Double your kitchen storage without renovating
by Tabitha Sukhai, FOLIO: Top Women in Media honoree, Digital Content Innovator of the Year, and All-Around Cool Lady | All photos: Amazon.com
Every year for 12 years without fail, kitchen storage upgrades would begin to spike at ThisOldHouse.com before the Thanksgiving holiday. As people began to stock up on more canned pie fillings than they could ever possibly need for a single dinner, it dawned on them that they needed a place to put it all. So, I figure if “Christmas in July” posts are already starting to hit the social-media feeds of magazine editors everywhere, I can at least give you folks a head start on getting ready for Thanksgiving, lol. #ThinkAhead
For most of us, putting in a pantry is out of reach, BUT here are some easy ways to upgrade your existing cabinetry without breaking the bank.
Note: Shop using the product links below and support your local neighborhood Tabitha!
More to note: I’m noticing that after I publish things, Amazon prices go up incrementally as a result. I’M SORRY ABOUT THIS. It sucks and, you know, Amazon is Amazon (don’t get me started). But it’s where most online shoppers shop and you can find everything there, so that’s why I’m using their affiliate links…if it helps AT ALL, just know that by using the links in this post to shop, you are supporting independent media and helping to keep Fave Faves alive. Big love to you, and thank you!
Rev-A-Shelf 4WP18–57-KIT 4WP Series 57" Swing Out Complete Tall/Pantry
Once upon a time, there was a version of this for lower base cabinets available on Amazon (I’m all about maximizing use of base cabinets, which are “hard on the back” to get into, and as a result NO ONE USES ALL OF THE SPACE THEY HAVE TO OFFER, but we’ll get back to that later). This here is the ALPHA and the OMEGA of kitchen goals for me. I’ve never been into the idea of a full-on pantry (a small ROOM or large closet just for storing food; I guess being a Native New Yorker conditioned me to do more with less space). But, this is somewhere between “just a small cabinet” and “a large closet.” It’s “just right.”
Meant for installation into larger stock cabinets ( 36" full height base cabinets, to be exact) the slim shelving units in this kit make use of the space behind cabinet doors while inner shelves slide effortlessly out of place (piano hinges!) to reveal your original deep shelving. It’s downright magical.
Seems there’s “only one” set of these (Width: 25.75" x Height: 57" x Depth: 7.5" x Minimum Opening Width: 25.875" x Minimum Opening Height: 57.125" x Minimum Opening Depth: 7.75") left on Amazon, but if you want to explore other dimensions with Rev-A-Shelf directly I would call that “WORTH IT.”
In the meantime, I’m going to feature some additional photos of this kit because I love it and because it adds a whooping 28 additional shelves to your stock cabinets (if you happen to have 36" full height base cabs in your kitchen). #ProTip: This is also great to order and stockpile for a future reno, where you can have your contractor install cabinets to accommodate this feature.
$844.99 with FREE shipping or $794.99 upon approval for an Amazon Rewards Visa Card, amazon.com
Ok, now on to a few other low-key ideas because I realize the solution above is a splurge:
As kitchen storage goes, there are a couple of infamous pains in the necks (ha): tupperware, pot lids, etc. Here’s a solution for pot lids and cutting boards that I enjoy:
Lynk Professional Roll Out Pan Lid Holder and Pull Out Kitchen Cabinet Organizer
This rack-on-tracks slides the contents of your cabinet out to you so that you can actually see what-all you’ve got in there! Imagine a future where pot lids aren’t crashing out of your cabinets at you. Delightful, right. GET YOURS!
Rev-A-Shelf Small Cabinet Door Mount Wood 3-Shelf Spice Rack
If you couldn’t tell, I am a big fan of using doors for vertical storage. Especially in small kitchens, you wanna make the most of what you’ve got and even the smallest kitchen has a cabinet door. (If your kitchen doesn’t have cabinets or doors, then oh boy, we have to chat about other things because you have rights as a tenant in NYC no matter what your landlord says…sorry, back to the product) GET YOURS!
Moving right along…
I, not unlike alot of people my age, I have a multigenerational family home (and, yes, I also throw in on an apartment in Brooklyn because “sanity” and “convenience” for “working”). Anyway, shared freezers can get out of control. My dad always needs to have ice cubes on hand, Sam loves Pizza Bites, I love Ben & Jerry’s Boom Chocolatta! Cookie Core…there’s just a lot going on.
I think a lot of people overlook adding shelves to the big box that is your fridge’s freezer, and instead just opt for piling stuff into the space. This is a cool solution for meal planners:
Inmyel Freezer Cube, A system to freeze and store homemade ready to heat-and-eat meals
And, these are some basic, stackable plastic shelves ($19.99, amazon.com) that will withstand cold temps.
Next up, plumbing under the sink might make the space hard to optimize but thank goodness there are people on the planet who are smarter than I am and actually solve real problems because check this out:
madesmart Expandable Undersink Shelf Organizer
That pipe isn’t getting in anyone’s way with this modular shelving! These can be arranged to fit just about any configuration, allowing you to make the most of that dark, dank space under your sink. Isn’t that just beautiful? You can check out the Reviews section at the bottom of the Amazon product page to see some real-world customer images of the product out in the wild. GET YOURS!
Hm, I went over and looked at my apartment’s kitchen and here are a couple of storage ideas I’ve got in play:
These no-drill-needed hooks are secured to my cabinet shelves for coffee mugs, opening up the shelves themselves for “unhangables” like plates a bowls. GET YOURS!
Em & Lee Wire Photo Grid Panel-Wall Storage
When you’re short on space, go vertical. So try to utilize cabinet doors and walls. It’s amazing what you can do with an affordable metal grid and some “S” hooks, let me tell ya. This handy kit comes with mounting hardware and accessories included, and #ProTip: You don’t HAVE to use it in the kitchen. Think of creative ways to use this solution in your dorm room, home office, whatever…GET YOURS!
Now, these final selections don’t “add” space so much as optimize it:
Copco 2555–0190 Non-Skid Pantry Cabinet Lazy Susan
Without these in my wall-hung (upper)cabinets, I would need a stepping stool to access the items in the back of the cabinet. But, by plopping this on the shelf I can just rotate to bring bottles from “the back” into view. GET YOURS!
Lynk Professional 401421 Organizer Pull Out Under Cabinet Sliding Shelf
Similarly, for cavernous base cabinets, you can pull “stuff in the back” to the front with these sliders. GET YOURS!
YOUR TURN: Got some kitchen storage hacks of your own? Share ‘em in the comments below!
