Kitchen Shelving Alternatives
Datetime:2013-12-16 Hits:
Using space efficiently in your kitchen can be challenging, no matter its size. Finding the right shelving alternatives may take some time, but your investment will pay off in the long term. According to the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE), designing your kitchen shelves with convenience in mind will also lead to safe storage and handling of kitchen equipment and supplies.
Cabinets with Fixed Shelves
Cabinets with fixed shelves provide suitable storage for infrequently used, heavy items such as mixers or large pots and pans. The HSE recommends storing these items on lower shelves so they are easy to reach and lift without straining your back. Place these items in enclosed cabinets to keep dust and kitchen grease from collecting on them.
Cabinets with fixed shelves also provide good storage for regularly used items such as plates, cups and smaller serving dishes.
Cabinets with Moveable Shelves
Kitchen shelving alternatives should include cabinets with moveable shelves to provide flexibility as your storage needs changes. Store cookbooks, tall boxes of cereal and serving dishes on these shelves, and adjust them as the size of the items you store changes.
Slotted Shelving
Install upright slotted dividers on kitchen shelves to create vertical storage for tall, narrow items such as cookie sheets or baking pans. Storing these items in hard-to-reach places such as above built-in ovens or refrigerators makes good use of these awkward kitchen spaces.
Open Shelves
Some people prefer the openness provided by having shelves mounted directly on their walls, rather than enclosed in cabinets. Open kitchen shelves allow the color of your walls to shine through, and let you show off your plates, glasses or serving pieces. They also provide easy access to cooking essentials such as mixing bowls and dry ingredients. Be aware that items sitting on open shelves may gather dust and cooking grease, requiring frequent cleaning.
Sliding Shelves
Kitchen shelving alternatives for cabinet space beneath the counter include sliding shelves. These shelves are mounted to the inside of a base cabinet, and allow you to pull the shelf out to access items. Sliding shelves save your back from the stooping and bending required to look into low cabinet spaces.
Lazy Susan
Lazy Susan is circular shelves or carousels that spin or swing out from cabinets, providing easy access to every item on the shelf. According to Job Access, they are a great solution for top and bottom corner cabinets, where items tend to disappear into the dark recesses of the cabinet, or for people who have difficulty reaching into deep shelving spaces.
Moveable Carts
If your wall space is limited, consider using a moveable cart with shelves to store dishes. Roll the cart into the dining room to set the table, move the cart near your dishwasher when unloading clean dishes, then tuck the cart into a corner for efficient storage.
