If you’re thinking about remodeling your kitchen, a fresh set of cabinets are probably on your mind. After taking a look at our latest cabinet post, you may already know exactly what you want your cabinets to look like – yay! However, the decision making doesn’t end there (unless, of course, you want them to! Going bells-and-whistles-free is also a-okay!). When it comes to customizing your kitchen cabinets, there are some really great possibilities to maximize on your functionality. Take a look at a few of them below!

THE SUPER SUSAN and other corner cabinet inserts

Corner cabinets have to be done well, or they are a huge waste of space in your kitchen. A classic solution is to install a Lazy Susan in your corner. Of course, if you’ve experienced a Lazy Susan you may have lazy Susan PTSD. Cheap ones are made of thin plastic that warps when loaded with heavy dishes or pots, they don’t turn smoothly, and things tend to fall off the back into the corner, nearly impossible to recover with that big metal pole in the way. Ergh.

Well Susan got a makeover and now looks better than ever! Super Susans are the most cost effective and efficient way to fill any corner in your kitchen. The trays are made out of wood, the wood shelf goes all the way into the corner so things don’t fall off, and that metal bar is gone! Instead, the tray rests on metal ball bearings, allowing it to glide and spin easily!

There are a few different variations on the Super Susan you might consider:

Pie Cut: This will look the most like your traditional Lazy Susan. The shelves spin in a circular motion and you can even opt for Chrome Rails (middle photo) or Bin Deep trays (right). 

          

 

The Not So Lazy Susan: If you’re tired of stacking and unstacking your pots and pans to get to the pan that gives you perfect sunny side up eggs, take a look at the “Not So Lazy Susan”! You can easily rotate your pots and pans to find the ones that you need, without the clanging or stacking! A “Not So Lazy Susan” also helps organize your lids by sliding the pot handle through the lid handle allowing them to hang together!

      

 

Alternatives to Lazy Susans

If you don’t want (or can’t fit) a Lazy Susan, then you can look at other corner cabinet options.

Corner Cabinet Pull Out: If you have a blind corner cabinet, you might not want to have to dig out the flashlight and crawl on your hands and knees to retrieve things from the dark recesses. Instead, consider a pull out like the ones pictured below. These have a higher price tag than the Susans, but the engineering is awesome!

          

Corner Drawers: Another fun way to use that corner storage is with corner drawers. Not every cabinet company can provide this option (of the cabinet companies that we frequently source, Sollera is the only one that will accommodate a corner drawer), and do note that it leaves a fair amount of your corner space unused. Also note that they will be your most expensive option when it comes to filling those corners. But they look great, give you extra drawer storage, and bring everything out to your fingertips!

                            

 

OTHER AWESOME FUNCTIONAL PULLOUTS

Aside from corners, the other area where you can really see a huge functional return on your investment are cabinets that are 18”-24” deep (especially if they are also narrow!). Unless you have a ton of large appliances or huge pots and pans, deep storage is just a place where dry goods, spices, and Tupperware go to die. Adding a pullout to your deep cabinetry is a great way to keep all your storage accessible and therefore useful! Pullouts come in all widths and heights to so you can really customize your space as needed.

Pantry Pullout: Pantry pullouts usually come in 12”, 15” or 18” widths (although a number of companies (another shout out to Sollera) will customize the dimensions that work best in your space). A pantry pullout will generally be 60” tall, leaving room for a cabinet above for extra storage (they don’t tend to go taller since the process of pulling out storage can move stuff around, and they don’t want to be responsible for stuff falling on your head). The vertical pullout (see image) is especially great for narrow spaces – even 3” of width can offer amazing storage – think of all your spices or bottles of oil or vinegar!! (See examples of vertical (left) and horizontal (right) pullouts below.)

                           

 

Spice Pullout: Speaking of spices, do you have a spice rack taking up too much room on the counter, or are frustrated finding what you need when they are crammed together on a cabinet shelf? A 3” or 6” spice pullout, or a shallow drawer organizer, might just be the answer to your spice organizing needs. Spice racks tend to be pretty easy to build into a cabinetry plan and typically are placed near your stove for easy access while cooking. If you have a cooktop, the extra space that’s usually taken up by an oven may also be an excellent space for a spice drawer!

                              

Trash & Recycling Pullout: For those who want to stick their trash and recycling bins behind closed doors instead of out in the open, a trash pullout is a perfect solution! These can either be configured “single-file” style or side by side! Most of our clients have smaller kitchens so we opt for an 18” wide trash pull out with the front-to-back bin combo.

                        

SHEET DIVIDERS

Cookie sheet dividers are not just for cookie sheets – they are also super for organizing muffin tins and cutting boards too, and one of the best uses you can make of a wide and deep cabinet like the one over your fridge! Dividers range from ready-made wire versions, like this one from the Container Store, to customized plywood inserts.

          

When it’s time to update your kitchen, whether that is with some small off-the-shelf updates or a full kitchen remodel, think through *your* personal cooking habits and make sure that your new space will work *for* you, not against you. But beware the seduction of the sexy cabinet pullouts. They can easily double the price of your cabinet package, so choose wisely and avoid the ones that look cool, but may not really help you use your kitchen more effectively. You want to be able to afford your kitchen remodel *and* the groceries to cook with when it’s done. 😉 Ready to talk with a design pro about how to make the most of your kitchen storage? We’d love to help in a virtual Design Helpline! 

 

May your home always be happy, and your cabinets well organized!