If you can't add more actual storage cabinets to your living space, you can always increase the capacity of what's already there. This includes kitchen cupboards, free-standing wardrobes and bathroom cabinets - all of which are silently pleading "make me better, make me better!" Fulfill their organisational destinies, with these nine tips...
- Go for store-bought inserts that increase the amount of stuff that cabinets hold. Plan for plate racks, lazy susans, drawer inserts, vertical cookie sheet slots inside cabinets, or shelf risers.
- Place less used items on top of cabinets where they are out of the way. There's a lot of precious space up there you might not be taking full advantage of.
- Nothing makes a kitchen feel less usable than poor lighting. Install lights underneath your cabinets to brighten the space and make it easier to find what you need.
- Utilise the outside surfaces, including the cabinet sides, and store things where they are readily available and easy to grab.
- On a similar note, don't forget about the insides of cabinets. Either buy or DIY storage solutions (cork, hooks, etc.) that fit nicely on the backside of doors.
- Add exterior open shelving to hold plants or dishes. This not only increases your storage, but adds architectural interest and makes your kitchen look more custom.
- Incorporate useful tools, like magnets or tension rods. They have endless uses, and diverse applications.
- Take a moment to re-organise. Give your cabinets a fresh eye and ask if everything has a dedicated place, and that place makes sense.
- Consider cabinet cubbies instead of full open shelving. They force editing, so you're less likely to end up with a messy, mismatched row of kitchen stuff (open shelving's biggest critique).