Twirling Around Kitchen Corner Cabinet Issues

Kitchen corner cabinets present a tricky storage dilemma. The angular walls meet to create inaccessible nooks that transform into clutter magnets. However, with some clever solutions, we can rein in those unruly corners and reclaim the space.

The Challenges of Corner Cabinets

Corner areas top the list of underutilized zones in most kitchens. The innately awkward dimensions make cabinets crammed into the wedge-like area difficult to access. The bottom cabinets sit at an angle, preventing the doors from opening fully to reveal the dark depths within.

Upper corner cabinets don't fare much better. The confined room means limited storage real estate. The tedious reach to gain access also means many simply toss items into the void, never to be seen again. It becomes the perfect recipe for clutter and frustration.

Wasted and Inaccessible Space

The innate structure of corner cabinets severely limits storage functionality. The tapered design provides less surface area and depth than a standard straight cabinet. Storage space gets lost to the triangular edges that have limited practical use.

The limited swing radius of corner cabinet doors also hampers access to contents. A typical door's less-than-90-degree arc keeps over 50 percent of the storage area out of reach. As a result, much of the available space ends up wasted.

Difficult to See and Reach Items

The person tasked with unloading groceries struggles to wedge themselves diagonally into the cavity formed by the cabinet frame and counter to cram items onto obscured shelves. Meanwhile, the one preparing family meals resorts to blindly fumbling around while balancing precariously to retrieve bakeware.

The reality is, once items disappear into the dark crater of corner cabinets, they vanish from easy visibility and access. Unless you possess extraordinary flexibility or wing span, organizing the chaos isn't an option either.

Leads to Clutter and Disorganization

The inability to fully view, access, and organize corner cabinet space inevitably creates disarray. Frustration from constantly fishing around for things also discourages users from attempting to tame the clutter.

As a result, contained chaos becomes the norm. An eruption of odd containers and specialty products gets shoved inside without rhyme or reason. Before you know it, the cabinet crammed with dusty, expired cans and Tupperware become a dreaded realm one avoids at all cost.

Common Corner Cabinet Solutions

Fortunately, all hope is not lost when it comes to maximizing stubborn corner areas. Numerous storage solutions now cater to conquering the quirks of angled cabinetry. Let's review some popular options to assess the pros and cons.

Lazy Susans

A lazy Susan consists of shelves connected to a rotating center pole allowing users to spin contents for enhanced visibility and access. They work well for tricky corners in base or upper cabinets. The spinning shelves provide easy access to items in even the deepest section of the corner.

Best Uses and Cabinet Types

Lazy Susan units are great problem solvers for hard-to-reach upper corner cabinets. The compact, circular trays efficiently catch items that get stuck in the back. The smooth rotation makes even crammed top shelves readily accessible for users of all heights.

Product Recommendations

Quality lazy Susans like Rev-A-Shelf's Corner Cabinet Organizer and Richelieu's Le Mans II series feature sturdy ball bearings for smooth rotation even under heavy loads. Models with anti slip mats or dividers cater to keeping items securely in place while spinning.

Pros and Cons

• Pros
  • Enables full cabinet access through rotation
  • Multiple tray size options
  • Affordable and widely available
• Cons
  • Weight limitations for smooth performance
  • Space-saving efficiency varies by design
  • Contents can shift around during rotation

Pull-Out Shelves

As the name suggests, this style uses shelves that slide in and out of cabinet frames on tracks. Custom-designed trays and baskets optimize the layout for storage efficiency. The sliding shelves offer easy access even to the farthest corner space without needing to step into the cabinet.

Work Well for Base Cabinets

Due to the scale, pull-out shelves tend to excel for base corner cabinets. They allow even bulky bakeware or small appliances to slide right out within arm's reach. Some feature built-in vertical storage slots or tilt-down sections to further maximize real estate.

DIY vs Professionally Installed

Freestanding shelf units like DecoBros Sliding Storage Basket offer removable pull-out storage requiring no installation. However, customized built-ins generally optimize space better through flexible multi-tier and side-extension shelf designs.

Professional fitting allows tailoring pull-outs precisely to the cabinet with chose shelf material, height, and depth. Yet quality DIY kits like Rev-A-Shelf's Provide similar versatility for the ambitious installer.

Open Shelving

Open shelving removes cabinet doors and inserts exposed shelves into the corner area instead. The unencumbered structure lends complete visibility and access. The innate convenience also encourages maintaining organization.

More Affordable Option

Beyond ease of use, open shelving simplifies storage to just shelves and brackets. Without needing storage accessories or hardware, it becomes an economical solution.

The simplicity also suits DIY-ers. Just cutting shelving boards to fit before screwing metal brackets or even nailing wood strips into the corner frame can transform previously inaccessible space.

Can Collect Dust/Grease

The exposed shelves also mean stored items sit out in the open. As a result, they remain vulnerable to dust exposure and potential grease splatter in the kitchen environment.

However, corner cabinets tend to house lesser-used items that require access primarily for periodic retrieving or reorganizing. So for many homeowners, the added convenience and visual storage aid outweigh any dusting hassles.

Design Considerations

When deciding how best to equip your corner cabinet area, assess the existing kitchen layout along with storage needs. Measure the intended cabinet space and note considerations like:

• Cabinet height and depth
• Weight restrictions
• Aesthetic preferences
• Customization requirements
• Available installation assistance
• Budget

This helps determine if off-the-shelf solutions can address the available space or customization becomes necessary. It also informs suitable accessories to further enhance storage efficiency.

Custom vs Off-the-Shelf Solutions

Prepackaged corner organizers offer out-of-the-box enhancements requiring no cabinet modifications. Lazy susans and sliding trays fall into this domain for easily retrofitting existing spaces.

Meanwhile, bespoke options like built-in shelving, custom-sized pull outs, and blind corner pantries allow truly tailoring the storage solution. But the costs also scale up accordingly based on design and fitting needs.

Integrating Storage and Organizational Accessories

Enhancing corner storage via pull-outs or open racks? Include elements like:

• Adjustable shelves
• Drawers
• Trays
• Vertical storage slots
• Wastebasket pull-out

Accessories catering to a specific need like plates, pans, or cleaning supplies also help. Consider items like vertical holders for cookie sheets, custom-height racks for large platters, or narrow bins for lids and cutting boards.

Getting The Most Out of Your Corner

A storage enhancement like a lazy Susan or pull-out introduces vast improvements over standard corner cabinets. Yet adding even basic organizational elements takes storage optimization to the next level.

Incorporate Drawers/Pull-Outs Where Possible

Drawers and pull-out trays allow subdividing storage into compartments better suited for typical kitchen goods. Stackable varieties maintain convenient access to items on lower levels without needing to remove everything above first.

Add Tiered Storage Solutions

Vertically offset shelves, drawer stacks, and multi-level slide out trays prevent wasting prime real estate. Items remain neatly separated and visible but condensed into the confined corner space.

Use Vertical Space with Tall Cabinetry Designs

Incorporating floor-to-ceiling custom shelving or pull-out storage utilizes all available space. Upper cabinets can also extend to the ceiling versus standard heights for holding greater loads.

Such built-out storage calls for planning during kitchen renovations to allow tailoring cabinetry dimensions. But for awkward corners, the customization investment pays dividends by unleashing the full potential of the existing footprint.

Storage Accessories For Corners

Beyond large-scale pull-outs or open racks, an arsenal of space-saving specialty accessories exists to further equip your corner space overhaul.

Spice Organizers

Sections of narrow, deep shelves which can secure a remarkable number of spice jars in one corner location. Models like DecoBros' Spice Rack feature tiered designs allowing visibility and access without needing to shift items around endlessly.

Tiered Shelves

Vertically offset shelves doubling storage capacity without claiming additional floorspace. Great for tucking away cookbooks, small appliances, or lesser-used dinnerware.

Drawer Dividers

Custom inserts allowing custom segmentation of drawers installed in corner units. Options like Rev-A-Shelf's Drawer Organizers have adjustable bins to cater to everything from utensils to cleaning supplies.

Kitchen corner cabinets often get labeled awkward and frustrating spaces. However, storage innovations now make it possible to reclaim pesky corners and transform them into highly functional storage.

Reviewing the available options against factors like existing cabinetry, budget, and intended storage needs allows selecting appropriate solutions. Elements like lazy Susans, pull-outs, or open racks immediately ease access and expand capacity.

Additional organizational accessories then optimize the upgraded space for ultimate efficiency. The insights shared here offer a blueprint for assess your needs and determine an effective corner cabinet upgrade path. Just remember that with some clever improvising, even the most troublesome kitchen corners can offer prime, accessible storage space.