Smart storage solutions

Discover space you never knew you had with these smart solutions and clever storage concepts…

Kitchen storage solutions

With a plethora of things all jostling for a place, the kitchen requires particularly careful consideration. Luckily, modern kitchen designers have upped the ante with space-saving, super-strong drawers that can bear the weight of stacks of china or heavy pans. Pull-out larders, magic corners and adjustable baskets also ensure space is utilised down to the very last inch.


‘It’s all about convenience’, says designer Dominic Ash. ‘Think hard about exactly where to create storage to make your kitchen user-friendly. For example, pans should be near the cooker, and crockery near the dishwasher so you can unload straight into the cupboard.’ Do you buy groceries little and often? Or are you a fan of a big shop? In the latter case a larder might be the answer. Do you have everyday crockery and a second set for entertaining? If so, think where this can be stored safely out of the way.


  •  ‘The biggest trend at the minute is people wanting storage integrated into a splashback’, says Mark Dyson. ‘This idea comes from the fabulous b3 kitchen by Bulthaup. You only have to add about 15cm to the back of the worktop to make space for spice racks, chopping boards and cleaning materials. If there’s space in a partition wall use it to create a place for your toaster or radio. Conceal behind stainless-steel sliding doors for a really smart finish.’


  •  Eke out another few inches from your kitchen with under-cupboard drawers. Perfect for tea towels, trays, trivets or those utensils you only use once a year, these shallow drawers fit under the units where there is usually a plinth, making use of this otherwise redundant space. Try Ikea for clever devices like these.


  •  In period houses a kitchen ceiling can often be 2.7 to 3m high, so standard units fall short. Get a builder to create made-to-measure storage all the way up to the ceiling. ‘You can then store lots of stuff in a space where you would normally only leave things to gather dust,’ says Mark. ‘It finishes the back wall of a kitchen off perfectly, too.’


  •  Companies like Spiral Cellars can sink your very own wine store under the kitchen floor (or any ground floor). Even if you’re not a wine buff, a secret trap door under a well-placed rug can conceal space to store other less-used items.

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