Kitchen Storage

Choosing the right kitchen storage

Space management has never been so important when planning a new kitchen, so choosing the right storage options will be at the very top of the list of things you and your designer will want to consider.

Considered and accessible storage is crucial to an ergonomic design. For many of us, the kitchen is the hub of the home – a central meeting point where the family comes together at the end of the day – so it's important to create a well-organised space that is not only a pleasure to use but also assists our increasingly busy lifestyles.

Take a walk around your current kitchen and think about what works and what doesn't. Where should things ideally be placed for a better flow? It makes sense to keep plates near the dishwasher for easy unloading, baking trays close to the oven for cooking and condiments beside the hob for instant seasoning. These are all things that can be put in place once you begin to plan your new kitchen.

Here are some of the main areas to consider when planning kitchen storage:

Space Management

With the growing trend towards open plan kitchens, where the cooking and preparation areas extend into a living and/or dining space, it's more important than ever to get your storage sorted. As the kitchen area is always on show, you want a sleek, seamless finish with clutter concealed from view. In a family kitchen, for instance, an area to hide away books and toys may need to be integrated in the kitchen, or if the kitchen doubles up as a home office storage may be required for files and stationery.

Zone In

Start by breaking the kitchen down into different zones for different activities – prepping, cooking, washing, dining, relaxing and even working – and you'll soon see that your storage has to work even harder to maximise the space available and the efficiency of each area.

Think about all the items you need storage solutions for, from food preparation and eating to relaxing, doing homework with the children and catching up on paperwork, the kitchen has to accommodate everything from dry ingredients and fresh foods to crockery and cookware, right through to stationery, laptops, DVDs and children's toys if you have an open plan scheme.

Pantries

Modern day pantries are the perfect solution for dried foods and tea and coffee canisters, which would otherwise take up valuable worktop space. Double door larders and breakfast cupboards can even be used to house the toaster, coffee machine and condiments with cold marble or granite surfaces perfect for pastry rolling.

Larders and Pull-Out

Kitchen larders are making a major comeback with a recent surge in popularity following the growing trend to ‘eat in'. As more of us cook and entertain at home, there has been an increase in the demand for dedicated food storage.

Equipped with anti-slip shelves, effortless action and soft-close doors and drawers, the focus is on easy access and efficient ergonomics. There are pull out larders, tandem larders and swing larders to choose from depending on your kitchen size, shape and style.

Corner Storage Solutions

There's no excuse to lose any space in a corner cabinet, as there is a wide variety of clever solutions for both base and wall units. Curved cabinets and worktops are one of the latest trends in kitchen design, especially for island units, so a bespoke corner system can be created to suit.

Surface Value

When it comes to worktop level, there are plenty of ways to make it work. Tambour roller shutters can be used to conceal a small shelving unit where small appliances and accessories can be hidden from view. Splashbacks can be teamed with hanging rails for utensils while traditional kitchens with a pilaster either side of the chimney breast can incorporate neat spice cabinets while still retaining the character of the room.

Re-use and Recycle

Now it's even easier to sort your paper from your plastic with a pull out recycling bin with different compartments for different waste. Look for a generous capacity and colour coded lids for ease of use.