When designing a kitchen, there will be many tiny frustrations that you come across. Finding a way to fill the awkward gaps that happen when you’re planning a fitted kitchen will be one of the biggest annoyances, as no one wants to ruin a bank of cabinetry with awkward filler panels.
Luckily, there are so many clever ways you can make the most of this space. Adding filler panels is an easy way to bridge these gaps, but it doesn’t help to maximise the functionality of kitchen storage ideas.
‘One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is overlooking the smallest spaces. A gap of just 10 centimetres might seem insignificant, but when it’s considered as part of the design from the outset, it can become surprisingly useful storage,’ says Tom Howley, founder of the eponymous kitchen brand.
These 3 tips from a kitchen expert mean that your kitchen design looks cohesive and has small, clever bursts of ingenuity that will aid your day-to-day cooking experience.
1. Pull out chopping boards
A genius idea I saw at the Tom Howley showroom in Chelsea was to use these small gaps for chopping boards. I don’t know about you, but in my kitchen and those of my family and friends, chopping boards tend to live stacked against a worktop.
In a bid to clear our worktops of clutter and find a home for every piece of kitchenware, a 10cm gap between cabinets is the perfect storage place for slimline objects like a chopping board.
‘Slim pull-out cabinets are a smart way to make the most of these narrow spaces, whether they’re beside appliances or at the end of a run of units. They’re perfect for storing baking trays, chopping boards, oils, spices, or cleaning essentials that can otherwise create clutter,’ Tom Howley explains.
2. Charging drawer
Following on the theme of finding storage for slimline objects, a space to house iPads, laptops and mobile phones is a great way to build modern needs into your kitchen design.
A ‘junk drawer’ is no new concept, and many of them end up being used as a catch-all for tech and charging cables too. So why not dedicate a specific drawer to this and also fill an awkward gap within a design?
A charging drawer doesn’t need to be deeper than 10cm and can be slotted into the edge of a cabinet or on a kitchen island. Have an electrician add charging ports and you’ll instantly have a go-to spot storing and charging tech.
3. Custom baking sheet drawer
‘The beauty of bespoke cabinetry is that it turns what would normally be wasted space into something genuinely practical. Rather than filling these gaps with blank panels, we see them as an opportunity to maximise every inch of the kitchen,’ explains Tom Howley.
Small, awkward design gaps are actually an opportunity to think about what your individual space and household requires from a kitchen. In my kitchen, the narrow plinth area beneath the oven has been utilised as a handy drawer for baking trays, which has solved the problem I had with leaving them constantly in the oven.
It’s tiny tweaks like this that give everything in your kitchen a dedicated home, as well as streamlining your everyday cooking experience. You could even make this area a proving drawer for dough if you are a keen baker – or keep for storage if your cupboards are bursting at the seams.
Shop narrow kitchen storage solutions
If you’ve already designed your kitchen, or perhaps inherited one that someone else designed, and you’re looking for storage solutions to include retrospectively then look no further. These handy storage options will allow you to add organisation to awkward, narrow gaps without needing to undergo a renovation.
GoodHome
Goodhome Caraway White Base Unit, (w)150mm
If you want to mimic the built in look then try this slimline base unit from B&Q. Simply add a front and paint to match it to your scheme.
Argos
3 Tier Slim Kitchen Trolley
This standalone kitchen trolley is perfect for adding storage at the end of a run of cabinetry. Use for daily essentials that you always reach for.
Amazon
Thrink Slim Slide Out Kitchen Trolley
This pull-out caddy on wheels is so handy for filling an awkward gap and would make excellent storage for spices and seasonings.
No matter the size of your kitchen, maximising all of the available space is key to enhancing functionality. But if you have a compact space, then these small kitchen ideas will offer plenty of inspiration to make the most of your bijou space.
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