Maximizing Storage in a Small Kitchen: Expert Tips from a Designer

That question seems to be the most asked question online these days. As a former kitchen designer with 20 years of experience as well as 25 years of experience designing sinks, I have come up with some solutions. 

• When designing your kitchen, try to stay away from small cabinets, with the exception of a tray cabinet near the sink. For example; every time you add a cabinet to a run, you lose valuable space between each cabinet. So, instead of using (2) 24" cabinets, use one 48" cabinet. 

• Don't worry so much about symmetry. Storage is more valuable. That's not to say, throw symmetry out the window. Simply give it a lower value as you design your kitchen. 

• Select a cabinet brand that maximizes the shelves in a lazy susan cabinet. Some brands make 33" and 36" lazy susans, but use the shelving for a 33" lazy susan in the 36" version. That is a huge waste of storage. I have found a 36" lazy susan can store a great deal of pots, pans, and lids. 

• Try not to use drawer bases smaller than 18" wide. By the time you take into consideration the lost space, the drawers become almost unusable. 

• Consider frameless, full overlay cabinets. Frameless cabinets have slightly more usable room in the cabinet than standard cabinetry. Stay away from inset doors, as they reduce the depth of the cabinets by the thickness of the door. 

• Try to design an 18" wide (or wider) and 12" deep tall pantry. The storage is easy to reach, and the pantry will hold a great deal of food prep items. 24" deep pantries waste valuable space as they often exchange visibility for rollout shelves that offer far less storage. 

• Lastly, consider putting your trash storage under the sink. You will need a sink that is not much deeper than 8" while having a rear corner drain. Examples are shown below. 

Dual, full-sized trash pullouts fit under most of Rachiele Custom Sinks