Whether a homeowner or a kitchen renovator, you might have found yourself wrestling with a corner cabinet in your kitchen. You are not alone. These tricky spaces can be like that one piece of a puzzle that just won’t fit, no matter how many times you turn it.
Fear not, at Holland’s Custom Cabinets, we’ve been dealing with these kinds of storage challenges for more than four decades. Making the most out of corner cabinets is a specialty we’re proud of.
Let’s look at some ways you can transform frustrating corner cabinets into fantastic storage solutions.
What Are Corner Cabinets?
As the name suggests, corner cabinets are storage areas often found at the intersection of two walls, typically in kitchens and bathrooms. They are designed to maximize the use of corner spaces. However, building effective storage solutions is sometimes like mastering the art of fitting a square peg into a round hole. It requires innovation, experience, and a bit of creativity.
There are two types of corner cabinets:
1. Blind Corner Cabinets:
These are tucked away in the kitchen’s corner. Blind corner cabinets feature an L-shaped interior that extends well beyond the cabinet door. This design creates a hidden space that, while offering potential for storage, requires innovative solutions to make it easily accessible.
2. Diagonal Corner Cabinets:
These cabinets provide relatively easy access. They are designed with a front that cuts across the corner. This design allows for easier access to the cabinet’s contents. Naturally, they are a more popular choice for optimizing kitchen corner storage efficiently.
Common Issues with Corner Cabinets:
- Difficulty accessing items stored in the deep, unreachable back corners.
- Wasted space due to inefficient organization and inaccessible areas.
- Potential for items to get lost or forgotten in the hidden depths.
What Are Some Creative Storage Solutions for Corner Cabinets?
The key to conquering the challenge of corner cabinets is creative planning and design. Here are a few options:
1. Lazy Susan Turntables:
Imagine a merry-go-round in your cabinet. That’s what Lazy Susan cabinets are like. They can bring the back of a corner cabinet to you with a simple spin. No more reaching into the abyss for that elusive spice jar! All you need is a gentle nudge, and what you want rotates right to your fingertips.
Holland’s actually builds its own, custom-built Lazy Susan’s. Our time-tested design ensures an exact fit and the specific hardware needed to optimize practically any space, making it a much-preferred solution with our clients compared to cookie-cutter, off-the-shelf options.
2. Pull-Out Shelving:
Pull-out shelving can transform a corner cabinet into a treasure trove of easy-to-access items. The shelves slide out smoothly, bringing even the most hidden items into clear view. This storage solution ensures no item in the kitchen cabinet gets left behind.
3. Corner Drawers:
They may look unassuming from the outside, but corner drawers reveal a multi-layered storage compartment that makes use of every square inch when opened. As their name suggests, corner drawers fit into the angular confines of a corner, turning even the most awkward of spaces into a haven of organization. Each drawer is tiered, which further helps to organize everything quickly and efficiently.
While corner drawers are certainly an intriguing option, be aware that they tend to be incredibly expensive and challenging to build and fit. Often with corner drawers we (and our clients) find that “the juice just isn’t worth the squeeze.”
4. Swing-Out Shelves:
Like other corner cabinet solutions, swing-out shelves can improve access to corner cabinets by extending outwards to reveal contents. Their design makes it easier to see and reach stored items, eliminating the need to search an entire cabinet to find a jar of spices or pickles!
5. Vertical Dividers:
Vertical dividers help organize and store trays, baking sheets, and cutting boards in upright positions. They provide quick and easy access, improving overall kitchen efficiency.
6. Tiered Shelving Inserts:
Tiered shelving inserts increase storage capacity by adding multiple levels within the cabinet. This design allows for better visibility and organization. It ensures everything is easily reachable and well-arranged.
7. Hanging Hooks or Racks:
Hanging hooks or racks make more efficient use of vertical space. They can be used to hang kitchen tools and utensils, such as pots and pans. They represent an innovative corner cabinet storage solution that saves shelf space and makes cooking essentials more accessible.
How to Maximize the Use of Corner Cabinets in A Small Kitchen
Even in a small kitchen, corner cabinets are no problem. Custom corner cabinets can make even the tiniest kitchen feel grand. Here’s how:
Custom-Designed Cabinets:
Custom corner cabinets, like those from Holland’s Custom Cabinets, can be built to fit the precise footprint of small kitchens. Being custom-made, Holland’s can personalize the cabinets to meet style preferences, material requirements, and functionality—and that includes tailor made corner cabinets.
Diagonal Corner Cabinets:
Diagonal corner cabinets are a practical solution for small kitchens. These cabinets come with a front that extends across the corner, providing easy access to the cabinet’s contents. This design optimizes the use of corner areas, turning previously underutilized space into valuable storage, which can be especially important in a kitchen where space is at a premium.
Multi-Tiered Storage Solutions:
Using multi-tiered storage solutions in corner cabinets can dramatically increase the efficiency and capacity of overall kitchen storage. This storage solution features shelves at different heights within the same cabinet. It’s a compact yet functional design that allows you to store many kitchen essentials, from small spice jars to larger pots and pans, in a small space. It’s an option worth considering when planning a kitchen remodel as it puts every inch of space to good use.
What Are Some Lighting Options for Corner Cabinets?
Lighting can transform a corner cabinet from simple storage into a spotlight. Here are some bright ideas for cabinet lights:
1. Interior Cabinet Lighting:
Typically, there are two options for interior cabinet lighting: LED puck lights or strip lights. Compact and versatile, LED puck lights provide focused illumination. They are perfect for highlighting specific areas within a cabinet. On the other hand, LED strip lights offer continuous, even light. They’re ideal for lining the interior edges of cabinets and enhancing visibility throughout.
2. Motion-Activated Lights:
Lights with battery-operated motion sensors, which turn on automatically when movement is detected, offer convenience and energy savings. Another option is wireless LED lights, which are easy to install. They also activate with motion, illuminating storage space only when needed.
3. Under-Cabinet Lighting:
Like in-cabinet lights, LED puck or strip lights can be used for under-cabinet lighting. LED strip lights are often the top choice as they offer greater illumination of kitchen countertops, which can make chores easier and safer. While not as bright a strip lights, puck lights can provide a more beautiful ambiance when placed under the cabinets. They tend to be a better choice for those wanting a more pleasing aesthetic appeal.
4. Battery-Operated Lights:
Stick-on LED lights can be attached directly to surfaces and are easy to install. However, depending on their use, you may need to change the batteries frequently. Tap lights are also an excellent choice as they are easy to use. You can simply tap these lights to turn them on or off.
5. Cabinet Hinge-Mounted Lights:
These ingenious lights turn on automatically when you open the cabinet door. They provide immediate visibility without the hassle of turning switches on and off.
6. Remote-Control LED Lights:
These LED lights offer ultimate convenience. You can adjust lighting levels and power from anywhere in the kitchen. Just make sure not to lose your remote!
7. Dimmable Lights:
Install dimmable LED lights to create the perfect ambiance, whether it’s for a dinner date or a family dinner.
What’s the Right Storage Solution for You?
Turning a corner cabinet from a source of frustration into a fantastic part of your kitchen is all about creative planning and design. With the right storage solutions, lighting, and customization, you can maximize your storage space and make it a joy to use. Remember, every corner of your kitchen has potential. It’s just waiting for the right solution to unlock it.
That’s where Holland’s Custom Cabinets comes in. We believe that with careful planning and design, every kitchen can be transformed into a space as functional as it is beautiful. So, let’s roll up our sleeves and turn those tricky corners into triumphs! Call 619.443.6081, view our creative living gallery, or connect with us online to get started.
