Interior Design
11 Ways to Hack Your Cabinets to Make Them Work Harder
Learn how to squeeze more out of your cabinets with these tips
We all know the importance of plenty of storage, but, left untamed, finding what you actually need inside a packed-to-the-gunwales cabinet can become a bit of a trial. Check out these ideas for maximising every last inch of space while maintaining order inside.
2. Bring order with baskets
More flexible than extra fitted shelves or cubbyholes, a set of matching baskets is useful in a cabinet that houses lots of smaller bits and bobs. Go for a style with handles like these to make lifting them in and out a breeze.
More flexible than extra fitted shelves or cubbyholes, a set of matching baskets is useful in a cabinet that houses lots of smaller bits and bobs. Go for a style with handles like these to make lifting them in and out a breeze.
3. Add drawers inside a kid’s cabinet
Young children are small and, guess what, so are their clothes. While they’re still knee-high, make the most of cabinet space by putting a set of drawers inside (if they’re freestanding, don’t forget to fix them to the wall so a child can’t pull them over).
This maximises the whole cabinet and makes little pants, socks and T-shirts much easier to find.
Young children are small and, guess what, so are their clothes. While they’re still knee-high, make the most of cabinet space by putting a set of drawers inside (if they’re freestanding, don’t forget to fix them to the wall so a child can’t pull them over).
This maximises the whole cabinet and makes little pants, socks and T-shirts much easier to find.
4. Raise the plates
Lots of storage specialists sell freestanding shelves like these that go inside a cabinet to help organise heavy items, such as crockery or tins. They raise up any items at the back of the cabinet so they can be seen, and also make it much easier to lift things in and out without having to grapple with the whole perilous pile.
Make your kitchen storage efficient
Lots of storage specialists sell freestanding shelves like these that go inside a cabinet to help organise heavy items, such as crockery or tins. They raise up any items at the back of the cabinet so they can be seen, and also make it much easier to lift things in and out without having to grapple with the whole perilous pile.
Make your kitchen storage efficient
5. Refit a corner cabinet
A pull-out racking system like this brings order to a corner cabinet, which can become a magnet for teetering stacks of pots and pans.
There are lots of designs like this available from kitchen manufacturers (search online for pull-out pan storage) that allow you to access your cookware without risking an avalanche every time you open the door.
A pull-out racking system like this brings order to a corner cabinet, which can become a magnet for teetering stacks of pots and pans.
There are lots of designs like this available from kitchen manufacturers (search online for pull-out pan storage) that allow you to access your cookware without risking an avalanche every time you open the door.
6. Remember the ironing board
If your kitchen or laundry area has a full-length cabinet, slot in a slim partition to store the ironing board. This should prevent everything from crashing down, domino style, every time you get it out.
Another neat idea here is the hanging rail to store clothes that have been ironed before they make their way back to their respective wardrobes.
If your kitchen or laundry area has a full-length cabinet, slot in a slim partition to store the ironing board. This should prevent everything from crashing down, domino style, every time you get it out.
Another neat idea here is the hanging rail to store clothes that have been ironed before they make their way back to their respective wardrobes.
7. Divide the space
Chopping boards, baking trays, roasting tins and racks can be very cumbersome to get in and out of a cabinet. Stack them neatly with a simple four-way divider (or two-way, depending on the size of your cabinet). No more swearing under your breath when you’re trying to wrestle out a muffin tin…
Chopping boards, baking trays, roasting tins and racks can be very cumbersome to get in and out of a cabinet. Stack them neatly with a simple four-way divider (or two-way, depending on the size of your cabinet). No more swearing under your breath when you’re trying to wrestle out a muffin tin…
8. Hang a mirror inside the door
If mirrored wardrobes aren’t your thing and you’ve no wall space for a full-length looking glass, make use of the inside of the wardrobe door and hang one there instead. Factor in some internal lighting, too, and you’ve got your own mini dressing room. Sorted.
If mirrored wardrobes aren’t your thing and you’ve no wall space for a full-length looking glass, make use of the inside of the wardrobe door and hang one there instead. Factor in some internal lighting, too, and you’ve got your own mini dressing room. Sorted.
9. Fix mini racks for jars
Slimline racks fitted to the inside of a cabinet door are ideal for spices and other small items. Not only do they make the most of any potential ‘dead’ space just inside the door, they also mean small jars don’t get lost in the depths of the cabinet.
15 flavour-filled storage ideas for herbs and spices
Slimline racks fitted to the inside of a cabinet door are ideal for spices and other small items. Not only do they make the most of any potential ‘dead’ space just inside the door, they also mean small jars don’t get lost in the depths of the cabinet.
15 flavour-filled storage ideas for herbs and spices
10. Put hooks inside doors
Simple but very useful, a few hooks glued or screwed on the inside of a cabinet door provide valuable extra storage for slim items. Or hang a canvas bag on a hook inside for clothes pegs, spare cutlery, paperwork – whatever will fit in the space.
Simple but very useful, a few hooks glued or screwed on the inside of a cabinet door provide valuable extra storage for slim items. Or hang a canvas bag on a hook inside for clothes pegs, spare cutlery, paperwork – whatever will fit in the space.
11. Pull out your pans
A row of hooks on a pull-out rack is another clever solution for pan storage. Ask a carpenter about installing something like this, and make sure you factor in the weight of your cookware.
TELL US
What do you think of these cabinet ideas? Share your ideas in the Comments section.
A row of hooks on a pull-out rack is another clever solution for pan storage. Ask a carpenter about installing something like this, and make sure you factor in the weight of your cookware.
TELL US
What do you think of these cabinet ideas? Share your ideas in the Comments section.
Avoid shoe-mageddon with a line of rails, fixed down the length of a cabinet, behind which footwear can be slotted, toes down. In the other cabinet in this picture, the combination of hooks and boxes provides lots of storage for coats, hats and scarves.
Make an entrance with thoughtful shoe storage