Kitchen Storage Ideas

 Kitchens are known as the heart of the home, and here at Housebuild, we know you may need some storage ideas that look good in your kitchen but are also functional. 

Kitchen shelving comes in many forms, and we want to help inspire you to design a stylish solution to any storage problems you might have. 

Take a look at our list of storage ideas below and choose what will best fit your home and help you to reach that balance of practicality and style. 

1.

Mirrored Panels

 

Using mirrored panels on the wall at the back of your shelving will open up the kitchen space. If you’re worried about keeping the surface clean, use antiques mirrored glass so that fingerprints and smudges won’t be an issue. 

If you want your shelving to have doors, mirrored cabinet doors will keep your storage neat and tidy while still creating a brighter and larger space. 

If you only have one section of mirrored storage, display your glassware here. This will work well as natural light will pass through the glass and further exaggerate the openness and lightness of you cabinet space. 

2.

Decorative Storage

 

For decorative purposes, ditch the doors on your cabinets. Not everything needs to be hidden away and this can open up the look and feel of your kitchen. It is a perfect excuse to show off your favourite crockery or keep your most used items in your vision so that you never forget where you put things. 

Floating shelves are always popular in homes and work particularly well in the kitchen. These shelves will create a stylish element to your space while keeping your countertops decluttered – trendy and practical! Put the shelves up just above eye level so that you can see and reach everything you need without the risk of dropping your dishes. 

You may find cabinets classier than open shelves and want to stick to that. Get the best of both worlds with an open wall cabinet. The design can be the same style as the rest of your kitchen, but you will still get the chance to show off your dishes and have your day-to-day items at hand. 

3.

Wall to Wall Shelving

 

Wall to wall storage is ideal for those of you that have a lot of clutter and need a lot of space. 

This design idea turns storage into a stylish feature and optimises the space in your kitchen by using space from one corner of the wall to the other. This is a clever way of using as much space as possible to declutter your kitchen without taking up floor space with cabinets. 

Wall to wall shelving works with open, floating shelves as well as with classic cabinets so you don’t need to give up your preferred style for optimum storage space. 

 

4.

Kitchen Island

 

Shelving isn’t just for walls. Filling one side of an island with open shelves in the same material as wall cabinets is a great way to bring colour and interest to your kitchen scheme. 

Shelving is not just for walls - islands are built-in storage spaces in the middle of your kitchen! Once again, add open shelves or closed cabinets to your kitchen island to create storage optimisation. 

Save counter space with a built in microwave or dishwasher but keep in mind that your island will need electrical outlets. You could also incorporate less obvious storage spaces like a spice or wine rack, which will maintain less clutter in your other shelving units. 

Another idea to optimise your space would be to include overhead storage and hang pans and other utensils over the centre of your kitchen island. Just be careful the hooks or whatever extensions you use are carefully and safely hung. 

 

5.

Collector’s Corner

 

Shelving doesn’t always have to be practical; it can be used to display your favourite crockery and other items in your home. 

You may have a collection of China plates or colourful mugs that you only take out on special occasions but want to display all year round. Having a collector’s corner means you can enjoy your collection and don’t have to hide your favourite items away in a cabinet. 

Since this space isn’t necessarily used for practicality daily, you could incorporate some ornaments or other décor into your shelving units to dress up your kitchen. 

Keep in mind that with this type of shelving, you will be required to dust and clean the space frequently, especially if it doesn’t get used often. 

 

6.

Pop of Colour

 

We often play it safe regarding colour in our kitchens. This is because it is the one room in your home that you are least likely to makeover. Kitchens usually last at least 5 years without being renovated so it’s easier to choose a classic neutral colour scheme. 

However, you may want to add some colour into your kitchen and doing so with a display cabinet is the perfect approach. Add personality to your kitchen with a bold colour such as yellow or green on your kitchen shelves. 

You may opt for a colour or design that is trending and may not be around forever but the great thing about incorporating a pop of colour is that there is no need to redesign the whole room when your taste changes. You can repaint your kitchen cabinet to another bold colour or a more neutral tone if you feel like you need a change sometime in the future but for now, appreciate the energy and vibrancy that comes from a colourful cabinet. 

7.

Keep your Storage Hidden

 

If you don’t like the look of open shelving and don’t want your cabinets permanently on display, we have some handy tricks on how to disguise your storage. 

Use a streamlined door to hide your storage in order to access everything efficiently. You could paint the doors the same colour as the rest of the room so that they mimic the walls and remain unnoticeable. 

Using a full length door to hide your storage also means you can make use of shelving from floor-to-ceiling. This provides a lot of storage space and means you can make the most out of this feature. 

8.

Keep it Simple

 

Your shelving units don’t have to be the most stylish part of your kitchen. Some of you might only be interested in using shelves for practical reasons. 

A single shelf may be enough for you to add storage and a visual element without overpowering or clashing with the rest of the kitchen. 

If you need extra storage but still want it to remain quite toned down, use several shelves in the same colour as your cabinets or wall. The units will blend in with the rest of the room and still be useful. 

 

9.

Shelving & Splashback

 

Placing your shelving units against a splashback creates a stunning backdrop for the items you decide to display. This space will be multi-purposeful as the splashback will protect your kitchen from stains as well as providing an aesthetic element to the room. 

Having a shelf on the top of your splashback divides the space, giving the effect of a longer wall. While there is space for more than one shelf, adding more will ruin this effect and the area may appear smaller and cluttered. 

If you are looking for a lot of storage space, this design may not be for you as you do not want to over pack your single shelf and hide the design of the splashback. 

10.

Reclaimed Wood

 

For a country-style or more rustic kitchen, reclaimed wood could be the perfect material for your shelving units. This rural look will add character and warmth to your space in contrast to a modern, cool toned kitchen. 

Use reclaimed wood for your shelves or if you’re handy with a hammer, you could build your own display unit. Think carefully about the thickness of each shelf. The best options are the chunkiest pieces of wood as they give a strong and confident appearance. 

Wood is a wonderful material as no two pieces will be the same. This adds to the personality of your homely kitchen and will ensure that your home is unique to you.