Kitchen storage solutions for cluttered spaces

Closed-in, wall-hung cabinets or open shelves? Both have their advantages and disadvantages and which is right for your kitchen comes down to your needs as well as what sort of look you're trying to create. 

Shelving units

Open shelves and kitchens can make a good couple. As well as providing easy-access storage for everyday items or larger things that you don't use often, they also mean you can create a display in your kitchen, which can be a great way to inject a bit of your personality into the room.

But if you're not careful - and incredibly disciplined - shelves can wind up looking cluttered and a bit unruly, which may not suit the style of kitchen you're trying to achieve. Because of that they're not the best choice for a very sleek, contemporary kitchen based on low or next-to-no clutter, or for a very small kitchen, which can look even smaller with just a skerrick of clutter around.

Something else to remember is that due to the kitchen being a cooking hotspot, anything and everything you have displayed on a shelf will quickly get covered in a thin layer of grease or dust. That may not be a problem if the items are only for show, but it may wreak havoc with something like your everyday glassware.

Wall-hung cabinetry

A more traditional way to equip a kitchen is with some wall-hung storage, which is not only more versatile, but will allow you to be a bit messy - simply because you can shut the door on it all - and it will keep your platters, glassware and dinner sets squeaky clean.

However, in a small kitchen a bank of cabinets on the wall can be a little overbearing. They can also produce a finished product that is clutter free but a little stark - perfect for a contemporary kitchen, but perhaps not the best choice if you prefer a more lived in style, with your favourite knick-knacks out in full view.

Kitchen shelves with kitchen cabinetry

Apart from opting for a design and layout that includes a mix of shelves and cabinets, there is another solution: wall-hung cabinets that come complete with glass shelves and glass doors. That way you can still display your favourite kitchen gadgets or glassware, but they'll be safe from the elements. Our tip? Install some display lighting inside the cupboards so you can really make a show of it. 

Contact an interior designer in your area to find out how you can create more space in your small kitchen design: