What Happens When You Extend Your Kitchen Cabinets? See These Genius Ideas!
Extended kitchen cabinets are a great way to maximize storage and enhance the functionality of your kitchen. Whether you’re looking to add extra storage space, improve your kitchen’s aesthetic, or optimize layout, extended cabinets offer creative solutions. By extending your cabinets both vertically and horizontally, you can create a more streamlined, efficient, and stylish kitchen. In this article, we’ll explore various design ideas for extended kitchen cabinets that can help transform your space into a more organized and beautiful kitchen.
1. Vertical Cabinet Extension for More Storage
Design Tip: Extending kitchen cabinets vertically all the way up to the ceiling is one of the most efficient ways to maximize storage space. This design adds extra shelving or closed storage above your existing cabinets, utilizing the often-underused space near the ceiling.
Why It Works: Vertical extensions provide an easy solution for storing items that are used less frequently, such as seasonal cookware, large serving dishes, or extra storage bins. It helps keep the lower cabinets clutter-free and makes use of every inch of your kitchen.
Styling Tip: To make the space feel cohesive, consider installing cabinets with doors that match your existing ones, or opt for open shelving at the top for decorative storage. A step stool or pull-down feature can also make the upper cabinets more accessible.
2. Extended Upper Cabinets for Extra Counter Space
Design Tip: Extending upper cabinets beyond the standard depth can create additional counter space underneath. This is especially helpful in small kitchens where maximizing every inch is crucial. Extended upper cabinets can cover a larger area of the counter, leaving more room for meal prep and cooking.
Why It Works: With extended upper cabinets, you gain extra storage for dishes, glassware, or pantry items while still preserving valuable counter space for your daily tasks. It can also make your kitchen feel more streamlined and less cluttered.
Styling Tip: Ensure the extended upper cabinets are deep enough to provide functional storage without overpowering the kitchen’s aesthetic. Consider choosing lighter cabinet colors to avoid making the kitchen feel heavy, especially in smaller spaces.
3. Integrated Extended Cabinets with Appliances
Design Tip: Extend your cabinetry to seamlessly integrate with built-in appliances, like refrigerators, dishwashers, or microwaves. This creates a cohesive and modern look where appliances are hidden behind matching cabinetry, blending perfectly with the rest of the kitchen design.
Why It Works: This design eliminates the visual disruption of mismatched appliances, creating a streamlined, uniform kitchen. Extended cabinetry can also make the appliances feel like part of the architecture, offering a more custom and high-end appearance.
Styling Tip: Choose high-quality, custom-fit cabinetry that is designed to perfectly house your appliances. Incorporating a subtle texture or color change in the cabinetry can help define areas like the fridge or oven without breaking the visual flow of the kitchen.
4. Open Shelving in Extended Cabinets
Design Tip: Integrating open shelving into extended cabinets allows you to display kitchen essentials like mugs, bowls, or decorative pieces, while still maintaining functional storage. This open storage option is ideal for frequently used items, creating easy access while keeping your space organized.
Why It Works: Open shelves can break up the heaviness of solid cabinet doors, adding a sense of openness to your kitchen. They are perfect for showcasing beautiful kitchenware or storing items that you reach for daily, such as coffee mugs, spices, or condiments.
Styling Tip: To keep the open shelving organized, use matching containers or baskets for a neat and curated look. You can also add some greenery or small plants for a natural, inviting touch that contrasts with the sleek cabinetry.
5. Corner Cabinet Extensions
Design Tip: Corner cabinets are often overlooked, but by extending them, you can make the most of that difficult-to-reach space. You can install corner pull-out systems, lazy Susans, or extra deep cabinets that allow you to easily access kitchen tools, pots, and pans stored in corners.
Why It Works: Corner extensions help eliminate dead space in your kitchen and provide much-needed storage for bulky or rarely used items. Using specialized pull-out or rotating mechanisms ensures that these items are easy to access, making your kitchen more functional.
Styling Tip: To maximize accessibility, opt for corner pull-out drawers or rotating carousels that allow you to easily access all the space in these tricky areas. For a clean look, match the corner extension style with your other cabinetry to maintain consistency.
6. Deep Extended Drawers for Storage Optimization
Design Tip: Incorporating deep drawers in your extended kitchen cabinets is a great way to store large kitchen tools, pots, pans, and even pantry items in a well-organized way. Deep drawers allow for better access to bulky items that typically take up a lot of space in cabinets.
Why It Works: Deep drawers eliminate the need to dig through stacks of items to find what you need. By organizing your kitchen essentials in drawers, you’ll have everything at your fingertips, reducing clutter and keeping the kitchen more efficient.
Styling Tip: Add dividers or inserts to deep drawers to further organize cookware, utensils, or pantry items. You can even create sections for baking sheets, cutting boards, and mixing bowls for a more tailored organization system.
7. Custom Extended Cabinetry with Unique Features
Design Tip: Custom extended cabinetry allows you to design your kitchen with unique features that cater specifically to your storage needs. Incorporate pull-out racks, spice organizers, or wine storage into your extended cabinets to create a more personalized, functional space.
Why It Works: Custom cabinetry offers flexibility, allowing you to integrate specialized storage solutions like pull-out trash bins, pull-down racks, or dividers for easy access to small items. This level of customization ensures that your extended cabinets serve both practical and aesthetic purposes.
Styling Tip: Work with a kitchen designer to create cabinets that not only fit your kitchen layout but also include features that suit your lifestyle. For example, if you love to entertain, adding a built-in wine rack or beverage station can make your kitchen even more functional.
Conclusion
Extended kitchen cabinets are a fantastic way to maximize storage and enhance the functionality of your kitchen. Whether you’re adding vertical storage, incorporating deep drawers, or customizing cabinetry with unique features, these design ideas help you create a more efficient and organized space. By extending your cabinets, you not only optimize your kitchen layout but also elevate its overall style and appeal.
