling or when upgrading existing cabinets, make full use of today’s improved hardware and smart organizational features.
Specialty storage solutions make the most of your cabinet space, allowing access to high shelves and providing room for everything from recyclables to root vegetables.
SMARTtip
Pare Down
Get rid of what you don’t use. Do the lobster pot or second waffle iron you got as a wedding present need to be stored in the kitchen? Do you ever plan on using that big pressure cooker? In many kitchens, as much as half the available space is gobbled up by dishware and cookware that is used rarely or not at all. Unnecessary duplication can also cause kitchen crowding. You may need two or even three saucepans, but you don’t need five. And do you really need to have three dozen mugs? Keep only the ones you prefer to use, and donate the rest to Goodwill or the Salvation Army.
A corner space is one that is typically difficult to use because of limited access. This angled shelves-and-drawer detail is just one solution offered by cabinet manufacturers.
Pullout bins and shelves, along with improved lazy Susans, bring stored items into view—and make them more accessible, too.
Think Size Before You Buy
Don’t buy bigger than you need. Careful selection of coffee makers, toasters, and wine racks can make the difference between ample and inadequate counter space. Similarly, bulky food packaging— especially when it comes to snack foods—can contribute to an overcrowded cabinet or refrigerator. When possible, avoid buying individual-size packages because the packaging-to-contents ratio is high.
Downsizing large appliances can make an even bigger difference when it comes to getting the most from the space you have. Many manufacturers, inspired by trends in Europe, offer compact ranges, fridges, freezers, ovens, and dishwashers. Multipurpose appliances offer space-conserving opportunities as well. Smart refrigerators are available with touch screens that help keep you organized and entertained. (See “Smart Fridges,” page 200.) A convection microwave oven cooks in either mode, making a dedicated microwave redundant in many cases. An over-the-range microwave, combined with a range hood, is another space-conserving combo. There are even under-counter combination washer/dryers.
Split refrigeration allows you to use prime kitchen space more efficiently. Put the fridge near all the action and put the less-frequented freezer on the outskirts. Use the free space you’ve created for items you need for meal preparation.
Compact and multipurpose countertop appliances, such as this combination processor-blendermixer, can save space, too.
SMARTtip
Save Money and Space
Buy nonperishable items and paper goods in bulk, but store only enough for a week or two in the kitchen. Put the rest on utility shelves in a basement, garage, or storage room. When you run low in the kitchen, replenish.
Dishwashers come in many sizes, including this compact 18-inch (45cm) unit. Buy the size that fits your needs, and you’ll conserve space and energy.
Cooktops, such as this compact five-burner unit, offer another way to put storage where you need it. Think how nice it would be to have your pots and pans organized in deep drawers right where you need them.
Appliances that Store
Refrigerators, walk-in pantries, and refrigerated wine cellars were made for storage. It may not be as evident, however, that other appliances present storage opportunities. Your range probably has a storage drawer at the bottom or along the side. It’s usually big enough for keeping broiling and roasting pans. Look above the range, too. Some range hoods include built-in warming shelves and racks that keep needed utensils close at hand. Having two dishwashers has also gained favor in one- or two-person households. Put the plates, bowls, glasses, and flatware you use daily in one of the dishwashers; run a load; take the items out as you need them; and put them in the other dishwasher when they’re dirty again. The dual dishwashers do double-duty: washing and storing.
An appliance’s main function is to do its job, but some have built-in storage, too. This coffeemaker has a warming drawer that keeps cups where you need them.
SMARTtip
Space-Saving Containers
When space is tight, use stackable square or rectangular containers on counters and shelves and in the fridge because they take up less space than round ones and are easier to keep organized than plastic bags. Seek out containers that nest or collapse when not in use. Use rectangular baskets and other containers to store small items on shelves. They store compactly, and you can quickly pull them down to the countertop, where it’s a lot easier to find what you’re looking for.
Collapsible silicone colanders can help you conserve storage space—and are a colorful change from stainless steel. Where space is tight, consider similar space-saving products, including collapsible measuring cups.
SMARTtip
Jettison Bulky Packaging
Upon buying space-gobbling items, such as family-size bags of chips, repackage them in appropriate containers or bags. They’ll consume less space and stay fresher. In the case of frozen meats, you’ll be able to defrost just what you need and no more. Caution: observe strict sanitary practices when repacking meats and poultry to keep from introducing bacteria as you handle them.
The range shown here includes pullouts and drawers to keep cookware handy. Some range hoods, washers, dryers, and barbecue grills also offer storage.
Accessibility Is Key
Just as important as using all available space is making sure that what you store is easily accessible. Your storage solutions may be sized correctly and located exactly in the work area where you’ll need them, but if they’re hard to get to, they will not qualify as optimal. There are several simple rules for avoiding such problems.
Always put items back in their proper place. Otherwise, you’ll spend half your time searching for the right tool