Sneaky Storage Ideas for Small Appliances
If your kitchen's short on space, these novel ideas keep small appliances out of the way but still close at hand
Anne Ellard
1 October 2015
Houzz Australia Contributor. Kitchen designer at Kitchens by Kathie in Brisbane, Australia. I strongly believe that above all else, the most important thing when designing a kitchen is creating something that the client loves!
Houzz Australia Contributor. Kitchen designer at Kitchens by Kathie in Brisbane,... More
I love my small appliances: a mixer for baking, blender for smoothies, sandwich toaster, rice cooker… the list goes on. But the truth is I often struggle to find a place to store them in the kitchen, and many of my clients come to me with the same problem.
When small appliances are scattered around or shoved in any old nook or cranny, they can end up neglected and under-utilised because it’s just too hard to get them out and ready for use. My husband has tried to enforce a ‘one in, one out’ rule, but that didn’t go so well (I need them all in my life!). The trick, I’ve come to realise, is in finding spots where appliances will be kept out of the way (and even out of sight), but always accessible.
These clever storage ideas for small appliances will hopefully make it easier for you to grab them on the run. Smoothie anyone?
When small appliances are scattered around or shoved in any old nook or cranny, they can end up neglected and under-utilised because it’s just too hard to get them out and ready for use. My husband has tried to enforce a ‘one in, one out’ rule, but that didn’t go so well (I need them all in my life!). The trick, I’ve come to realise, is in finding spots where appliances will be kept out of the way (and even out of sight), but always accessible.
These clever storage ideas for small appliances will hopefully make it easier for you to grab them on the run. Smoothie anyone?
Tea station
One of the most practical storage places for the most regularly used small appliances in your kitchen, such as your kettle and coffee machine, is a cabinet (with doors and shelves) built over a benchtop, especially at the wall end or in a corner of your kitchen. This allows you easy access to your appliances, but keeps them out of sight when they’re not in use.
TIP: Have some power points installed at the back of the cabinet so you can leave the appliances plugged in and ready for use at a moment’s notice.
More: 15 Cleverly Concealed Kitchen Storage Spaces
One of the most practical storage places for the most regularly used small appliances in your kitchen, such as your kettle and coffee machine, is a cabinet (with doors and shelves) built over a benchtop, especially at the wall end or in a corner of your kitchen. This allows you easy access to your appliances, but keeps them out of sight when they’re not in use.
TIP: Have some power points installed at the back of the cabinet so you can leave the appliances plugged in and ready for use at a moment’s notice.
More: 15 Cleverly Concealed Kitchen Storage Spaces
Roller door
The cabinet pictured here houses a coffee machine concealed behind a roller door. As the door slides up and away into the cabinet cavity it virtually disappears, allowing the cabinet to be left open without causing any obstruction. This makes a roller door the best option for smaller kitchen cabinets installed on the benchtop.
TIP: Fix a small shelf above your appliances so you can keep a tea caddy and ground coffee in easy reach – a convenience you’ll no doubt appreciate on early morning dashes around the kitchen before work.
The cabinet pictured here houses a coffee machine concealed behind a roller door. As the door slides up and away into the cabinet cavity it virtually disappears, allowing the cabinet to be left open without causing any obstruction. This makes a roller door the best option for smaller kitchen cabinets installed on the benchtop.
TIP: Fix a small shelf above your appliances so you can keep a tea caddy and ground coffee in easy reach – a convenience you’ll no doubt appreciate on early morning dashes around the kitchen before work.
Appliance centre
If you have enough space in your kitchen, it may be possible to create a separate, designated appliance centre (with numerous power points) where all your small gadgets can be lined up along one wall of a benchtop, yet remain hidden behind the closed doors of a cabinet.
The appliance centre can be hidden behind a roller door or, if it’s a fairly wide space, then behind bi-folding doors as pictured here. This is understandably more costly than a conventional shelf, but it’s extremely neat and convenient. Just open the doors and use the appliances where they stand – a far better option, I think you’ll agree, than allowing your kitchen whizzes to gather dust at the back of a cabinet.
TIP: If you regularly bake or make juices and smoothies quite often, keep your mixers and blenders plugged in and ready to use at any time.
If you have enough space in your kitchen, it may be possible to create a separate, designated appliance centre (with numerous power points) where all your small gadgets can be lined up along one wall of a benchtop, yet remain hidden behind the closed doors of a cabinet.
The appliance centre can be hidden behind a roller door or, if it’s a fairly wide space, then behind bi-folding doors as pictured here. This is understandably more costly than a conventional shelf, but it’s extremely neat and convenient. Just open the doors and use the appliances where they stand – a far better option, I think you’ll agree, than allowing your kitchen whizzes to gather dust at the back of a cabinet.
TIP: If you regularly bake or make juices and smoothies quite often, keep your mixers and blenders plugged in and ready to use at any time.
Slide-out shelf
If you decide to store your small appliances plugged in and inside a cabinet on the benchtop, it’s best to pull them out of the cabinet when you switch them on. This is particularly important for coffee machines, kettles and toasters. It avoids a build up of heat and steam inside the cabinet, which can cause damage to both your appliances and cabinet surfaces and joinery.
Pulling appliances out of the cabinet is made easier with the addition of a slide-out shelf the appliances can sit on inside the cabinet. They slide both ways, so just push them back in when you’re finished.
If you decide to store your small appliances plugged in and inside a cabinet on the benchtop, it’s best to pull them out of the cabinet when you switch them on. This is particularly important for coffee machines, kettles and toasters. It avoids a build up of heat and steam inside the cabinet, which can cause damage to both your appliances and cabinet surfaces and joinery.
Pulling appliances out of the cabinet is made easier with the addition of a slide-out shelf the appliances can sit on inside the cabinet. They slide both ways, so just push them back in when you’re finished.
Corner cabinets
A corner cabinet is one of the most awkward in the kitchen. However, if its internal space is planned carefully and put to good use, a corner cabinet can be one of the best places in which to store small appliances. Pictured here, a shelf extension has been fitted inside the cabinet. This mechanism can be pulled right out, allowing the user to gain easy access to the items being stored inside.
TIP: Pulling the shelf out of the cabinet also makes it easier to quickly lift an appliance up onto the benchtop.
More: Clever Corner-Cupboard Storage Solutions for Your Kitchen Renovation
A corner cabinet is one of the most awkward in the kitchen. However, if its internal space is planned carefully and put to good use, a corner cabinet can be one of the best places in which to store small appliances. Pictured here, a shelf extension has been fitted inside the cabinet. This mechanism can be pulled right out, allowing the user to gain easy access to the items being stored inside.
TIP: Pulling the shelf out of the cabinet also makes it easier to quickly lift an appliance up onto the benchtop.
More: Clever Corner-Cupboard Storage Solutions for Your Kitchen Renovation
Deep drawers
If you don’t have space in your kitchen to create a designated appliance centre or benchtop cabinet, consider storing your appliances in a deep under-bench drawer. Storing them in a pull-out drawer will make it easier to find what you’re after.
TIP: Ensure your drawer hardware is designed to carry a reasonable amount of weight before you load it up with heavy mixers and blenders. Check with your designer, or the cabinet maker, what the maximum load capacity is of each kitchen drawer.
More: 10 Kitchen Drawers That’ll Make Life Easier
If you don’t have space in your kitchen to create a designated appliance centre or benchtop cabinet, consider storing your appliances in a deep under-bench drawer. Storing them in a pull-out drawer will make it easier to find what you’re after.
TIP: Ensure your drawer hardware is designed to carry a reasonable amount of weight before you load it up with heavy mixers and blenders. Check with your designer, or the cabinet maker, what the maximum load capacity is of each kitchen drawer.
More: 10 Kitchen Drawers That’ll Make Life Easier
Appliance lift
Lifting stored appliances out from under-bench cabinets is made easy with this clever little contraption. A specially designed appliance lift is such a simple concept, but it works so well.
These allow you to conveniently store heavy small appliances in under-bench cabinets, while eliminating the need to bend down to take them out. The lift simply elevates when you open the cabinet door.
Lifting stored appliances out from under-bench cabinets is made easy with this clever little contraption. A specially designed appliance lift is such a simple concept, but it works so well.
These allow you to conveniently store heavy small appliances in under-bench cabinets, while eliminating the need to bend down to take them out. The lift simply elevates when you open the cabinet door.
Walk-in pantry
We all crave a big kitchen with a large walk-in pantry, such as a butler’s pantry. If you are lucky enough to have the space to incorporate a separate one into your kitchen plan, then this could be the perfect place to house all your small appliances.
In the design stage, devote an area for a benchtop and make sure it’s deep enough to leave your appliances on, lined up and plugged in. Maybe you can create a baking centre, where everything you need to whip up some yummy muffins, from mixer to tin, is all in one place.
More: Planning the Perfect Butler’s Pantry
We all crave a big kitchen with a large walk-in pantry, such as a butler’s pantry. If you are lucky enough to have the space to incorporate a separate one into your kitchen plan, then this could be the perfect place to house all your small appliances.
In the design stage, devote an area for a benchtop and make sure it’s deep enough to leave your appliances on, lined up and plugged in. Maybe you can create a baking centre, where everything you need to whip up some yummy muffins, from mixer to tin, is all in one place.
More: Planning the Perfect Butler’s Pantry
Appliance shelf
You might not have space for a walk-in pantry, but you could still squeeze an appliance shelf into a regular cupboard pantry. Choose the shelf that’s positioned around waist level as the one on which you’ll store some of your small appliances.
Storing them at this level eliminates the need to bend down or reach up too high. It also means that you can open your pantry doors and easily find the appliance you need without having to rummage around for it.
TIP: You could also consider having the appliances stored in a pull-out drawer fitted inside the cupboard. Again, check the weight capacity of the drawers first before loading them up.
You might not have space for a walk-in pantry, but you could still squeeze an appliance shelf into a regular cupboard pantry. Choose the shelf that’s positioned around waist level as the one on which you’ll store some of your small appliances.
Storing them at this level eliminates the need to bend down or reach up too high. It also means that you can open your pantry doors and easily find the appliance you need without having to rummage around for it.
TIP: You could also consider having the appliances stored in a pull-out drawer fitted inside the cupboard. Again, check the weight capacity of the drawers first before loading them up.
Pop-up appliances
This automated appliance unit takes small appliance storage to another level. It completely hides appliances below your benchtop. Then, at the touch of a button, a lift mechanism raises the appliance storage unit up to bench level so that you can easily access and use your appliances.
When you’re finished using them they can be lowered back down, leaving you with a clean and empty work space.
See more photos of this kitchen
This automated appliance unit takes small appliance storage to another level. It completely hides appliances below your benchtop. Then, at the touch of a button, a lift mechanism raises the appliance storage unit up to bench level so that you can easily access and use your appliances.
When you’re finished using them they can be lowered back down, leaving you with a clean and empty work space.
See more photos of this kitchen
Benchtop display
Some appliances are simply too pretty to hide away, like the yellow mixer pictured here. If you don’t have any space to store an appliance like this, then why not take advantage of its good looks and display it to brighten up a dull corner of your kitchen.
TELL US
Where and how do you store your small appliances? Share your ideas for clever storage solutions in the Comments section.
MORE
How to Make Coloured Appliances Work in Your Kitchen
9 Simple Changes to Make Any Kitchen Work Better
10 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Buying Any Kitchen Appliance
Some appliances are simply too pretty to hide away, like the yellow mixer pictured here. If you don’t have any space to store an appliance like this, then why not take advantage of its good looks and display it to brighten up a dull corner of your kitchen.
TELL US
Where and how do you store your small appliances? Share your ideas for clever storage solutions in the Comments section.
MORE
How to Make Coloured Appliances Work in Your Kitchen
9 Simple Changes to Make Any Kitchen Work Better
10 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Buying Any Kitchen Appliance
What are you working on?
Related Stories
Renovating Advice
How Do I Find, Assess & Hire the Right People for My Renovation?
Do you need a kitchen designer or a joiner? An architect or an interior designer? Find out with our essential reno guide
Full Story
Renovation Guides
What Key Measurements & Room Dimensions Should I Know for a Reno?
Read practical information about key room measurements and minimum clearances for fittings and fixtures in every room
Full Story
Bedrooms
12 Decorating Tips to Make Any Bedroom Look Better
By Anne Ellard
Want to know how to make your bedroom look better? Here are 12 great tricks
Full Story
Renovation Guides
Room by Room: Experts on Ways to Avoid Common Renovation Blunders
From the kitchen to the garden, and all areas in between, experts identify common mistakes and share priceless insights
Full Story
Bathroom Expert Advice
5 Reasons Your Bathroom Smells Funky (and How to Fix the Problem)
A plumber reveals five reasons your bathroom might smell like sewage or emanate a musty odour
Full Story
Kitchen Renovations
From Planning to Pendants: Kitchen Lighting Essentials
By Joanna Tovia
This valuable guide will give you all you need to know about choosing kitchen lighting for fabulous form and function
Full Story
Living Rooms
The Full Picture: How High Should Your TV Be?
By Matt Clawson
We look at an important question to consider when locating your television: how high should you set it?
Full Story
Bathrooms
All the Dimensions You Need to Know for Your Bathroom Makeover
Fit everything comfortably in a small or medium-size bathroom by knowing standard dimensions for fixtures and clearances
Full Story
Renovation Guides
How to Control the Cost of Your Renovation, Room by Room
Where to save, where to spend (and all the tricks in between) for keeping the cost of your renovation on track
Full Story
Architecture
Renovation Insight: How to Choose an Architect
A great architect can turn your dream home into reality – three industry experts reveal where to look for the right one
Full Story
Great article! Small appliance garages have moved out by the wayside, which is why many of these solutions are what I'd call the new domestic appliance garage — namely, just a smart area (usually a designated cabinet) where small appliances can sit carefully and comfortably within reach.
I chose a cupboard, I have to stand on a step stool to reach the ones up high but they are the ones I least use. My knife block is in the cupboard to keep it away from my little granddaughters.
Establishing a "zone" for appliance storage is a great idea! Whether you select a cupboard with bifold doors, a deep drawer, a pull out underbench or blind corner space, Fit have some cool gear to help turn your vision into reality.
Plus, we recommend considering a pocket door if you're building or renovating your kitchen. Pocket doors slide back inside a double walled cabinet side, so you have full access to cupboard contents without blocking light or walkways!
Here's a few ideas to get you thinking:
Cinetto bifold doors - quality Italian gear. See more in our Houzz project here.
And another Italian option, this one from Salice, in a Houzz project here.
Space saving slide away pocket door, also from Salice of Italy, in our Houzz project here.
German designed and made pull out underbench options from Vauth-Sagel. 4 widths. 3 styles. See more in the Houzz project here.
Appliances can be heavy so if you're leaning towards a drawer option, check out the drawer system's load capacity. Harn Ritma soft close drawers carry 35kg standard, and several models can be upgraded to 60kg. Lots of models to choose from; see them here.
Blind corner spaces are ideal for appliances and other items that you don't use all the time but they can be tricky to access. No one likes crawling about on hands and knees, poking their head into a dark cupboard! Bring the contents out to you with pull out corner units. Fit have German designed and made options from Vauth-Sagel and also value-conscious models from Giamo. See them in our Houzz Ideabook here.
You can also see all these ideas, and so many more to help you make the most of your space, on our website.