15 Plates in Your Kitchen Cabinet? Yes, It's Possible!
Is your kitchen cabinet overflowing with plates, bowls, and other dishware? Do you find yourself constantly rearranging plates just to fit in the latest set of dishes you purchased? You may think it's impossible to organize 15 or more plates in a single cabinet space. However, with some simple tips on measurements, vertical storage, and innovation solutions, you can store over a dozen plates per cabinet!
From stackable plate racks to pull-out shelves and more, you'll learn pro strategies to neatly organize 15+ plates in one cabinet. We'll also discuss recommendations based on plate size, material type, and usage frequency. Follow our guide to say goodbye to messy cabinets and keep your dish collections orderly and accessible.
Why Having 15 Plates Per Cabinet is Ideal
Current trends in dishware ownership and usage
In today's era of hosting dinner parties and experimenting with recipe blogs, the average household owns far more plates and dishware than decades prior. Easy online shopping for dishes and collectors building expansive sets mean our cabinets fill up fast.
Additionally, the movement towards environmentally-friendly products means more households opt for reusable dishes over paper plates. This reduces waste but requires ample and organized dish storage.
Calculating your household's plate needs
To determine how many plates your cabinets should store, take into account your household size and how frequently you use them. For a family of four having regular dinner parties with 8-10 guests, having 15 plates allows breathing room for guests and prevents frequent dishwashing.
Even if your gatherings are smaller, extra capacity ensures you always have clean plates on hand even if some are still drying in the dishrack.
Benefits of having ample plates easily accessible
Having an abundance of plates conveniently stored provides multiple advantages:
- Saves time by minimizing washing/drying cycles
- Allows entertaining extra dinner guests
- Prevents needing disposable dishes as backup
- Avoids rummaging struggle finding matching plates
The key is not just owning ample dishware but also being able to neatly store and access them.
Strategies to Fit 15+ Plates in a Standard Cabinet
Taking measurements
First, assess if your cabinet dimensions can physically fit 15 plates. Measure both the internal width and height. Account for any shelves or obstructions already inside the cabinet as well.
Cabinet dimensions
A standard kitchen cabinet is about 30-36 inches high. The width can range from 12-48 inches depending on door style (single vs double). Depth is typically 24 inches.
Plate dimensions
The average dinner plate diameter is 10-12 inches. However, specialized plates like serving platters can measure much wider. Measure your largest sized plates when calculating capacity.
Maximizing vertical storage space
The key to fitting abundant plates lies in using the vertical dimension through specialized storage solutions:
Stackable plate racks
These racks neatly hold plates upright, occupy full cabinet height, and maximize how many plates fit depth-wise. Enjoy double or triple the storage!
Plate dividers/separators
Vertical dividers partition cabinet space to prevent sliding or tipping. Some feature built-in plate holders letting you neatly stand plates of various sizes.
Pull-out shelves
Install pull-out shelves to fully utilize awkward cabinet space towards the back. Store lesser used items here while keeping daily plates in front.
Maximizing horizontal space
Careful arrangement using all base area space also increases capacity:
Angled plate stacking
Place one plate flat, then stack another by propping up the edge at an angle. Repeat alternating angles to gain more than double the storage.
Cabinet divider inserts
These removable inserts compartmentalize the area, letting you allocate sections for plates, bowls, etc. Prevent tipping over and efficiently use area.
Innovative Storage Solutions
Beyond traditional organizers, modern innovative products offer convenient plate storage not possible before:
Magnetic plate strips
These adhesive magnetic strips affix to cabinet walls transforming any smooth interior surface into instant storage. The magnetism secures metal-based plates of any size.
Plate drawer organizer
Fusionware plate organizers fit inside kitchen drawers, standing plates vertically for compact storage. Sections neatly separate dishes.
Sliding plate trays
Install sliding trays that compactly store plates and smoothly pull out for easy access. Trays utilize all cabinet depth and height.
Plate hangers
Hang versatile plate hangers using cabinet door knobs or rods to use space behind doors. Quickly slide plates on and off the holders.
Plate Storage By Size
Segregating plates by size helps access specific dishes quickly:
Dinner plates
Reserve the most convenient, front-facing space for standard 10-12" dinner plates used for regular meals. Prioritize convenience for frequently handled items.
Salad/dessert plates
The narrower profile of these 7-9" plates allow fitting more per shelf. Stack together plates of identical size for stability.
Saucers
Group saucers and very small plates toward the back or on higher shelves reached less often. Their compact size stores many per area.
Plate Storage By Material
Plate material dictates storage method. Fragile materials require protected organization:
Porcelain/ceramic
Store sturdy porcelain and ceramic plates using vertical dividers or angled stacks to maximize capacity. Avoid cramming too tightly.
Glass
Pad shelves with nonslip matting and line plates along a back panel to prevent sliding. Glass demands gentle handling.
Plastic/melamine
Lightweight plastic and melamin plates won't break if stacked high. Use a plate rack inside cabinet to neatly stand many together.
Everyday Use vs. Special Occasion
Plate usage frequency and purpose should dictate storage location:
Prioritizing accessibility
If cabinets contain both daily use and special occasion dish sets, reserve the most accessible space for regular plates. This prevents constantly moving fancy dishes to set the table.
Designating hard-to-reach spaces
Place seldom-used items like holiday or heirloom plates on high shelves or far cabinet corners. Bring them out only for special events when convenience isn't vital.
Maintaining Organization
No storage strategy remains effective long without upholding organization:
First in, first out
Adopt a first in, first out system when putting away clean plates. Place newly cleaned plates behind current stacks to rotate based on usage.
Regular tidying/sorting
Periodically inspect cabinets to realign plates, purge unnecessary dishware, and restore order. Don't let chaos gradually build up over time.
Taking plate inventory
Categorize plates by size, material, or occasion type and track how many of each subset you own. Identify areas over capacity needing adjustment.
Adapting Approach for Other Dishware
While we focused specifically on plate storage, similar principles apply when organizing bowls, cups, and other dish collections:
Bowls
Use vertical dividers or stackable racks to neatly group bowls. Place everyday casual bowls conveniently with special bowls requiring delicate handling up high.
Cups/mugs
Install hooks along the interior cabinet walls to hang cups by their handles. For wheel throwing ceramic mugs, use angled racks to safely stand uniquely shaped pieces.
Stand platters, cake stands, and other servingware vertically using protective racks or insert cushions between shelves. Access these less frequently used items less often.
We hope these innovative storage ideas demonstrate that even small kitchens can find room for over a dozen plates per cabinet. Get organizing to join the many households discovering orderly dishware storage possible!