Kitchen Storage - Overview.
Kitchen storage is something everyone needs and everyone loves a kitchen that has adequate storage, is easy to access, well designed, and appropriately placed. There are plenty of options available ranging from cabinets, hooks, containers, racks, rails, bins, trolleys, etc. to keep your kitchen completely clutter free, while allotting the right space for all your items.
At the time of selecting the ideal storage solutions there are many features to consider in your decision making process. In fact, the best time to plan your kitchen storage is while you make the kitchen floor plan. But this is not always feasible, so the next best thing is to take stock of what you keep in your kitchen and also list the items you would like to add. Often, just because kitchen storage is not planned, we tend to store away stuff that we would actually like to display and use, like say, a favorite crystal set.
This necessitates making a complete estimate of current usage of space so that you decide on your new storage with accessibility and convenience in mind so that your cookware, your cutlery, your utensils, your knives, your pots and pans can all go into a space allocated to them.
Cabinets that are planned well along with drawers and shelves can unclutter your kitchen while letting you work efficiently, making the best use of space available.
Styles And Materials
Some of the styles you can expect to see in kitchen storage are pull out drawers and shelves, wire baskets, pull out ladders, cutlery drawers, utility drawer to store pots and pans, cabinets which can be purchased off a catalogue or made to custom, corner cabinets, pantries, island benches that sit in the middle of your kitchen and give you more workspace and storage, shelves, hooks, racks, baskets, portable storage in the form of trolleys or cabinets on wheels, containers, etc.
Materials used could be wood, metal, aluminum, glass, iron, plastic or canvas fabric, depending on what you intend storing in them.
Trends
Personalization is the name of the game, when it comes to the latest trends in kitchen storage options. Kitchen cabinets score highly when it comes to planning storage, since these are the most visible element that can beautify a kitchen. However, it is not just about the appearance; but customizing the space. Cabinet manufacturers will customize the design based on your specific needs and location, including open shelves, that wine rack you have always wanted, space to show off your special china and so on, so that you get the most out of your kitchen space.
The preference is for roll out trays and kitchen racks, breadboxes, holders for lids and a host of concealed features that make the heart of your home, your kitchen, a pleasant place to work in. When your kitchen appliances and storage are placed appropriately, it means a lesser strain physically. These days, counter heights are planned according to the cook’s convenience. Many people prefer drawers to cabinets for their ease of access.
Ideas /designs
Kitchen storage ideas
range from cabinets, drawers, canisters and cookie jars, dish racks, pot racks, spice racks, rails, islands, trolleys and so on. While designing your storage solution, you would need to consider usage. If you use certain things frequently, then you need to locate them as easily accessible as possible. Things that are not used often can go into storage at greater heights.
This is further segregated into consumable items, non-consumable items, cooking related, preparation-related and cleaning items. This helps you easily reach all the things you need to work in a particular area rather than running from end to end.
While designing your kitchen storage, you also want to look at height at which you locate it. This must be done in a way that you have a good overview of what is there, so that you can reach for the items.
All this must fit into the space available. Cupboard mounted racks are a good idea if space is a constraint. You will also consider what items you want on display and which ones must be concealed, and design doors accordingly. Glass doors with lighted cabinets are for displays and opaque doors are for concealing.
With the above factors in mind, you can look around and find the right storage for your needs and budget.
Rating/Reviews
Much of the process of getting your kitchen storage is in your hands depending on what you choose. All the manufacturers listed above are reputed for their quality. You might also like to use a local cabinetry maker to help you with your storage solutions. It helps to visit forums and blogs about kitchen remodeling so that you may get an idea of other users’ opinions and get to know all the options available.
Manufactures/Brands
There are a variety of excellent manufacturers and brands, each specializing in quality kitchen storage. Some of them are American Standard, Bayou Classic, Catskill Craftsmen, ClosetMaid Selectives,
Concept Housewares, Grayline Housewares, HWI Metro, Rev-A-Shelf
Swanstone, Cabinetcraft, etc. The best thing to do is browse around and spend some time getting to know the materials available and planning. Check out magazines and look at model kitchens. It is not always necessary to go with the trend, unless it is advantageous to you. Instead, it is best to customize.
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