How to Add Overflow Storage to Your Open-Plan Kitchen
Make the most of an adjoining space by seamlessly adding additional storage, from a smart divider to a sideboard
There isn’t always enough room in a kitchen for everything you need to house, which is where an open-plan space comes into its own. By having easy access to other zones, you can add some overflow storage for those extra kitchen essentials. Here’s how to do it seamlessly and stylishly.
The key here is that the cupboard is the same design as the rest of the kitchen, so it easily blends into the room… but at the same time, it’s a beautiful piece of furniture that looks good on its own.
Browse more contemporary kitchens
Browse more contemporary kitchens
Build a divider
In this large space, the designers have created a nifty piece of furniture that does two jobs in one. Not only does it beautifully divide the dining area from the seating zone, it also incorporates masses of extra storage.
The owners can use the internal shelves for glassware, tableware and any other pieces that won’t fit in the kitchen.
In this large space, the designers have created a nifty piece of furniture that does two jobs in one. Not only does it beautifully divide the dining area from the seating zone, it also incorporates masses of extra storage.
The owners can use the internal shelves for glassware, tableware and any other pieces that won’t fit in the kitchen.
Go behind the scenes
When you’re planning storage in your kitchen, don’t just focus on the areas accessible from the main cooking zone. Instead, look at ways you can add cabinets and shelves to the back of a unit, island or peninsula.
Here, for example, the designers have fitted a shallow set of drawers, cupboards and shelves to the rear of the base units.
When you’re planning storage in your kitchen, don’t just focus on the areas accessible from the main cooking zone. Instead, look at ways you can add cabinets and shelves to the back of a unit, island or peninsula.
Here, for example, the designers have fitted a shallow set of drawers, cupboards and shelves to the rear of the base units.
Carry on along
Where your cooking area stops, consider continuing your cabinetry a little further along. The run of wall and base units in this sleek kitchen has been continued into the dining area.
To differentiate the two zones, the designers have gone for low-level base cabinets and taller wall-hung cupboards.
Where your cooking area stops, consider continuing your cabinetry a little further along. The run of wall and base units in this sleek kitchen has been continued into the dining area.
To differentiate the two zones, the designers have gone for low-level base cabinets and taller wall-hung cupboards.
Match the finish
In this open-plan room, the designers have fitted a compact kitchen into a corner zone. Additional storage has been built into the area beneath the stairs, with easy access from the cooking space.
The timber finish helps to visually tie the two areas together, giving a harmonious look to the whole space.
Best of the Week: 30 Kitchens With Wonderful Timber Touches
In this open-plan room, the designers have fitted a compact kitchen into a corner zone. Additional storage has been built into the area beneath the stairs, with easy access from the cooking space.
The timber finish helps to visually tie the two areas together, giving a harmonious look to the whole space.
Best of the Week: 30 Kitchens With Wonderful Timber Touches
Differentiate with colour
To add more storage for the cooking zone in this open-plan room, the designers positioned large kitchen cabinets in the living area. To ensure the cupboards blend into the cosy seating area, they’ve painted them a darker tone than the ones in the kitchen.
To add more storage for the cooking zone in this open-plan room, the designers positioned large kitchen cabinets in the living area. To ensure the cupboards blend into the cosy seating area, they’ve painted them a darker tone than the ones in the kitchen.
The designers have also painted the wall behind and the hall door in the same colour as the cupboards, which makes them feel like a substantial part of the room.
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Get cohesive
If you’re going to add some overflow kitchen storage to another part of your space, try this clever trick to create a harmonious look.
The sideboard behind the dining table provides some handy storage in the eating area. The white finish matches the kitchen to unify the two areas, but to finish it off, the designers added a surface of floor tiles along the top.
If you’re going to add some overflow kitchen storage to another part of your space, try this clever trick to create a harmonious look.
The sideboard behind the dining table provides some handy storage in the eating area. The white finish matches the kitchen to unify the two areas, but to finish it off, the designers added a surface of floor tiles along the top.
The tiles are the same stunning design as the kitchen floor, giving a cohesive, considered feel to the whole space.
Maximise the space
The designers of this kitchen had to be clever with space planning, fitting everything into a tight area with awkward angles.
They’ve managed to incorporate additional kitchen storage by taking the cabinets around the other side of a wall. A row of base units and wall cabinets have been built into the area to the right of the main cooking space, with a top edge that neatly follows the slant of the roof.
Tell us
How have you incorporated additional overflow storage into your kitchen? Share your bright ideas and photos in the Comments below, and remember to like this story and save your favourite images. Join the conversation.
More
Find a kitchen designer or renovator near you
The designers of this kitchen had to be clever with space planning, fitting everything into a tight area with awkward angles.
They’ve managed to incorporate additional kitchen storage by taking the cabinets around the other side of a wall. A row of base units and wall cabinets have been built into the area to the right of the main cooking space, with a top edge that neatly follows the slant of the roof.
Tell us
How have you incorporated additional overflow storage into your kitchen? Share your bright ideas and photos in the Comments below, and remember to like this story and save your favourite images. Join the conversation.
More
Find a kitchen designer or renovator near you
It’s important to plan a kitchen that’s ergonomic and functional so you can quickly find what you need for cooking, but that doesn’t mean everything has to be within grabbing distance. If you’ve run out of space, simply add an extra piece of storage to another part of the room.
In this eat-in kitchen, the wall of units is within easy reach, but there’s a separate cupboard in the dining space (pictured above on the left) that’s perfect for those items the owners need less often.