FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter Instagram Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Subscribe

In every issue you'll find...

  • Expert insights on techniques and principles
  • Unbiased tool reviews
  • Step-by-step details to master the job
  • Field-tested advice and know-how
Subscribe Now!
Subscribe
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
  • Join
  • Log In
Subscribe
Design

Off-the-Shelf Kitchen Storage

A buyer’s guide to what to put into your cabinets to get the most out of them.

By Debra Judge Silber Issue 207

Synopsis: If you need to wring the most functionality out of a kitchen whose storage capacity is about equal to that of the average linen closet, then you’re ready to start exploring the world of aftermarket storage options. Writer Debra Judge Silber set out to find the most sensible “off-the-shelf” solutions for kitchen challenges: blind corners, high shelves, undersink cabinets, food storage, appliance garages, cookware corrals, and trash-bin keepers. Good kitchen storage is not about fancy gadgets; it’s about finding the simplest tools for keeping just what you need right where you need it. And there’s no shortage of products on the market to do just that.

If I could’ve squeezed just one more cabinet into my kitchen when we remodeled, believe me, I would’ve done it. But a kitchen isn’t terribly useful if you don’t leave enough room between countertops to enter and exit, and not terribly pleasant if you obstruct every view with a plywood box, no matter how important it is to have every saucepan at your fingertips.

Fortunately, it’s not the number of cabinets but what they hold that counts. That’s good news not just for me and for my small kitchen, but also for anyone who needs to wring the most functionality out of a kitchen whose storage capacity is about equal to that of the average linen closet.

Unless you’re a carpenter with time to spare (or someone who knows a carpenter with time to spare), maximizing kitchen storage space usually comes down to buying the right manufactured solution. In a perfect world, that’s done when the cabinets are installed. But what if you’re dealing with a previous homeowner’s cabinet configuration? Or if you’ve tapped out both your budget and your creativity just getting your own new cabinets into your kitchen? In cases like these, you’re likely to start exploring the world of aftermarket storage options.

Manufactured storage solutions can be found in home centers (order the better ones through the kitchen department) and, to a greater extent, through online dealers. The choices are so wide, in fact, that finding the right solution may seem as hopeless as rummaging for a lost lid in the dark recesses of a blind corner. For this article, I set out to find the most sensible “off-the-shelf” solutions for what I consider primary kitchen-storage challenges. In terms of space, that means blind corners, high shelves, and undersink cabinets. In terms of specific items that defy convenient storage solutions, that would be food, small appliances, trash and recycling bins, and (my own nemesis) cookware.

In my search, not only did I exploit my own battles with kitchen chaos, but I also consulted designers and architects to find what solutions they rely on and recommend to their clients. Their choices were notably consistent, particularly with regard to the two biggest players in the storage game: Häfele and Rev-A-Shelf. Both brands not only supply cabinetmakers with internal storage features but also offer many of the same solutions to be installed after the fact. But beware: You will pay for quality. In some cases, the storage components you add will cost as much as the cabinet itself. Also, prices vary widely especially online. It pays to shop around.

In the end, good kitchen storage is not about fancy gadgets; it’s about finding the simplest tools for keeping just what you need right where you need it. And there’s no shortage of products on the market to do just that.

Prices listed in this article are street price: what you’re likely to pay based on a review of online and local retailers. Pictured products have been identified by manufacturer and series number.

For more photos and a breakdown of kitchen storage options, click the View PDF button below. 

Sign up for eletters today and get the latest how-to from Fine Homebuilding, plus special offers.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters
×

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters
View PDF

New Feature

Fine Homebuilding Forums

Ask questions, offer advice, and share your work

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Sign up Log in

Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

Up Next

Video Shorts

Featured Story

Modern and Geometric Home in New England

Comprised of three simple, triangular forms, this minimalist Vermont house is infused with character and culture.

Featured Video

Video: Build a Fireplace, Brick by Brick

Get an overview of the process of creating a traditional-style fireplace that burns well and meets current building codes from experienced mason Mike Mehaffey.

Related Stories

  • Mobile Kitchen Island on Furniture Glides
  • Removable Fence for Remodeling Access
  • Editorial Note: A Helping Hand
  • Beth Pointer, Owner, Done Construction

Discussion Forum

Recent Posts and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
View More Create Post

Highlights

Fine Homebuilding All Access
Fine Homebuilding Podcast
Tool Tech
Plus, get an extra 20% off with code GIFT20

"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Video

View All
  • How to Design and Assemble Rustic Oak Kitchen-Island Brackets
  • Podcast Episode 183: Work Trucks, Workshops, and Painting Brick
  • Podcast Episode 125 — French Doors, Kitchen Remodels, and the Gamification of Home Building.
  • Podcast Episode 109: Favorite Articles From the FHB Vault
View All

Kitchens

View All Kitchens Articles
  • Beth Pointer
    Beth Pointer, Owner, Done Construction
  • tip-proof island
    Tip-Proof Kitchen Island on a Concrete Floor
  • Close up image of the valve fittings
    Valve Fittings With Individual Shut-off Capabilities
  • White cabinet with vario track lighting system
    Track Lighting for Functional Ambiance in Busy Spaces
View All Kitchens Articles

BOOKS, DVDs, & MERCH

Shop the Store
  • 2022 Fine Homebuilding Archive
    Buy Now
  • Code Check Building 4th Edition
    Buy Now
  • Pretty Good House
    Buy Now
  • 2023 Tool Guide
    Buy Now
  • Shop the Store

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 313 - Feb/March 2023
    • Practical System for a Seismic Retrofit
    • Fine Homebuilding Issue #313 Online Highlights
    • Practical System for a Seismic Retrofit
  • Issue 312 - Dec 2022/Jan 2023
    • Tool Test: Cordless Tablesaws
    • Gray-Water System for a Sustainable Home
    • Insulate a Cape Roof to Avoid Ice Dams
  • Issue 311 - November 2022
    • 7 Steps to a Perfect Exterior Paint Job
    • Options for Smarter Home-Energy Tracking
    • The Fine Homebuilding Interview: James Metoyer
  • Issue 310 - October 2022
    • Choosing a Tile-Leveling System
    • Choosing Between HRVs and ERVs
    • Custom Built-in Cabinets Made Easy
  • Issue 309 - Aug/Sept 2022
    • 10 Steps to Install Crown Molding on Cabinets
    • How to Get Sturdy Walls Without OSB
    • Choosing the Right Construction Tape for the Job

Fine Homebuilding

Follow

  • twitter
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • pinterest

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Membership & Magazine

  • Online Archive
  • Start Free Trial
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Magazine Renewal
  • Gift a Subscription
  • Customer Support
  • Privacy Preferences

Taunton Network

  • Green Building Advisor
  • Fine Woodworking
  • Fine Gardening
  • Threads
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Copyright
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map
  • Do not sell or share my information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • California Privacy Rights

© 2023 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved.

X
X
This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

Main Menu

  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Video
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Reader Projects
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Popular Topics

  • Kitchens
  • Business
  • Bedrooms
  • Roofs
  • Architecture and Design
  • Green Building
  • Decks
  • Framing
  • Safety
  • Remodeling
  • Bathrooms
  • Windows
  • Tilework
  • Ceilings
  • HVAC

Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Magazine Index
  • Subscribe
  • Online Archive
  • Author Guidelines

All Access

  • Member Home
  • Start Free Trial
  • Gift Membership

Shop the Store

  • Books
  • DVDs
  • Taunton Workshops

More

  • FHB Ambassadors
  • Reader Projects
  • Podcast
  • Customer Support

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Follow

  • twitter
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • pinterest

Join All Access

Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

Start Your Free Trial

Subscribe

FHB Magazine

Start your subscription today and save up to 70%

Subscribe

We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

Start your FREE trial

Already a member? Log in