Clever Hacks to Make Your Cupboards Work Harder
Store more with these neat ideas
Susannah Hutchison
3 March 2018
Houzz Contributor
We all know the importance of plenty of storage, but, left untamed, finding what you actually need inside a packed-to-the-gunwales cupboard can become a bit of a trial. Check out these ideas for maximising every last inch of space while maintaining order inside.
This article is from our Most Popular stories file
This article is from our Most Popular stories file
Tuck shoes behind rails
Avoid shoemageddon with a line of rails, fixed down the length of a cupboard, behind which footwear can be slotted, toes down. In the other cupboard in this picture, the combination of hooks and boxes provides lots of storage for coats, hats, gloves and scarves.
Avoid shoemageddon with a line of rails, fixed down the length of a cupboard, behind which footwear can be slotted, toes down. In the other cupboard in this picture, the combination of hooks and boxes provides lots of storage for coats, hats, gloves and scarves.
Bring order with baskets
More flexible than extra fitted shelves or cubbyholes, a set of matching baskets is useful in a cupboard that houses lots of smaller bits and bobs. Go for a style with handles like these to make lifting them in and out a breeze.
More flexible than extra fitted shelves or cubbyholes, a set of matching baskets is useful in a cupboard that houses lots of smaller bits and bobs. Go for a style with handles like these to make lifting them in and out a breeze.
Add drawers inside a kid’s cupboard
Young children are small and, guess what, so are their clothes. While they’re still knee-high, make the most of cupboard space by putting a set of drawers inside (if they’re freestanding, don’t forget to fix them to the wall so a child can’t pull them over).
This maximises the whole cupboard and makes little pants, socks and T-shirts much easier to find.
Young children are small and, guess what, so are their clothes. While they’re still knee-high, make the most of cupboard space by putting a set of drawers inside (if they’re freestanding, don’t forget to fix them to the wall so a child can’t pull them over).
This maximises the whole cupboard and makes little pants, socks and T-shirts much easier to find.
Raise the plates
Lots of storage specialists sell freestanding shelves like these that go inside a cupboard to help organise heavy items, such as crockery or tins. They raise up any items at the back of the cabinet so they can be seen, and also make it much easier to lift things in and out without having to grapple with the whole perilous pile.
Lots of storage specialists sell freestanding shelves like these that go inside a cupboard to help organise heavy items, such as crockery or tins. They raise up any items at the back of the cabinet so they can be seen, and also make it much easier to lift things in and out without having to grapple with the whole perilous pile.
Refit a corner cupboard
A pull-out racking system like this brings order to a corner cupboard, which can become a magnet for teetering stacks of pots and pans.
There are lots of designs like this available from kitchen manufacturers (search online for pull-out pan storage) that allow you to access your cookware without risking an avalanche every time you open the door.
A pull-out racking system like this brings order to a corner cupboard, which can become a magnet for teetering stacks of pots and pans.
There are lots of designs like this available from kitchen manufacturers (search online for pull-out pan storage) that allow you to access your cookware without risking an avalanche every time you open the door.
Remember the ironing board
If your kitchen or utility area has a full-length cupboard, slot in a slim partition to store the ironing board. This should prevent everything from crashing down, domino style, every time you get it out.
Another neat idea here is the hanging rail to store clothes that have been ironed before they make their way back to their respective wardrobes.
If your kitchen or utility area has a full-length cupboard, slot in a slim partition to store the ironing board. This should prevent everything from crashing down, domino style, every time you get it out.
Another neat idea here is the hanging rail to store clothes that have been ironed before they make their way back to their respective wardrobes.
Divide the space
Chopping boards, baking trays, roasting tins and racks can be very cumbersome to get in and out of a cupboard. Stack them neatly with a simple four-way divider (or two-way, depending on the size of your cupboard). No more swearing under your breath when you’re trying to wrestle out a bun tin…
Find local carpenters and joiners to help with built-in solutions in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
Chopping boards, baking trays, roasting tins and racks can be very cumbersome to get in and out of a cupboard. Stack them neatly with a simple four-way divider (or two-way, depending on the size of your cupboard). No more swearing under your breath when you’re trying to wrestle out a bun tin…
Find local carpenters and joiners to help with built-in solutions in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
Hang a mirror inside the door
If mirrored wardrobes aren’t your thing and you’ve no wall space for a full-length looking glass, make use of the inside of the cupboard door and hang one there instead. Factor in some internal lighting, too, and you’ve got your own mini dressing room. Sorted.
If mirrored wardrobes aren’t your thing and you’ve no wall space for a full-length looking glass, make use of the inside of the cupboard door and hang one there instead. Factor in some internal lighting, too, and you’ve got your own mini dressing room. Sorted.
Fix mini racks for jars
Slimline racks fitted to the inside of a cupboard door are ideal for spices and other small items. Not only do they make the most of any potential ‘dead’ space just inside the door, they also mean small jars don’t get lost in the depths of the cupboard.
Slimline racks fitted to the inside of a cupboard door are ideal for spices and other small items. Not only do they make the most of any potential ‘dead’ space just inside the door, they also mean small jars don’t get lost in the depths of the cupboard.
Put hooks inside doors
Simple but very useful, a few hooks glued or screwed on the inside of a cupboard door provide valuable extra storage for slim items. Or hang a canvas bag on a hook inside for clothes pegs, spare cutlery, paperwork – whatever will fit in the space.
Simple but very useful, a few hooks glued or screwed on the inside of a cupboard door provide valuable extra storage for slim items. Or hang a canvas bag on a hook inside for clothes pegs, spare cutlery, paperwork – whatever will fit in the space.
Pull out your pans
A row of hooks on a pull-out rack is another clever solution for pan storage. Ask a carpenter about installing something like this, and make sure you factor in the weight of your cookware.
Tell us…
What do you think of these cupboard ideas? Share your ideas in the Comments section.
A row of hooks on a pull-out rack is another clever solution for pan storage. Ask a carpenter about installing something like this, and make sure you factor in the weight of your cookware.
Tell us…
What do you think of these cupboard ideas? Share your ideas in the Comments section.
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These are probably all ideas we knew about but they’re beautifully gathered together and presented. One remaining item (at least!) that I haven’t found a way to store neatly is my canister vacuum cleaner!
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