Kitchen Guides
9 Ways to Efficient & Stylish Kitchen Cabinet Designs
Learn how to choose the right cabinet height, configuration and even countertop with comfort in mind
Those of you building or renovating a kitchen face countless decisions. Just for the cabinetry you have to select the material, frame type, door style, hardware and more.
I hate to add to your list of selections to make, but there are a few details to think about when it comes to ergonomics, too; how you configure your cabinetry can make your kitchen a comfortable and efficient workspace for you and your family.
I hate to add to your list of selections to make, but there are a few details to think about when it comes to ergonomics, too; how you configure your cabinetry can make your kitchen a comfortable and efficient workspace for you and your family.
2. Be shallow
Instead of wall cabinets, I like to install shallow floor-to-ceiling pantries. They’re an efficient use of an interior wall, where you can’t have a window anyway. By limiting the depth to just 25 to 23 centimetres, you are forced to line up your dry goods in a single row, making everything easier to find.
Wondering how to bring the pantry into your kitchen?
Instead of wall cabinets, I like to install shallow floor-to-ceiling pantries. They’re an efficient use of an interior wall, where you can’t have a window anyway. By limiting the depth to just 25 to 23 centimetres, you are forced to line up your dry goods in a single row, making everything easier to find.
Wondering how to bring the pantry into your kitchen?
3. Go for open shelves
If you really need wall-mounted storage, try installing a few open shelves. They’re a more efficient way to store items, because you (and your guests) can see where everything is, and you don’t have to open and close cabinet doors to access things. Limit the stored items to those you use often so they are less likely to collect dust.
If you really need wall-mounted storage, try installing a few open shelves. They’re a more efficient way to store items, because you (and your guests) can see where everything is, and you don’t have to open and close cabinet doors to access things. Limit the stored items to those you use often so they are less likely to collect dust.
4. Lift up, not out
For those who want closed wall cabinet storage, take a look at horizontal cabinets. There’s only one door you need to open to see everything in the cabinet, and you don’t have to step out of the way as you open and close it.
Check out top handles and latches for kitchen cabinets
For those who want closed wall cabinet storage, take a look at horizontal cabinets. There’s only one door you need to open to see everything in the cabinet, and you don’t have to step out of the way as you open and close it.
Check out top handles and latches for kitchen cabinets
5. Install drawers
When it comes to base cabinets, I can’t recommend drawers over doors strongly enough. Deep drawers can hold almost anything you need to store in a base cabinet. Plus, it’s much more efficient to just pull the drawer out and have all the contents on view right in front of you than having to open two doors and root around for what you need.
When it comes to base cabinets, I can’t recommend drawers over doors strongly enough. Deep drawers can hold almost anything you need to store in a base cabinet. Plus, it’s much more efficient to just pull the drawer out and have all the contents on view right in front of you than having to open two doors and root around for what you need.
6. Avoid corners
If you can design your kitchen to not have corner cabinets, do so. Corners tend to cause traffic jams in kitchens, and corner cabinets can be awkward to use.
If you can design your kitchen to not have corner cabinets, do so. Corners tend to cause traffic jams in kitchens, and corner cabinets can be awkward to use.
7. Or make the best of your corners
If you can’t avoid corner cabinets, then at least make them as functional and easy to use as possible with fully rotating lazy Susans or clever corner drawers.
Take a look at 10 creative ways to use kitchen corners
If you can’t avoid corner cabinets, then at least make them as functional and easy to use as possible with fully rotating lazy Susans or clever corner drawers.
Take a look at 10 creative ways to use kitchen corners
8. Upgrade cabinetry
Soft-close door hinges and drawer glides are more must-haves. It is totally worth the small extra charge for these features, which allow you to shut doors and drawers with one efficient push and no slamming.
These are the best kitchen cabinet materials
Soft-close door hinges and drawer glides are more must-haves. It is totally worth the small extra charge for these features, which allow you to shut doors and drawers with one efficient push and no slamming.
These are the best kitchen cabinet materials
9. Vary countertop height
While the standard kitchen countertop height is about 90 centimetres, there are many tasks that are more comfortably performed on a lower or higher surface. This is especially true for those who are taller or shorter than average.
Typically you want your forearms to be at or near level when you’re working at the countertop. But for us tall folks, that’d require a surface height of 107 centimetres or more – a difficult height for kids or shorter members of the household to use.
The solution is to set up areas with differing countertop heights to accommodate the various statures of the users and their tasks. Extra storage room in the cabinet underneath is an additional upside to taller work surfaces.
Read more:
A Kitchen Designer’s Top 10 Cabinet Solutions
Tell us:
What cabinetry features have made your kitchen easier and more comfortable to work in? Share in the Comments below.
While the standard kitchen countertop height is about 90 centimetres, there are many tasks that are more comfortably performed on a lower or higher surface. This is especially true for those who are taller or shorter than average.
Typically you want your forearms to be at or near level when you’re working at the countertop. But for us tall folks, that’d require a surface height of 107 centimetres or more – a difficult height for kids or shorter members of the household to use.
The solution is to set up areas with differing countertop heights to accommodate the various statures of the users and their tasks. Extra storage room in the cabinet underneath is an additional upside to taller work surfaces.
Read more:
A Kitchen Designer’s Top 10 Cabinet Solutions
Tell us:
What cabinetry features have made your kitchen easier and more comfortable to work in? Share in the Comments below.
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Wall cabinets can be a stretch for many to access – or altogether out of reach for some – so consider removing wall cabinets and putting in a bank of windows instead. This is an especially smart move as doing this will give you a nice view.