From unusable corners to an excess of hard-to-store gadgets, there are plenty of reasons why your kitchen storage might not be at the top of its game. Whether your kitchen is large or small, modern or well-used, there are many ways in which you can push your kitchen to work even harder with some neat storage solutions.
Read on for some of the best unusual kitchen storage ideas from Property Price Advice.
Pegboards
Utilise some blank wall space and put up a pegboard. Great for hanging oddly-shaped utensils and saucepans, a pegboard is a flexible, changeable kitchen storage solution that you can adapt to suit your needs. From a long thin strip on the wall to a large hanging rectangle, you can cut your pegboard to any size and shape.
Traditionally brown and plain, you can paint yours to suit your kitchen or add a pop of colour. Add chevrons, polka-dots, or another modern pattern to turn yours into a piece of artwork, ensuring that it’s as cool as it is functional!
Carousels
Anyone considering the best kitchen storage ideas for their space has probably come up against the biggest problem of them all – the corner where two cupboards meet. While many homeowners have to dig around to access anything that’s stored here, another solution is to install a carousel.
Two smaller doors – or one with hinges in the middle – open up to reveal a large, spinning ‘plate’, often made of metal wire or plastic, which rotates on a metal pole. This means you can easily access anything you put on the carousel, such as tins and bottles, without having to blindly feel for them – just rotate and choose.
Glass Jars
When it comes to the smaller things, glass jars are your friend. Smart, modern, and highly practical, they present a wonderful opportunity for you to get rid of all those unsightly cereal boxes, pasta packets, and boxes of tea. Displaying dry consumables in glass jars not only adds a homely feel to your kitchen, they can free up cupboard space too.
Glass jars are particularly flexible kitchen storage solutions – use shorter ones to keep your cutlery organised, or store spatulas and other utensils within easy reach.
Magnetic strips
You can hang a magnetic strip just about anywhere. Inexpensive, easy to install, and highly practical, a strong magnetic strip can hold knives, metal spice jars, utensils and more. Put it within easy reach of the cooker so you can grab things as they’re needed, or make a display of your brightly-coloured herbs to add ‘wow’ to your kitchen.
Under-shelf hanging
It would be a shame to only use shelves one way. As well as stacking useful items on top, make use of the space below, particularly on the bottom of a set of floating shelves.
Attaching a set of hooks gives you instant kitchen storage space for hanging handy, commonly used items, including utensils, garlic bags, and kitchen timers. Or, for extra space to keep herbs and spices, take some pretty screw-top jars and carefully glue the lids to the underside of a shelf. When you need something just unscrew the jar for easy access.
Hidden bin and recycling boxes
If you’ve got any cupboard room spare, stow away your bin to clear up floor space and make your kitchen appear cleaner and tidier. Attach your bin to the inside of a cupboard door for easy access, and use the space around it to store cleaning materials and other non-consumable items.
Nobody likes the sight of recycling piling up in the corner, so consider using a large drawer for the purpose. Use dividers or colour-coded removable boxes to help make sorting easier, too.
Get dedicated saucepan storage
Saucepans – you can’t live without them, but no matter how you nest them, their long handles take up more than their fair share of kitchen storage space. You can make life a lot easier by creating a dedicated saucepan storage unit, making each one far more accessible and minimising the amount of wasted room.
One option is to buy a pull-out saucepan storage rack – you can hang your saucepans in a line and slide the rack out from the top of your cupboard when required. Get rid of loose saucepan lids by attaching a second, thin rack, or even just a couple of poles, to the insides of your cupboard doors. Your lids will slot right in, and the handles will keep them in place.
Alternatively, hang your saucepans higher up with some sturdy hooks – unused spaces, such as above the window, are a particularly good choice.
Utilise old furniture
If you’re going for a kitchen redesign, you don’t necessarily need to buy new units in order to find quirky, stylish kitchen storage solutions. An old cabinet, sanded and painted in a colour you love, is the perfect shabby-chic way to display plates and other much-loved crockery.
If you’re up for the challenge, look for unusual pieces of furniture that you can use and make your own. A beautiful old storage chest, for example, can be padded on the top and used as a breakfast bench in a cosy nook – and you’ll be able to use it to store your less commonly used items there, too.
Free-standing shelving
The boldest kitchen storage ideas involve showing off what you’ve got. If you have the space, a free-standing shelving unit is the perfect way to create a focal point in your kitchen. Think beyond open wooden shelves and explore the hundreds of options currently on sale – think round, cast iron ‘wow’ pieces for stacking plates and dishes, minimalist wire cages on wheels for a functional feel, and glass shelves that help bounce light around the room. There really is something for every design theme, so get thinking and find the perfect one for you.
Fake cupboard spaces
Almost any kitchen with pre-made shelving units and cupboards has the same thing – a couple of decorative ‘drawers’ or wood panels that don’t open.
View these as an opportunity to create some real space and store unsightly but well-used items. Put hinges on the bottom of wood panels by the sink, creating a fold-out space to store the sponge and washing-up liquid, or anything else you don’t particularly want on show. Your kitchen will instantly appear neater, and you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that you’ve made the most out of every last inch of space. After all, as well as making your life easier, a well-equipped, smart kitchen can help you get what your house is worth if you decide to relocate!
Do you have any unusual kitchen storage ideas you’d love to share? Let us know how you’ve made the most of your space!