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There’s nowhere in your home where kitchen storage is more important than in your kitchen. So how do you maximise the space you have in a way that’s both beautiful and functional? Let’s find out some of my kitchen storage ideas…

The King of Storage: Kitchen Drawers

When it comes to kitchen storage, nothing compares to drawers. Unlike cupboards where items tend to get lost and forgotten at the back, the simple mechanism of sliding a kitchen drawer open makes all items accessible every time. Kitchen Storage Drawers hands down take first place when it comes to storage, ease of use and functionality in the kitchen, so they should definitely be high on the list as an essential element in your kitchen design ideas.

Kitchen Storage Drawers: Smooth Operator

Opting for soft-close kitchen drawers provides the ultimate in functionality and ease of use - and not installing them will leave you with regrets. Soft-close kitchen drawers result in less wear and tear on your cabinetry, no annoying slamming and mean little fingers are less likely to get jammed.

On the Kitchen Storage Shelf

If you’re like us, you want to keep all surfaces clutter-free except for a curated display of your favourite pieces. But there are some places where open kitchen shelving is worth its weight in gold, and a Butler’s Pantry is on that list! Open shelving is cost-effective and super practical - all of the items you need are front and centre, and you can access them all without having to open a door or drawer. And don’t think that open shelves can’t be beautiful - using a timber laminate is a fabulous way to turn your kitchen storage shelf into a feature.

Know when to fold your kitchen storage

Need the practicality of open shelves, but can’t bear the thought of laying it out for your guests to see? We hear you! That’s when adding a bi-fold door can be the perfect solution. It simply slides open and voila! Kitchen Storage at your fingertips. Here we used the Hettich ‘Wingline L’.

Kitchen Cupboard: The only way is up

If you want to maximise the storage space in your kitchen, you simply can’t go past overhead kitchen cupboards. They’re the perfect place to store glasses and breakables dust-free and out of reach of little hands, and result in a sleek and streamlined look. Using a push-to-open system means you can go handle free for the ultimate in minimal kitchen cupboard design. Bye-bye clutter, hello kitchen storage.

Kitchen Shelf Storage: On display

The Shelfie - it’s the no-brainer way to create that designer look in your home. An integrated or floating kitchen shelf can be installed just above eye level in kitchens to store high-use items within hand reach, or if you’re like us, it’s all about aesthetics and housing a curated display.

Z + S Tip • There’s no one size fits all when it comes to kitchen shelf storage, so consider what items you might be storing, measure them, and design your new shelf dimensions to suit. Try to avoid shelf heights that are a lot taller than you need as this results in empty space above items, which is generally not as aesthetically pleasing or well-proportioned.

kitchen Island Bench: Sneaky storage

We like our cabinetry to work hard while still looking minimal, so we always sneak in clever hidden storage whenever we can. Our favourite space is beneath the breakfast overhang on the Kitchen island bench. By designing the island 1200mm deep, you can incorporate 300mm deep cupboards along the back length of the island bench.

Z + S Tip • Don’t install push-to-open latches where bar stools will sit up against them, as the doors will open whenever someone sits down and presses against them with their knee. Opt for traditional doors instead with small pull handles or similar.

Now you see it…

If you’re like us, you love the clever design and well thought out spaces that just work. Enter the pocket door! This ingenious door allows you to discreetly hide away all manner of sins when closed - and when open the doors tuck away neatly out of sight, within pockets on either side of your kitchen cabinetry. It’s the perfect solution for a Micro Butler’s Pantry, as seen in our Scandi Project below.

Internal Integration

So now you’ve considered what kinds of doors, drawers and shelves you need to make sure your kitchen storage is functional and fuss-free at all times. Here at Z+S, we like to take things one step further, with internal integration features to make organisation in the kitchen an absolute breeze. We’re talking solutions like slide-out rubbish bins that make cleaning up after a meal super simple, and cutlery trays that will make sure your kitchen utensils are easy to find and store at all times. These integrated kitchen storage ideas are also seamless and hidden out of view which is perfect for anyone wanting an organised, neat kitchen bench, cupboard, pantry and shelf.

Quality hardware is crucial to the longevity of your cabinetry, and you can tell when quality mechanisms are installed, every time you open and close a drawer or door. After investing so much into your new kitchen storage, it just makes sense to install hardware that goes the distance. We use Hettich kitchen hardware for all our cabinetry and have done so for over 10 years - because tried and tested, they work without fail.