How much kitchen storage do I need?
Whether you're renovating, moving into a new home or simply looking to optimise your current space, understanding your storage needs is essential for maintaining a functional and clutter-free kitchen.
In this article, we explore how you can tell if you need more storage in the kitchen, plus practical solutions for maximising your current set-up and planning an upgrade to suit your lifestyle and the available space.
Signs you need more kitchen storage
Despite being a room you use every day, you probably don’t often stop to think about how suitable your kitchen is for your needs. You may notice certain issues that make the space harder to use, but not take the time to explore the underlying cause.
Take a look at your kitchen and keep an eye out for these key signs your current storage set-up isn’t working for you.
Cluttered countertops
Your kitchen doesn’t have to look like a minimalist’s heaven to work for you, but if you’re constantly having to move things around so you can prepare food, that’s a clear indication that something needs to change about your storage habits.
While kitchen worktops can get cluttered with all sorts of things, if the items involved are meant to be in the kitchen - e.g. pantry items, utensils, appliances - that’s a good sign that the problem lies in your kitchen storage rather than items from the rest of your home ending up there.
Overflowing drawers and cabinets
Overflowing drawers and cabinets are a clear sign that your kitchen storage isn’t sufficient. When cupboards and drawers become difficult to open and close, it can lead to damage over time - both of the items within and the storage solutions themselves.
Additionally, having too many things in each drawer or cupboard can make it harder to find the item you need quickly. Pantry items can more easily be forgotten and expire simply because they’re out of sight and out of mind.
Kitchen items stored elsewhere in the home
Having some kitchen items stored elsewhere can be a smart way to use your space - for example, storing rarely used utensils or extra stock of longlife pantry staples such as tinned goods until it’s time for them to be used.
But if a lack of space in the kitchen demands that you store more commonly used items elsewhere too, it makes things harder and more time-consuming to find - a strong sign that something needs to change.
How to increase storage space in the kitchen
There are two main ways to increase storage space in the kitchen:
Maximise what you have
Plan additional storage to suit your bespoke requirements.
By combining these strategies, you can create a more organised, functional kitchen that fits both your storage needs and available space.
How to maximise your existing kitchen storage
Because kitchens are an integral part of the home we use everyday, it’s easy to fall into a rut with the way we use them. We feel like we don’t have time to take everything out and start over in a more methodical way - but doing just that can be the best way to refresh your kitchen storage without the need to renovate.
Sort through and declutter everything in your kitchen
When your kitchen is overflowing, the problem is either that there is too much in it or that there isn’t enough space. Since altering the space is more of an investment and takes time to implement, it’s well worth tackling an inventory of what’s inside it first.
Start by removing:
Items that are broken, expired or redundant, e.g. containers you’ve lost the lids for
Rubbish, such as old receipts, packaging, outdated coupons and takeaway menus
Unnecessary duplicates, like extra ice cream scoops or your third pair of salad tongs.
Then you can move onto those items that you can make a case for keeping - such as a bread maker you don’t often use - and decide whether they’re worth the space they take up.
Be strict about what should and shouldn’t belong in the kitchen
Kitchens can often become a central hub of the household, which means items can migrate there even if they should really be stored in other rooms.
Top tip! To stay on track, don’t worry about relocating these items just yet - instead, make a pile or store them in a laundry basket and put them somewhere out of the way.
Once you’re down to your kitchen essentials, consider whether they all really need to be stored there. Pay particular attention to things you don’t use often. For example, those extra plates you only use when you have company could be stored elsewhere to free up valuable kitchen space.
Remember, this is all about making the room work for you. If you need to use it frequently, it should stay in the kitchen - but if you don’t, there may be a better place for it.
Organise your kitchen for maximum efficiency
Using a kitchen effectively is all about organising it so you can cook and clean using the minimum amount of effort. In practice, this means that the things you use most often should be easiest to access and, preferably, within reach of the area where you use them. So:
Cleaning supplies should be near the sink
Knives and chopping boards should be near your food prep area
The spices you use in every meal should be easier to get to than the flour you only use when you feel like baking.
This mindset can help you to take advantage of deeper cupboards and harder-to-reach areas while still making sure everything stored in your kitchen is there for a reason.
How to plan new kitchen storage
If you’ve gone through the points above and still don’t have enough storage, that’s a good sign you could benefit from some new additions. The below points can help you to decide what an effective upgrade might look like.
Consider what is and isn’t working about your current set-up
Looking online and in magazines for inspiration can be useful, but only up to a point. At some stage, you have to look at your kitchen and decide what you need, not just what’s on trend. Remember that everyone uses their kitchen differently, so everyone has different storage needs.
Be as specific as possible here. Don’t worry about price or viability just yet - simply list out what you’d change in an ideal world. For example:
You might need more room for cleaning supplies separate from food prep items
You might need somewhere you can store larger items that don’t fit into your cupboards currently
You might need extra storage around your stovetop for those cooking essentials you always reach for.
Whatever you need, write it down now so you don’t forget it later.
Decide how much more storage you realistically need
As frustrating as not having enough storage space can be, having too much can be a problem too. Excessive storage can leave kitchens looking visually overcrowded and even make the room seem smaller than it is.
With that in mind, think about how much room you really need. If you have concrete plans that might affect this - for example, starting a family - bear these in mind, but try not to plan around what-ifs that might never happen.
Identify the most efficient forms of storage to suit your needs
Not all storage is made the same, and some forms may be more appropriate to your needs and space than others. This could include:
Pull-out shelves for deep cabinets that take advantage of corner space
Pull-down units that allow you to utilise vertical space while keeping things in reach
Slim vertical cabinets for spices and pantry items that can slide out of sight between existing furniture
Multi-purpose storage that can double as seating for dining areas.
Choosing the right kind of storage can be the difference between a few extra cupboards on the wall and a solution that integrates so well with your existing set-up you can hardly remember how it was before.
Even if you have an awkwardly shaped or small kitchen, the chances are the ideal storage solution is out there - it’s just a matter of finding it. Here at Merilyn Phillips, our expert team can help you to design a kitchen that works for you, making cooking a joy once more.