Maximising kitchen space

It is generally accepted that the kitchen is the heart of the home, the hub around which most everyday activities con-nected with family life centre.

Therefore, it is only natural that a great deal of attention is focused on this essential room when planning and designing a home.

Today’s kitchens tend to be somewhat compact, with every inch of space utilised to offer maximum storage and appliance space. Available space usually means efficient shelving.

Shelving fixed to kichen walls or the dry store area is still widespread, but it is impractical to move it, cleaning is more difficult and, since all kitchens evolve in layout, it does not make for sensible use of storage.

The most effective shelving is modular. This usually comes as flatpack or semi-fitted. As part of a new kitchen or refurbishment, the installer will be putting the shelving together, but it is literally snap and click, often without any nuts or bolts to fix. Self-assembly is very straightforward.

Advantages of modular shelving systems include mobility, versatility and the ability to remove shelving for washing, either through a dishwasher or in a sink.

The uprights on modular shelving have anchor points for shelf-support brackets, so many or just two or three shelves can be fitted according to the goods in store and their size.

Changing shelf height is very simple and additional shelves and support brackets can be bought. A good system will allow for shelving to be fitted around a corner, often without the obstruction of a support post on the leading edge of the corner, further increasing the versatility of the unit. Where transporting of shelving is a feature needed in a kitchen, modular racking systems mounted on castors are available.

There are several construction forms for the actual shelf, but they fit within two types – solid shelves and slatted shelves. A solid shelf is useful if small items are being stored, such as cooking utensils or small jars which would topple over on a slatted shelf.

Slatted shelves are the most popular. These allow air to circulate freely around food, important in storing fresh food at ambient temperature and for coldroom storage.

The slats allow for a good circulation of the cold air. For wine storage, round slats are useful as they allow bottles to be racked horizontally and put on top of each other.

There are other forms of storage and one of these is a dunnage system. ‘Dunnage’ is a technical word that describes a low-sited ambient racking system that keeps heavy items just off the ground to prevent moisture, heat and cold from rising up through the ground and spoiling the product.

Having foodstuffs raised off the ground also acts as a barrier to walking and crawling pests. Typical products stored on dunnage shelving are sacks of potatoes and other bulky vegetables such as onions and carrots. Dunnage shelving needs to be very robust, able to withstand heavy and prolonged weights.

Another important aspect required of shelving is the ability to clean them properly. With modular shelving, the slatted shelves can be lifted out and in most cases put through a dishwasher.

For parts of modular shelving which cannot be cleaned in a dishwasher, such as the upright frame, a medium bristle brush with hot soapy water will clean off spillages and a sanitising spray will help remove residual bacteria.

Pullout shelving has been around for decades. Most commonly used in kitchens, pantries and closets, these shelves have been given many names, such as pullout shelves, slideout drawers, rollout drawers, kitchen pullouts, sliding drawers… the main purpose is to give you access to cabinets from the outside rather than crawling inside, while making the best use of limited space.

Slideout shelving can be installed in your existing cabinets without any modifications. A custom-made pullout shelf will fit in the cabinet opening, allowing free access to organise and store all kitchen goods. It is a very cost-effective way to make the most of limited storage space.

Installing cabinet pullouts is not limited to areas where there is cabinet shelving. Most base kitchen cabinets have two shelves (the bottom of the cabinet and a shelf in the middle). Although installing slideout shelving in these two areas is the most common application, you can stack three to four rollout shelves in a base cabinet if your storage needs call for it.

Kitchen cabinet accessories can increase the storage capacity of your cabinet and make your kitchen look more organised. From shelves to grain storage bins, there is a large amount of cabinet accessories you can choose from.

When it comes to kitchen cabinets, the golden rule is ‘a place for everything and everything in its place’. If you have spacious cabinets with a wide range of accessories, you can store all the items in your kitchen in a convenient manner. You can also find anything without searching endlessly.

Apart from shelving, there are two other important storage solutions.

Firstly, there are drawer accessories. Cutlery compartments, double-level trays, sink tip-out trays, spice drawers and drawer organisers are some of the most widely used kitchen cabinet accessories.

Tip-out trays can be a good way to increase the usability of your false front cabinets. A drawer organiser is also perfect to keep your knives and cutting board close at hand. Another really good idea is that of rotating shelves that can greatly increase your corner cabinet storage space.

Pivot-out and under-the-sink dustbins, grain storage bins, single or double waste containers are all most useful in a kitchen. Pivot-out containers are a favourite because they stay out of sight and swing out only when you open the cabinet door.

Double waste containers can also be a great addition to your kitchen, as one can be used for household garbage and the other for recycling.

So, choosing all the right accessories for your kitchen is the simplest and best way to improve the look and feel of your kitchen and make it appear more organised.

Choose carefully and tastefully and you will successfully maximise the space in your kitchen.