Designing with Accessories

People spend so much time and money on the design of the kitchen cabinets but often neglect to incorporate the necessary accessories that make the kitchen functional and organized. When you are planning your budget for a new kitchen, allot at least 10-15% of it for accessories. You will not regret it. The good news is most accessories can also be retrofitted into existing cabinets, so there is really no excuse not to get organized.

Drawers are the most accessible part of the kitchen. Generally located beside the cooking and washing zones, they hold essential cooking and eating utensils and equipment. Laminate or wooden cutlery inserts or aluminum dividers fit snugly inside.

These organizers usually have a variety of configurations that you can choose from depending on the width. There are short compartments for cutlery and wide longer ones for those used for cooking such as ladles, whisks, and wooden spoons. There are specialty accessories that are made to hold knives and silverware since these items require care and safety to store and access. Some insert accessories have options for spices with top-view glass lids and rolls for cling wrap and aluminum foil.

To maximize the smallest of spaces, drawers can even have shallow upper and lower compartments that slide open for easy access. Make use of these options that are readily available.  They are not just for organization, but also for the longevity of the items stored inside.

Deep pullouts are second-level storage locations. The accessories for these are made for wide pots and pans, plates, and other large and heavy serving equipment. To start with the basics, the main must-haves are non-slip mats for the bottom of the pullout. These prevent the items stored inside from moving around when the pullout is in motion.

The main interior accessories for pullouts range from simple divider pegs and aluminum compartment dividers to leather plate holders, stackable wooden boxes, and carry-out baskets. These are designed for bulky items that require creative placement because they need to be lifted out easily every day.

If you fancy more movement and ease of reach, choose cabinets with metal or wood roll-out pantry accessories or internal drawers. These glide smoothly out of the cabinets when the door is opened and allows you to see and access everything stored inside without having to move items out around. These accessories aren’t just made to impress, they are designed with a purpose.