Understanding the challenges of deep corner kitchen cabinets
Many kitchens feature long deep corner cabinets lined with shelves and drawers. Although these cabinets provide a lot of storage space, they often become hard to organize and use. As a house owner and passionate cook, I have had the experience of reaching into the innermost part of these cabinets only to find items lost or forgotten somewhere in the darkness. Sometimes, even when reaching is not a problem, accessing the full extent of the space in the shelves, especially drawers, is more effort than the benefits allow.
And yet, with a clever kitchen design and some storage solutions that are a good fit for them, these deep corner cabinets can be made into productive and organized spaces where you can put away all your items. Knowing a bit more about the challenges they pose can help you find ways of making them work better and creating a more efficient kitchen environment.
With this storage guide for deep corner kitchen cabinets, we will explore unique and diverse solutions to utilize the deep space, maximize vertical space as well as consider the use of specific customized cabinet configurations to keep your kitchen ready to whip up delicious meals while also staying clutter-free.
Clever storage solutions for deep corner kitchen cabinets
Cabinets that sit on a side wall in the corner of a kitchen are a testament to the adage that everything has two sides. Whether or not they represent an ‘hour’ depends on what you put into them when they seem to be a ‘ditch’ and how you retrieve items that can feel akin to reaching into an ‘abysmal cavern’. Sometimes, a broad pantry shelf-size cabinet makes it relatively easy to organize and access everything. Other times, even if a cabinet’s footprint is compact, its shape and depth ultimately force you to work with what can quickly feel like a jumbled pile of ‘stuff’. (Is your mind pulsating with thoughts prompted by my choice of words? An hour, a ditch, an abysmal cavern…before Cabinets?) Reach and gather. Put away and put down. It is essential to carefully consider the tools you use to navigate these corners, especially about how they function.
Sure, the very best thing to do is to use vertical space within the cabinet, which means introducing shelves or racks and creating multiple levels in which to store items, so that as many of them are at a glance as possible.
Another nifty solution is to include a lazy Susan or rotating tray. These are standalone rotating trays you can insert at the back of a cabinet, which allow you to spin and access the stored item without reaching into the cabinet. Lazy Susans come in different sizes and configurations, so they can work for cabinets of various dimensions.
Those with deeper pockets can convert the corner cabinet into a pull-out shelf or drawer, which hides behind the front of the carousel, pushing out and gradually cantilevering over the corner to open up the entire cabinet. Once extended, the pull-out provides adjustable dividers and modular shelves to neatly organise and reveal a dazzling array of pots and pans.
Utilizing vertical space: Installing shelves or hooks in the corner cabinet
Deep corner kitchen cabinets offer the most storage space if you take advantage of the highest and farthest reaches, so don’t just let your vertical space go to waste. Installing shelving or hooks inside the cabinet can transform your deep corner storage into several levels of storage that you can see and access at a glance.
Shelves for the inside of the cabinet can be fixed or adjustable, and the distance between them can be determined by your storage needs. Taller items such as bottles or vases might require higher shelves or, even better, a built-in wine rack or stemware holder.
Hooks, for example, are a great way to hang pots, pans, or utensils so you can free up valuable shelf space. They can also be mounted onto the walls of the cabinet so that items used most often are no farther than a half-step away.
When you’re hanging shelves or hooks on your walls, use a material that matches the organization unit, such as wood or metal, to maintain a consistent design aesthetic. Moreover, make sure you fasten the shelves or hooks securely to avoid accidents or damage to your items.
Customizing your corner cabinet: Working with a professional to optimize storage
While self-made solutions might work, running down to the hardware store might also reveal that the best approach is to consult with a professional. With the case demand for maximizing storage in deep corner units for kitchen and stainless steel cabinets, cabinet makers and designers have tools that enable them to maximize the potential of your corner kitchen cabinets.
You could, for example, have a built-in lazy Susan or rotating tray installed. Such rotating platforms can be custom-made to fit directly into your pre-existing cabinet design, allowing you to easily turn and retrieve items stored in the corner, without having to reach into the back.
Another is to make the cabinet deeper and then install pull-out shelves or drawers that slide out from the opening along the rails. The bottom of the shelves or drawers is designed to be just low enough to clear the back of the cabinet so that all the space is accessible. Customizable dividers and compartments are useful for organizing your items so that they are all accounted for.
What’s more, with a professional, you have the opportunity to consider clever storage solutions that might not be accessible in the big-box shops, such as custom inventory dividers or inserts, to store the spices you buy at the market, a handy knife block, shoe racks or even hiding places for valuables.
Yes, bespoke kitchen solutions might be more expensive initially, but they’re an investment in the long-term – and your deep corner kitchen cupboards will work harder for you as a result.
Alternative storage options for small kitchens without corner cabinets
Not all kitchens have the luxury of deep corner cabinets. People with small-like kitchens or limited cabinet spaces have to think outside the box and find other ways to utilize every nook and cranny in their kitchens..
One solution is to build in a freestanding pantry or cupboard, which is a standalone unit that fits into a corner or against a wall with extra shelving and storage space to stash dry foods, appliances, or cookware.
Hanging shelves or racks can be a godsend for a small kitchen, making it easy to add more storage shelf space above countertops or in empty corners to house spices, cookbooks, or decorations.
For those needing something more mobile, rolling carts or islands are an ideal solution. You can easily wheel them into a central location as needed, and pull away again when they are no longer needed. These handy, moveable units offer great extra storage and counter space, and you should aim to find ones with multiple shelves or drawers for storage.
Also, if you don’t use your existing cabinets optimally, by investing in stackable boxes drawer organizers, or shelf risers, then you are not sending any kitchen signs.
Conclusion: Finding the best solution for your kitchen storage needs
Understanding the control points that deep corner kitchen cabinets present and taking advantage of these will help you turn them into usable storage units.
Vertical space utilization – either with shelves or hooks – as well as customized solutions such as lazy Susans or pull-out shelves are either always a feasible option, or something that you should keep in mind depending on your kitchen requirements and the specific configuration of your kitchen.
After all, there is nothing like an organized kitchen to increase efficiency and enhance the enjoyment and stresslessness of cooking. Armed with the methods in this article, you’ll be on your way to a kitchen that maximizes free space while retaining every inch of jar, nook, and clip.
Find you’re not using the storage potential of deep corner kitchen cabinets? Why not consult a cabinet maker like OPPEIN? They’ll take into account the arrangement of your home, your and your family’s unique needs and might be able to come up with solutions you’d never otherwise have thought possible.
