Kitchen Cabinets Design Secrets
10 Ways to Ensure You Choose The Best Kitchen Cabinets Design Options
You love your house – after all, it’s been 20 years since you moved in – but you’ve never loved the kitchen. It’s the center of the house, but it’s never worked that well. Over the years, you’ve added a lot more small appliances, dishes, and all the other things kitchens need – but there’s not enough storage or counter space.
So it’s past time to do a significant remodel. The goals? More efficient workflow, better storage and organization, and a showplace you’re proud to share with friends and family.
Let’s look at ten points to consider in planning your kitchen cabinets design.
1. Budgets and Home Value
As you embark on turning your dream kitchen into a reality, it’s crucial to establish a realistic budget that aligns with your kitchen renovation goals and financial capabilities. While investing in your kitchen can significantly enhance the value of your home, it’s essential to balance your aspirations with practical considerations. Keep in mind that remodeling projects typically yield a return on investment ranging from 50 to 75%, making it a worthwhile endeavor for both your comfort and property value.
Once you’ve determined your budget, it’s time to gather quotes and explore kitchen cabinet ideas from reputable local companies. Take the time to research and vet potential contractors, ensuring they have the necessary expertise and track record of delivering quality results. Additionally, factor in a contingency of 10 to 20% of your total budget to account for unexpected expenses or unforeseen challenges that may arise during the renovation process.
By setting a realistic budget, soliciting quotes from trusted professionals, and preparing for contingencies, you can embark on your kitchen renovation project with confidence, knowing you’re well-prepared to achieve your vision within your means.
2. Quality Counts
Investing in high-quality cabinets for your kitchen is a decision that pays dividends in the long run. Since cabinets play a central role in both the functionality and aesthetics of your kitchen, opting for the best quality within your budget is a prudent choice. Not only will superior cabinets enhance your daily living experience with their durability and functionality, but they will also contribute to the overall appeal and value of your home. By prioritizing quality over short-term savings, you ensure that your investment withstands the test of time, serving you well for years to come. Whether it’s the seamless operation of drawers and hinges or the enduring beauty of the materials and craftsmanship, the benefits of premium cabinets are evident every day you spend in your kitchen. Therefore, when it comes to selecting cabinets, prioritize quality and craftsmanship to create a kitchen space that is both luxurious and enduring.
3. Be Practical
When envisioning your ideal kitchen, it’s crucial to distinguish between necessities and desires. Take the time to meticulously plan out your cabinet storage and design requirements based on your lifestyle and usage patterns. By prioritizing functionality and practicality over unnecessary embellishments, you can allocate your budget more effectively towards higher quality options. Assess your storage needs, considering factors such as pantry space, utensil organization, and appliance accommodation, and prioritize accordingly. While certain features or embellishments may seem appealing, scrutinize whether they align with your day-to-day activities and if they justify the investment. By streamlining your cabinet wishlist to include only essential elements, you not only optimize your storage solutions but also elevate the overall quality of your kitchen cabinets. Ultimately, by focusing on your genuine needs rather than fleeting desires, you can make informed decisions that maximize both utility and value in your kitchen renovation project.
4. Kitchen Cabinets Design Planning
As you embark on designing your new kitchen, practicality and functionality should be at the forefront of your considerations. Take a step back and assess your current kitchen setup with a critical eye. What aspects of the layout work well for your daily routines, and what areas are lacking in functionality? By identifying these strengths and weaknesses, you can pinpoint your priorities for improvement.
When transitioning to modern kitchen cabinets, pay close attention to the layout of your space. Keep the concept of the work triangle in mind—a fundamental principle in kitchen design that ensures efficiency by optimizing the placement of the stove, sink, and refrigerator. As you plan your cabinet storage, aim to create a seamless flow that facilitates easy movement between these key areas. Strategically position storage solutions to provide convenient access to utensils, cookware, and ingredients as you navigate through your kitchen tasks.
Consider the practicality of each cabinet feature in relation to your daily routines. For example, prioritize deep drawers for pots and pans near the stove, while allocating ample pantry space near the refrigerator for easy access to ingredients. By carefully planning your cabinet layout with functionality in mind, you can streamline your kitchen workflow and create a space that not only looks modern but also enhances your overall cooking experience.
5. Think Effective, Intelligent Storage
Creating your dream kitchen involves more than just aesthetics—it’s about ensuring that every item has its designated place. This attention to detail is why kitchen remodels consistently score high on the Joy Score. By meticulously planning your storage solutions, you can achieve not only a visually stunning space but also one that functions seamlessly, enhancing your overall enjoyment of the room.
To maximize the effectiveness of your kitchen, leverage the latest innovations in kitchen cabinet hardware, storage features, and accessories. Explore the vast array of options available, from pull-out shelves and drawer organizers to vertical dividers and custom inserts. These enhancements not only optimize storage space but also improve accessibility, making it easier to keep your kitchen organized and efficient.
Consider your specific needs and cooking habits when selecting storage solutions. For instance, if you’re an avid baker, incorporate specialized storage for baking pans and ingredients. If you frequently entertain guests, prioritize wine racks and glassware organizers to streamline serving. By customizing your storage to suit your lifestyle, you can create a kitchen that not only looks beautiful but also functions effortlessly, bringing you joy every time you step into the space.
6. Put Your Corners to Work
If you’ve been plagued by the inefficiency of 90-degree corner spaces in your kitchen, fret no more! Modern solutions have transformed these once-dreaded areas into valuable storage hubs that are easily accessible and incredibly functional. Enter the lazy susan cabinet—a game-changer in maximizing corner space utilization. These well-designed cabinets feature rotating shelves that allow you to effortlessly reach items tucked away in the depths of your corner cabinets, eliminating the frustration of inaccessible storage.
Alternatively, consider the innovative blind corner cabinet with pullout shelves. By capitalizing on the full depth and width of the corner, these cabinets utilize every inch of space, providing ample storage for all your kitchen essentials. With the simple pull of a handle, the shelves smoothly extend, granting you unhindered access to your stored items without the need to contort or strain to reach into dark recesses.
For those seeking a truly impressive solution, corner drawers offer both functionality and aesthetic appeal. Featuring ‘L’ shaped fronts that seamlessly integrate with your kitchen’s design, these drawers glide effortlessly on mounted rollers, making retrieval of items a breeze. By harnessing the triangular space of the corner, pullout shelves provide a practical and visually pleasing alternative to traditional corner cabinets, banishing the notion of the corner as a giant dark cave once and for all. With these innovative storage solutions, you can transform your kitchen’s corners into valuable storage assets that enhance both organization and accessibility, ensuring a more efficient and enjoyable culinary experience.
7. Spice it Up
If you’re like most cooking enthusiasts, your spice collection likely rivals that of a professional chef’s. With each new recipe exploration, your assortment of spice bottles grows exponentially, presenting a challenge in keeping them organized and easily accessible. The frustration of rummaging through a cluttered wall cabinet in search of a specific spice is all too familiar. Fortunately, there’s a simple solution to streamline your spice storage and elevate your cooking experience.
Introducing the 12-inch wide pullout cabinet—an ingenious addition to your kitchen right next to the stove. Featuring tiered shelves, this specialized cabinet provides a designated home for your expansive spice collection, allowing you to see at a glance what spices you have and precisely where they’re located. No more shuffling through rows of jars, pushing aside each one to reach the elusive spice hidden at the back of the cupboard.
By organizing your spices within easy reach of your cooking area, you can expedite meal preparation and enhance your culinary creativity. Whether you’re whipping up a quick weeknight dinner or experimenting with a gourmet recipe, having your spices neatly arranged and readily accessible ensures a smoother, more enjoyable cooking process. Say goodbye to the frustration of disorganized spice cabinets and embrace the simplicity and efficiency of a pullout spice cabinet—it’s the secret ingredient to a well-seasoned kitchen.
8. Get Vertical
Consider the array of bulky, flat items that clutter your kitchen—cookie sheets, platters, cutting boards, muffin tins, and more. Storing these cumbersome essentials poses a perpetual challenge, often resulting in overstuffed cabinets and a frustrating search for the right item. However, with a strategic approach to organization, you can transform chaos into order and reclaim valuable storage space in your kitchen.
Vertical dividers offer a simple yet effective solution to wrangle these hard-to-stow items. Whether installed in tall cabinets or dedicated narrow base cabinets, these dividers provide a designated space for each item, keeping them neatly organized and easily accessible. By vertically arranging your baking sheets, cutting boards, and other flatware, you optimize storage efficiency and eliminate the frustration of rummaging through cluttered cabinets.
Opting for adjustable dividers adds an extra layer of customization to your storage solution. With the ability to modify the width between dividers, you can accommodate items of various sizes and shapes, ensuring a tailored storage solution that meets your specific needs. This flexibility allows you to adapt your storage configuration as your culinary arsenal evolves, maintaining optimal organization and accessibility over time.
By incorporating vertical dividers with adjustable features into your kitchen cabinets, you can streamline storage for bulky, flat items and reclaim valuable space in your culinary domain. Say goodbye to cluttered cabinets and hello to a well-organized kitchen where every item has its designated place, making meal preparation a breeze.
9. Trash It
While your new kitchen cabinets are sure to exude beauty and elegance, overlooking the humble trash can could detract from the overall aesthetic and functionality of your space. After all, nobody wants an unsightly or odorous reminder of waste marring their meticulously designed kitchen. Fortunately, modern solutions make it effortless to conceal and manage trash and recycling, seamlessly integrating these essential elements into your kitchen cabinetry.
Enter pullout trash drawers—a discreet and efficient solution to the age-old problem of unsightly trash receptacles. Hidden within the base cabinets, these cleverly designed drawers keep trash and recycling bins out of sight while remaining easily accessible for daily use. Opting for a unit with space for at least two bins—one for garbage and one for recycling—ensures that your waste management system is both convenient and environmentally friendly.
Depending on your local recycling program and personal preferences, you may even choose to allocate additional space for different types of recycling, such as paper, plastic, or glass. With customizable options available, you can tailor your pullout trash drawer system to suit your specific needs and lifestyle.
Despite their space-saving design, standard double units are remarkably compact, measuring just 18 inches wide. This leaves ample room for a functional drawer at the top of the cabinet, providing additional storage for kitchen essentials.
Equipped with soft-close mechanisms, these pullout trash drawers operate smoothly and quietly, enhancing the overall user experience while minimizing noise and disruption in your kitchen. With their seamless integration and practical functionality, pullout trash drawers are a must-have addition to any modern kitchen, ensuring that every aspect of your space reflects both style and efficiency.
10. Top Drawer
Strategically incorporating drawers into your kitchen design can significantly enhance its functionality and efficiency. Unlike traditional cabinets, which often require reaching and rummaging to find what you need, drawers provide easy access and clear visibility to all stored items. With a simple pull, everything is right at your fingertips, streamlining meal preparation and daily kitchen tasks.
Multi-stack drawers are a game-changer when it comes to maximizing storage within limited space. These innovative drawers offer vertical storage solutions, allowing you to store more items in the same footprint as a standard cabinet. By utilizing the top drawers for organizing silverware, utensils, and smaller kitchen essentials, you create a designated space for frequently used items, making them readily accessible whenever needed. Meanwhile, the larger drawers underneath provide ample storage for bulkier items such as pots, pans, and kitchen appliances, keeping your countertops clutter-free and your kitchen organized.
A common recommendation from kitchen planning professionals suggests incorporating one stacked drawer for every double base cabinet. This guideline ensures optimal storage capacity while maintaining a cohesive and visually pleasing aesthetic. By adhering to this rule of thumb, you can strike the perfect balance between functionality and design in your kitchen layout, creating a space that is both efficient and aesthetically pleasing.
Incorporating well-planned drawers into your kitchen design not only enhances its usability but also improves its overall efficiency and organization. With multi-stack drawers offering versatile storage solutions, you can optimize every inch of space in your kitchen, creating a harmonious and functional environment that meets your culinary needs.
Take the Next Step
Embarking on the journey of planning your new kitchen cabinets is an exhilarating endeavor. With a wealth of considerations and remodeling options now at your fingertips, it’s the perfect moment to enlist the expertise of Superior Stone & Cabinet. As leaders in the industry, we offer comprehensive kitchen remodeling services tailored to your unique needs and preferences. Take advantage of our free estimates and tap into our years of experience to bring your vision to life. By partnering with us, a trusted and award-winning local company, you can rest assured knowing that your project is in capable hands. Visit our showroom to explore our extensive selection of cabinet offerings and begin turning your dream kitchen into a reality. Contact us today and let’s transform your space together!