Kitchen Storage

Kitchen Storage Buying Guide

Do you know how much stuff you’ve got in your kitchen? Cutlery of different sizes, crockery, apron cabinets, groceries and much, much more. 

A kitchen is - hands down - the most function-oriented space in your home. This makes it imperative to keep it as organized as possible. Kitchen storage is one of the most important things to invest in; you need proper compartmentalization for every single thing that you have there. This brings us to…

Types Of Kitchen Storage

Since kitchen storage pans such a diverse amount of things, it’s important that you categorize this stuff for better understanding.

Built-in storage

This consists of all the cabinetry that makes up the face of the kitchen. Some people go for prefabricated cabinets that are much cheaper and quite readily available in the market. They just need to be outfitted within the space. Others prefer customized carpentry. These cabinets are much more nuanced and complement the layout of any kitchen perfectly. Their interior compartments are also personalized to suit the owner’s needs, which make them the best option for storage and organization.

Pantry

While most homes don’t have the spare real-estate to have a walk-in pantry anymore, designers have come up with tall pull-out cabinets that allow you to store things in a neat and organized way. They’re slim, smart, and easily integrate within the existing built-in cabinetry in your kitchens.

Miscellaneous items

These consists of small items where you can keep various things neatly compartmentalized. You can easily buy them from anywhere. They consist of boxes, tiered baskets, adjustable wire shelves, and more. They help add extra storage space within the kitchen without adding to the clutter. 

Maximizing Storage Space In A Small Kitchen

We live in a world that is extremely short on real-estate – so much so, that small kitchens have become quite the trend. But no matter how stylish a kitchen is, you can never use it properly if it isn’t entirely functional. This especially refers to storage, which is extremely challenging to emulate in an already small space.

Fortunately, there are a number of ways through which you can add some extra storage to your small kitchens. These include the use of miscellaneous items that were mentioned before. If you’re wondering which ones will optimize your kitchens the best, here’s a handy list:

Narrow storage carts

These slim-fit carts are the most space-friendly kitchen storage accessory. This is mostly because they’re tall and tiered, so you can easily organize all your things without mixing them up. What’s even better is that they can be put against the corner of a room and take up very little space. This keeps the kitchen looking spacious and organized at the same time. The best part? They’re extremely durable and, so they last for a long time.

Movable kitchen islands

Not everyone can afford a luxurious stone clad kitchen island, but you can easily add some flair and some extra storage to your kitchens with a portable island. They’re multi-tiered, have casters for easy maneuverability, have drawers and shelves for best organization, and can be easily moved around when you feel like the space is getting too cluttered. Since they’re available in unique styles, they’re perfect for adding a decorative vibe to the kitchen space.

Slide-out organizers

Whether it’s the lid of your dutch oven, wok, trays, cutting board, or bake ware, slide-out organizers are the perfect way to keep them compartmentalized and within easy reach. They help keep the counter space fresh-looking and extremely neat. They’re especially great for kitchens that don’t have many cabinets or are short on counter space.

Slide-out cabinet baskets

Cabinet hardware is the most surefire way to increase your kitchen storage capacity. There are so many of these and each one has something new to offer. Some are perfect for compartmentalizing plates and other crockery items, while others are customized for cutlery or heavy-duty utensils. Many of these slide-out cabinet hardware optimize the unusable nooks and crannies in the cabinet that are extremely hard to reach. They’re easy to pull out and close. They don’t cause any hassle and make your small-kitchens feel extremely efficient.

Turntable organizers

You know those small miscellaneous items that take up the space by your sink? They can be easily organized if you’ve got the right turntable. Their round form consists of several compartments where you can keep the dish-soap, washer, sponge, and other such items in a well-organized way. This kind of kitchen storage may be small, but it makes a huge impact on the overall cleanliness of the space.

Wine bottle racks

Not everybody can have their own personal wine cellar, but don’t worry – affordable wine bottle racks are an amazing way to display and store your lovely reds and whites in the kitchen. A multi-tiered rack like this can be easily featured against an empty wall without taking too much space at all. With easy assembly and some regular care, it can last you a few years.

Small but impactful things like these are a great way to make your kitchen storage as user-friendly and ergonomic as possible. It’s exactly what you might need to complement a small space with less coverage and more oomph.

Buying Kitchen Storage Paraphernalia

The things used to enhance kitchen storage are generally quite easily available. However, choosing which one you need requires some careful thought. Some of these things – especially the slip-out drawer and cabinet hardware – have to be brought one by one so that you don’t bust your budget. Furthermore, you have to ensure that the dimensions of these pieces suit the size of your existing kitchen cabinetry. If both are not compatible with each other, you’re simply wasting your money.

As far as tiered shelves and racks are concerned, you must first appraise the overall capacity of your kitchen. Only buy these if you think you have enough space or are positive that you can make some. Corner racks can be easily put in the kitchen. But large racks and movable islands are another story. Although they complement small and medium sized kitchens quite nicely, you have to make sure that there’s enough empty space in your kitchen to accommodate them in a fashionable and visually pleasant way.

Ideal Materials For Kitchen Storage Items

The materials for your kitchen storage paraphernalia depend on what you’re going to use them for. They can easily be categorized into 3 genres:

Racks and hardware

Any kind of a storage rack and hardware has to be as sturdy as you can make it, which is why the preferred material for them is chrome plated industrial grade steel. This not only ensures easy maintenance and excellent load bearing capacity, but also long lasting durability.

Condiment containers

Condiment containers can either be made out of glass or plastic. If you live in a home with a growing family and naughty children, then it’s best to go with plastic because it will reduce the chances of breakage. But if you live the single life and want to take a greener path to your kitchen storage, then glass is also a great option.

Cabinets and movable islands

Larger and more stylistic additions to kitchen storage definitely require great structuring, and wood is an excellent material for that. Moveable islands, small cabinets, and the like should be made from wood or metal to ensure longevity.

Kitchen Storage Checklist

The most important thing to remember while buying kitchen storage hardware is the load bearing capacity.

• First, you have to figure out what you’re going to be storing inside of them.
• Calculate the estimated load of whatever it is you want to put on each hardware tray, drawer, or cabinet pullout system. 
• Check the product description; you’ll find that more often than not, the estimated load bearing capacity of these products is listed in the description. It will help you a lot while making your purchase.