Storage is one of the most important elements of any kitchen design, yet it is also one of the most frequently underestimated. A kitchen that looks beautiful in a brochure but leaves you with nowhere to put your pots, pans, or everyday essentials will quickly become a source of frustration. Getting storage right from the outset is not just about fitting more in; it is about making everything easier to find, easier to reach, and easier to live with.
At Signature Kitchens, storage planning is central to every bespoke kitchen we design. With over 35 years of experience helping homeowners across Hampshire, we know that the best kitchens are the ones that work as hard as they look. Here is our guide to making the most of the space you have.
Start With How You Actually Use Your Kitchen
Before thinking about specific products or solutions, it is worth spending some time observing how you move around your kitchen and what you reach for most often. The items you use every day should be the easiest to access. Things you use occasionally can be stored higher up or further back. Items used only once or twice a year can live in the least accessible spots.
This sounds simple, but it is a step many people skip. When you sit down with our design team for your free planning consultation, one of the first things we will explore is how you cook, how often you entertain, and what your daily kitchen routine looks like. That conversation directly shapes the storage decisions we make together.
Make the Most of Every Cabinet
Standard base cabinets with a single fixed shelf leave a great deal of space unused. Upgrading the interior fittings of your cabinets can make a dramatic difference to how much you can store and how easily you can find things.
Some of the most effective options include:
Pull-out pan drawers: Far more practical than deep base cabinets for storing cookware. Everything is visible and accessible without bending down and rummaging at the back.
Internal drawer dividers: Ideal for cutlery, utensils, and small items. A well-organised drawer can hold considerably more than one left to its own devices.
Soft-close pull-out larder units: These tall, slender units make excellent use of narrow spaces and bring every item forward for easy access. All Signature Kitchens cabinets include soft-close fittings as standard.
Corner solutions: Corner cabinets are notoriously difficult to use well. Carousel units, Le Mans trays, and pull-out corner drawers transform these otherwise awkward spaces into genuinely useful storage.
Think Vertically as Well as Horizontally
Many kitchens fail to make full use of their vertical space. Running wall units all the way up to the ceiling provides a significant amount of additional storage for items used less frequently. Tall larder towers and full-height pantry cabinets are another excellent way to make a wall work harder without extending the kitchen footprint.
If your kitchen has a high ceiling, consider open shelving in the upper section for display purposes, with closed storage below for everyday items. This approach adds visual interest whilst keeping the most-used items within easy reach.
Use a Kitchen Island Wisely
A kitchen island is one of the most popular features in modern kitchen design, and with good reason. Beyond providing additional worktop space and a natural social hub, a well-designed island can deliver substantial extra storage. Base cabinets on one or both sides, integrated wine racks, pull-out recycling bins, and deep pan drawers all make excellent use of the island structure.
The key is to plan the island storage in conjunction with the rest of the kitchen, rather than treating it as a separate element. Our design team will look at the kitchen as a whole and ensure that the island complements rather than duplicates the storage elsewhere.
Do Not Overlook the Small Details
Some of the most satisfying storage solutions are the ones you barely notice until you need them. A few worth considering in any bespoke kitchen design:
Integrated waste and recycling: Built-in bins keep the area under the sink tidy and make sorting waste effortless.
Plinth drawers: The space beneath base cabinets is often completely unused. Shallow plinth drawers are perfect for trays, baking sheets, and flat items that are otherwise difficult to store.
Appliance garages: A dedicated cupboard with a roller shutter or lift-up door keeps countertop appliances accessible but out of sight.
Integrated spice racks and knife blocks: Built into a drawer or cabinet, these small additions keep essentials close at hand without cluttering the worktop.
Storage and Style Are Not Opposites
There is sometimes a perception that maximising storage means sacrificing aesthetics. In a bespoke kitchen, the opposite is true. Because every cabinet is made to order and every fitting is chosen specifically for the space, it is entirely possible to have a kitchen that is both beautifully organised and visually stunning.
Whether you are drawn to the clean lines of a contemporary kitchen or the warmth of a traditional design, our team will help you find the storage solutions that suit your style as well as your practical needs. You can explore both approaches in our contemporary kitchens and traditional kitchens galleries on our website.
Plan Your Storage With Signature Kitchens
If you are planning a new kitchen and want to ensure that storage is built into the design from day one, we would love to help. Our free plan and design service includes a home visit to take measurements and understand your space, followed by a detailed design that puts every centimetre to good use.
Visit our Petersfield showroom to see our cabinetry and fittings in person, or call us on 01730 233051 to arrange a free design consultation. You can also find out more about how we work on our services page.
FAQ
What is the best way to store pots and pans in a kitchen?
Pull-out pan drawers are widely regarded as the most practical solution. They allow you to see and reach every item without having to bend down and search at the back of a deep cabinet. Stacking pans with their lids stored separately in a dedicated rack or drawer keeps everything organised and easy to grab.
How can I make use of the awkward corner space in my kitchen?
Corner cabinets are traditionally the most underused area of any kitchen layout. Carousel units, Le Mans pull-out trays, and corner drawer systems all transform these spaces into genuinely accessible storage. The right solution will depend on the size and shape of your corner, which is something our design team will advise on during your free planning consultation.
Should I choose open shelving or closed cabinets for storage?
Both have their place in a well-designed kitchen. Open shelving works well for items you use daily and want to display, such as glassware, crockery, or cookbooks. Closed cabinets are better for everyday clutter and anything you would rather keep out of sight. Many of our clients opt for a combination, with glazed wall cabinets providing a middle ground between the two.
Can a small kitchen have good storage?
Absolutely. Smaller kitchens often benefit the most from clever storage design, because every centimetre genuinely counts. Tall larder units, plinth drawers, full-height wall cabinets, and pull-out internal fittings can all deliver a significant amount of storage within a compact footprint. The key is precise planning from the very beginning, which is exactly what our bespoke design service is designed to provide.
Does Signature Kitchens include storage planning in its design service?
Yes. Storage planning is an integral part of every kitchen we design. During your free consultation, we will take the time to understand how you use your kitchen and what you need to store, and build those requirements into the design. We also offer a home measurement service so that the design is based on the exact dimensions of your space. You can find out more on our services page.
