Cunning cupboard storage ideas
by
Checkatrade

Bulging kitchen cupboards but no wall space to add more units? The secret is to double their internal capacity by adding more shelves or glass racks to maximise every centimetre of storage space.

Speak to a carpenter about your requirements and ask them to bespoke your existing cupboards so you can squeeze even more in.

When it comes to designing your kitchen layout, take time to think about how and who will be using the kitchen so that you can design an ergonomic space that all ages can easily use.

For example, adding drawers below the worktop, instead of base units, allows heavy items such as plates and pans to be accessed from above rather than having to bend or kneel in front of cupboards. Also, ensure all drawers and cupboards are soft close to avoid any trapped fingers.

Consider adding an easy-to-pull-out laundry basket into your airing cupboard where you can separate colours and whites for practicality.

Drawers designed with holes will ensure air circulates round sheets and towels that might still be damp, while wide shelves offer plenty of space for extra bedding storage, such as duvets, pillows and winter blankets.

Although essential, a boiler isn’t the nicest of things to look at and can ruin the aesthetic of a smart room scheme. Consider hiding it away in a purpose-built cupboard and you’ll have a clean finish.

You are likely to need to build a bespoke cupboard to fit around it as you’ll have to ensure it remains easy to access. Use our free search tool to find a carpenter who can help you get what you need.

Fed up with a cluttered hallway? Nowhere to hide shoes and coats? Try utilising the valuable space underneath the stairs and create bespoke cupboards and drawers that will conceal all manner of unsightly paraphernalia.

For more inspiration, check out our under stairs storage ideas that will show you how to create pull out drawers for shoes, hanging coat storage and cubby holes that will maximise every valuable centimetre.

Want to know how much you’ll have to spend? Our guide to under stairs storage costs should help.

In compact bedrooms where space is tight, finding storage for everything is key for ensuring a calm and restful room. Consider building a wall of cupboard storage that includes hidden units for clothes and open shelves for convenience.

If you want to add a TV, create a space within the shelves for a small flatscreen to fit, and stick to handleless cupboards for a fuss-free feel.

The hallway is one of the busiest spaces in the home and has to work extra hard to keep calm and order. If you have the space, combine hidden storage for coats, hooks for bags and open cubby holes for baskets that can keep scarves, gloves and smaller items in one place. A bench with drawers underneath will be great for putting on shoes.

For more inspiration, check out our clever hallway ideas guide and turn your entrance into an efficient, hardworking and robust space that will help make family life a little bit easier.

It can be tricky to make the most of kitchen corners, so it’s worth taking time to plan your corner cupboard storage ideas so you don’t lose out on valuable space.

Carousel corner units are a brilliant solution for corner kitchen cupboards as they allow you to use the entire internal area of the base unit, and swing out to allow you access to the contents easily. No more reaching into the back to retrieve that elusive pan lid!

Forget precariously balanced cans cluttering your kitchen units. A pull-out pantry cupboard with sturdy, robust drawers will instantly elevate your kitchen storage to a new height of efficiency.

Not only will deep drawers keep heavy food jars, cans and bulky packets in one convenient cupboard where they can be accessed easily, the drawers will also encourage you to keep all items neatly arranged.

Whether you’re planning a new bathroom from scratch or updating an existing one, choose a vanity unit that will offer endless storage options.

A design that offers deep drawers with different compartments will enable you to store all sorts of bathroom bits and bobs in neatly hidden storage. What’s more, everything can be seen from above in one easy glance, while little baskets can be used for keeping smaller items in order.

For more clever solutions, take a look through these bathroom storage ideas.

Want to create a useful utility cupboard away from the kitchen? To save on space, stack up your washing machine and dryer for a streamlined look, and then build shelves and cupboards around them for storing cleaning products and laundry items.

Use lightweight baskets for storing things like loo rolls, so they can be lifted off the shelf easily when needed. And if you don’t have space to add cupboard doors to your utility area, a smart curtain will do the trick.

Whether you need to create somewhere for shoes in the hallway under the stairs, or in a bedroom wardrobe, a dedicated shoe cupboard or drawer will make finding that matching pair when you’re in a rush all the more easier!

Add a bar across a wide deep drawer so you can stand shoes at an angle, and not only will you protect them, but you’ll also avoid that big shoe mountain from reappearing.

Wow! Now that is one organised stationery drawer. The secret to a super-orderly arrangement like the one above is to separate a big drawer into compartments using smaller boxes, trays and drawer dividers to keep everything separate and easy to find, particularly tiny items like paper clips.

Having a place for everything will mean you can locate things in a dash and will also encourage the household to tidy things away back to their rightful spot.