Tips for organising your kitchen cabinets

The kitchen is the centrepiece of any modern home, especially in new-build properties. Cruden Homes have long recognised that high-quality kitchens with energy-efficient appliances, appeal greatly to house buyers, which is why kitchens tend to be the most heavily accessorised and colourful apartments in our show homes.

Having fallen on hard times during the 1960s and 1970s’ construction boom, when they were often little more than sculleries, kitchens have gradually increased in size and expanded in scope. That’s especially true given the modern appreciation of home cooking and socialising. However, corner cabinets, high-level units and shallow shelves can all pose storage challenges unless they’re fitted out and used efficiently…

Prioritise the cupboards inside the triangle

A long-standing rule of kitchen design states that the primary space will always be the triangle connecting the sink, fridge and cooker. The cupboards within this holy trinity naturally become the most accessible, making them obvious locations for daily essentials like crockery or store-cupboard foodstuffs including pasta and cereals. Occasional items can be relegated to far-flung corners while keeping the basics at arm’s reach. Speaking of which…

Move regularly used objects to waist height

A floor cupboard typically has upper and lower sections, where the former will be more accessible. A wall cabinet usually also has one or two shelves, but here, items on the bottom will be easier to reach. Consider this when allocating cupboard space for the first time, such as after moving into a new property. Bending and stretching may prove hard, depending on your height and mobility, so position daily-use objects where they’re easiest to get to.

Add extra shelves

Most cupboards contain columns of pre-drilled holes down either side, ready to accept the rawl plugs shelves balance on. This enables them to accommodate more shelving, and fitting extra shelves is a cost-effective way to increase storage while minimising dead air above objects. Piling things on top of each other is often impractical, especially when dealing with open food packets or fragile items like glassware.

Invest in clever cupboard storage 

Space-efficient storage solutions include pull-out baskets which make full use of corner-sited or L-shaped cupboards, rotating platters with full front-to-back access (ideal for condiments or dried herbs), and baskets that hang down below a shelf to make use of the aforementioned dead air. Invest in these solutions and by making every square inch of storage space easily accessible, you’ll hopefully never lose anything at the back of a cupboard again.

Be mindful of heat

Cooking appliances generate heat which could affect the contents of adjacent cupboards; storing bread above an oven might accelerate mould growth or shorten the life of cookbooks. If you have storage above heat-generating appliances (even fridges produce a lot of warm air), fill it with crockery or utensils that are impervious to temperature changes. High-level units may be relatively inaccessible, so investing in a small footstool might be beneficial.

Undertake periodic clear-outs

It’s tempting to ignore the slow build-up of utensil clutter and out-of-date packets, but kitchen cupboards benefit from an occasional deep-clean. Take everything out, check its condition or use-by date, and put it back in an intended order of use. While the cupboards are empty, run a cleaning wipe round them and vacuum up any crumbs or shards. This keeps the units in optimal condition, making best use of any contents and minimising unnecessary spoilage.

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