The Most Popular Kitchen Storage Ideas of 2014
Kitchen storage is a favorite topic here on Houzz. We’re all familiar with the dilemma; we add more to our collection — new dishes, holiday serveware, specialty gadgets — and no matter how well we pack it in, more stuff means less available storage.
In come clever kitchen storage strategies. Every year designers offer new ideas and innovative twists on traditional storage. Last year’s most popular kitchen storage photos featured corner drawers, concealed trash cans and appliance garages. Among the photos uploaded in 2014 so far, Houzzers have favored pullout knife drawers, island storage and hidden wine bars. Here are the kitchen storage solutions that have been added to the most users’ ideabooks so far this year. Have you saved any of these photos yourself?
1. Walk-in pantry. Clear food storage containers, such as glass jars, and cookbooks organized by color helped make this pantry the most popular photo of 2014. Almost 120,000 users have saved this photo.
Katie Koentje, an independent organizing professional at Neat Method San Diego, says she created this pantry with kids in mind. “The client wanted her pantry to be kid friendly and also easy for her children to make healthy snack options,” she says. “We used kid-friendly containers so the kids could easily and safely access the food, and made sure that healthy snacks like raisins and other dried fruit were low enough for the children to reach.”
Koentje opted mostly for kid-friendly plastic containers, but she included glass jars for baking products and baskets for bagged items, like chips and bread.
2. Pullout knife drawer. Countertop knife blocks might be the go-to storage solution, but a custom pullout drawer is a creative alternative. So far more than 108,000 Houzzers have added this photo to their ideabooks.
How to Create and Use Ideabooks
3. Pantry cabinet. More than 60,000 users have saved this photo of a built-in pantry cabinet. Labeled drawers, large shelves and cabinet racks make finding things easy and quick.
4. Cleaning supplies closet. Free up room under the sink with a designated housekeeping cabinet. This tall space, with room for both a vacuum and a mop, has been added to 54,000 ideabooks.
5. Narrow pullout shelves. More than 54,000 Houzzers have noted and saved this space-saving alternative to traditional food shelving. Jenna Burger, SAS Interiors designer and blogger, says this option is the best way to pack a lot of storage into a small area.
The clever mail station includes spots for mail, newspapers, school papers, keys and restaurant menus. “The client was in need of a command center, and since I have created many for previous clients, I knew the kitchen was the ideal place,” says Burger.
6. Cookie sheet cubbies. More than 53,000 Houzz users like the vertical shelving solution for cookie sheets, muffin tins and reusable grocery bags here. The pullout shelving below helps the owners take advantage of every inch of drawer space.
7. Cabinet-mounted spice rack. Added to 51,000 ideabooks, this photo of a custom walnut-veneer spice rack keeps spices organized and handy.
8. Pullout ironing board. More than 32,000 Houzzers love this solution, which was added to this kitchen at the request of a busy mom.
The small ironing board in a drawer is convenient for quick touchups for clothes, cloth napkins and placemats, says Heather Tardioli, design consultant at Laurysen Kitchens. “Once the piece of clothing is ironed, you just fold the ironing board and close the drawer, and it is quickly out of sight,” she says.
9. Extra workstation. This spot, concealed by bifold cabinet doors, offers extra countertop space for food prep and small appliances. Something like this is perfect for those who need extra room but want to hide the clutter. Nearly 26,000 Houzzers have saved this photo.
10. Wraparound shelving. If you have beautiful dishes, showcase them! Nearly 24,000 Houzzers have taken a shine to this shelving, which nicely frames a small pantry’s beautiful glass pocket doors.
11. Built-in island storage. A typical island has dining and counter space, but what about cabinets and shelving? With storage for wine bottles and cookbooks, this one does it all — inspiring 23,000 people to save this image.
12. Hidden wine bar. More than 24,000 people like this small-space wine bar, which has racks for bottles, wineglass storage, counter space and a mini fridge for beer and water.
13. Tall pantry with ladder. Saved to 15,000 ideabooks, this photo shows a tall food pantry that maximizes space by going vertical. A library ladder ensures that the shelves are reachable, while cute linen-lined baskets and a rustic brick floor reinforce the kitchen’s farmhouse feel.
14. Open shelves. More than 11,000 Houzzers love this kitchen for its mix of wood and white, along with the subway tile, farmhouse sink and open shelving for regularly used items.
Tell us: What kitchen storage photo do you keep coming back to?
More: The most popular Houzz kitchen storage solutions overall