When approaching the center of creation and innovation, there is no reason the kitchen should stop at food. With the kitchen being the heart of the home, the center of gatherings, and the place of the most frequent quality time, we urge you to think not outside the box, but rather inside of the kitchen because the possibilities are endless. Read to find out how you can implement these simple, yet innovative ways to better enjoy your kitchen, home, and everyday life!

Helpful Ways to Better Utilize your Kitchen Space and Storage

Cooking

The most obvious functional role of a kitchen is something that feeds the heart, soul…and of course, the stomach. Structuring your kitchen around your living style is important when considering if you have the need to feed yourself, a partner, or a family. Do you have enough cabinets and storage to hold food, utensils, and work efficiently with kitchen appliances? Are you constantly running back and forth while cooking simple meals? Is it easy to access your refrigerator, sink, trash, and cooking space while preparing food?

All of these are important questions that may affect the efficiency of your cooking while in the kitchen and may also impact the way in which your kitchen appears to guests – possibly (but hopefully not) cluttered, small, or disorganized. A simple fix to this problem may not be an entire renovation, but rather a reorganization of key kitchen tools and items that will help you create a more natural and efficient triangular work pattern.

Social

From hosting events and gatherings to just having a normal dinner-for-two, the kitchen has always been a place to gather and talk. In fact, it is so common that many households tend to not only have the traditional-style dining room table, but also additional seating around a bar-style counter (peninsula) or kitchen island to encourage a more interactive and social setting. As a byproduct of cooking, what better way to pass time while waiting for that roast to cook than to talk it over with a loved one?

Cabinets

This option may not be the most money-savvy option, but it is worth every cent in satisfaction and return on investment! It is important that the functionality and utility of your kitchen is high, but it is also important that your kitchen is aesthetically pleasing and suits your personality. Cabinets have the ability to make or break a kitchen when it comes to both of the above-mentioned considerations. Many times, the functionality is uniquely worked into the kitchen based on cabinet selection and design. It assists in simplifying complex floor plans and creating an efficient kitchen work triangle between appliances and surfaces while also transforming unoccupied spaces into discrete utility.

How do I know if I have enough/too many cabinets?

Too many cabinets can cause an open kitchen to feel cozier than need be, but just the right amount can make the room pop. On the opposite spectrum, too little cabinets decrease both open and hidden storage space and can make your kitchen feel empty or cluttered with kitchen ware/tools/appliances.

Generally, cabinets can be distinguished as lower or upper, depending on where they are located. From the ground, lower and base cabinets provide the framework for the floor plan with the ability to naturally fit among appliances. There is flexibility in lower cabinet utility ranging from drawers and shelves to the more elegant lazy Susan and rolling shelves. The space between the lower and upper cabinets is considered surface space or work space for cooking purposes. From the lower cabinets, much of the countertop space and height will be determined. Simple ways to increase that space is with peninsulas, kitchen islands, or island carts.

The upper cabinets ranging from small and fitted to tall and open have the largest impact on the perception of the kitchen. Usually these are located near eye height and will likely be noticed before the lower or base cabinets. In smaller kitchens, opting for open faced shelves or open-faced cabinets have the ability to show off décor and promote openness within the kitchen. This is counter intuitive to hidden storage space and having tall upper cabinets, which is not a bad thing by any means, but rather a preference that is usually better suited for medium sized and larger kitchens. If you are someone that has a lot of kitchen tools and appliances and doesn’t like them sitting freely, choosing more and taller upper cabinets may be a better option. Also, due to wall cabinets variety and popularity, choosing small but unique wall cabinets (such as frosted glass face) may give your kitchen the “pop” it so desperately needs. Here at UR Cabinets, we are not only willing to help you make your dream kitchen come to life, but we are willing to do it in any way possible by including you in the step-by-step measuring, designing, and installation processes.

Listed below are some options and storage opportunities that have been driving trends in kitchen renovation and helping others live more comfortably:

• Rolling Shelves

Rolling shelves have been increasingly popular due to their simple, yet organized nature. More often than not, they are made to be ‘non-slamming,’ so you don’t have to worry about whether or not everything will be in the same place the next time you pull the shelf out. These are most prevalent in tall pantry cabinets and in lower base cabinets.

• Hidden Utility/Appliance Garages

Hidden utility, or also known as utility garages, are very popular among modern and contemporary kitchens for their notorious sleek and smooth design – hence the ‘hidden.’ The term hidden comes from the seamless structure when surrounded by additional cabinets or appliances. 

• Drawers

The revolution of cabinet drawers peaked at the ‘self-closing’ and ‘no-slam’ innovations…or so we thought. The development of corner drawers is an efficient way to increase storage space while maximizing utility by taking the typically unused corners of the kitchens and gives them purpose.

• Pot Racks and Mug Hangers

 For the more eclectic or ‘chic’ style, this is a way to quickly embrace a transitional style of kitchen. It promotes the open display similar to that of a modern kitchen but epitomizes the rustic and cozy feeling of a farmhouse kitchen. If you’re looking for an option that doesn’t require spending money, this would be the best choice. It truly creates organization without displacing or hiding necessary kitchen items. 

• Lazy Susan

 Let us first start by saying that modern Susan is anything but lazy. It has transformed from the original ‘lazy waiter’ that sat in the center of so many dining room tables into an elegant and multi-functional device that has been implemented into so many different kitchen structures. Currently, the most popular uses of the lazy Susan have been in corners and tight fitting places that can double as a pull-out or stationary element that maximizes storage space and accessibility.  

• & More

Where there is a so called ‘problem,’ there are often many solutions. Whichever way you are trying to better enjoy or portray your kitchen space, keep in mind that the options are endless. The only reason a space in your kitchen isn’t being used is, well, YOU. With an open mind and given the opportunity, feel free to ask us (UR Cabinets) ways in which you may be able to maximize your kitchen functionality. Whether it is a small or large job, we are willing to work with you every step of the way in order to make sure you not only love your kitchen but love your home too.

Feel free to ask how we could transform your bathroom or other rooms as well!