Organizing Series: Expanding Your Kitchen Storage
Once you've optimized your existing kitchen storage to the fullest extent, you may still need a bit more room for odd-sized, over-sized, and infrequently-used items. There are a few easily-added options if you have some space in your kitchen, or even in your dining room.
Add a Kitchen Cart or Island
Depending on the size of your kitchen, you may be able to add some storage through the use of either a kitchen cart or a kitchen island. These come in many different sizes, color choices, and at varying price points. The tops can be wood, stainless steel, or even granite. The carts have wheels as well as locking mechanismns so they don't run away when you're chopping your vegetables, but can move out of the way when you're done.
From left to right above:
- Cottage Oak Cuisine Cart: 32½" W x 18¾" D x 36" H $300.00
- Crosley Furniture Kitchen Island: 52"W x 18"D x 34"H $300.00
- Cuisine Cart: 32½" W x 18¾" D x 36" H $260.00
All are from KitchenCarts.com.
Other fairly inexpensive options can be found at JC Penney, as shown below.
From left to right above:
- Kitchen Island from JCP home™: 23¾x47¾x34"H; or 23¾x67¾x34"H with leaves extended - $400.00
- Jefferson Stainless Top Kitchen Island: 53x18x35½"H - $280.00
Change Your Kitchen Table to one with Storage
Who knew that a kitchen table could also be a decorative object with ssome storage posssibilities? Pottery Barn is just one source for a small, round table that includes storage room in the center. There's still plenty of room for a good amount of seating - and people's legs - despite the center core of storage shelves. The bottom shelf can hold a square basket sold by Pottery Barn, so you can corral - or hide - smaller objects.
Change Seating to include a Storage Bench
Is part of your kitchen seating against one wall, or maybe in a corner where two walls meet? You can easily add some storage by switching from individual chairs to a storage bench or two there.
The bench shown above is available from Target, and the storage areas easily hold things such as soda bottles, extra dishes, small pots, etc. The center area can be a great place to keep cookbooks and cooking magazines.
Add a Console or Sideboard to the Dining Room
If your kitchen's a bit too small to accommodate any other furniture, how about a buffet or sideboard added to your dining room? These are also available in various sizes and finishes, and at a good variety of price points. Some have completely enclosed storage, others have either drawers are shelves enclose by doors, with room for wine bottles below.
Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel, and others have a good selection starting from $700. Pier One has a surprisingly good selection, starting at even lower price points. So, look around your home and see if there's a niche that can be used to add a decorative piece of furniture that can also solve some of your kitchen storage issues.
Organizing Series: Expanding Your Kitchen Storage
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