Genius Kitchen Storage Ideas You've Never Considered

Eliminating clutter can improve the functionality and aesthetics of any kitchen, and can be especially important for smaller kitchens and those with limited counter space. So we’ve teamed up with award-winning Kitchen Designer Sarah Robertson from Studio Dearborn to bring you 9 Genius Kitchen Storage Ideas You’ve (probably) Never Considered, all of which are relevant to those currently renovating or designing their kitchen, and many of which can be retrofitted into existing kitchen spaces.

Built-In Paper Towel Holder

One of Sarah’s favorite elements that she’s developed over time is the built-in paper towel holder. Not only does this feature keep paper towels off the countertop, thereby creating more counter space, it also puts them within reach of small children so they can help to clean up their own spills. A win/win!

Built-In Paper Towel Holder

One of Sarah’s favorite elements that she’s developed over time is the built-in paper towel holder. Not only does this feature keep paper towels off the countertop, thereby creating more counter space, it also puts them within reach of small children so they can help to clean up their own spills. A win/win!

Integrated Pet Food & Feeding Trays

No doubt about it, pets are part of the family. But navigating around water bowls and bags of pet food can be challenging, especially when it comes to kitchens with a small footprint. That’s why we here at Docking Drawer love (love, love!) integrated pet accommodations like this, maybe most of all.

In-Drawer Charging Station

Sarah often includes Docking Drawer outlets in her kitchen designs, stating that “Building in a charging drawer gets cords and gadgets off the counter… one of the biggest challenges of a well organized kitchen!”. By eliminating cords and devices from your countertops, you’ll have more space to do that very thing your kitchen was designed for: cook.

Built-In Cutting Board

Little conveniences can go a long way in creating a highly functional kitchen, and a built in cutting board is one of those little things that Sarah recommends splurging on. Follow this link to Pinterest to peruse an endless number of ways to incorporate this feature into any kitchen.

Built-In Cutting Board

Little conveniences can go a long way in creating a highly functional kitchen, and a built in cutting board is one of those little things that Sarah recommends splurging on. Follow this link to Pinterest to peruse an endless number of ways to incorporate this feature into any kitchen.

Powered Appliance Pull Out

Nobody loves displaying those bulky, sometimes ugly and never completely-clean appliances on the countertop and within direct eyesight, but when they’re frequently used there can be few alternatives. A powered appliance pull out is one of those alternatives, which will keep small appliances off the countertop and out of sight while still allowing them to remain nearby and ready to use at any time. Docking Drawer Blade Series outlets are the perfect choice to power your appliance pull out, as they come with interlocking safety features that will cut power to the outlet if devices are accidentally left on inside the drawer. See Sarah demonstrate this feature in the beautifully designed (by her!) House Beautiful kitchen here.

Functional Cabinet Airspace

You’d probably be shocked to see exactly how much “airspace” exists in the odd nooks and crannies of most cabinets. That’s why Sarah says her favorite challenge when it comes to cabinet design is to use every inch of space within each cabinet, stating “‘No airspace’ is my golden rule!”. Even if you’re not designing custom cabinets for a brand new or renovated space, you may be able to transform some of your cabinet’s dead space into purposeful storage areas with a little creativity and DIY proficiency.

Functional Cabinet Airspace

You’d probably be shocked to see exactly how much “airspace” exists in the odd nooks and crannies of most cabinets. That’s why Sarah says her favorite challenge when it comes to cabinet design is to use every inch of space within each cabinet, stating “‘No airspace’ is my golden rule!”. Even if you’re not designing custom cabinets for a brand new or renovated space, you may be able to transform some of your cabinet’s dead space into purposeful storage areas with a little creativity and DIY proficiency.

Magic Corner Unit

Kitchens big and small often end up with the “blind corner cabinet”, which inevitably goes underutilized or becomes a hoard of forgotten items. Sarah is a big fan of the Hafele Magic Corner II Unit, which she deems to be easy to pull out and a surefire way to maximize the utility of that “black hole” in any kitchen.

Pullout Utensil Holder

Highly regarded by Sarah, this is a go-to feature when working with limited drawer space for utensils. “I love the pullout utensil holder. It does double duty holding oils and spices on the lower rack, but can pack a ton of utensils into one spot.

Pan Lid Organizer

Another feature that makes its way into many of Sarah’s designs, this seemingly small detail can go a long way in making the kitchen a special place to live and cook. We have to admit, just looking at this picture brings us peace!

Pan Lid Organizer

Another feature that makes its way into many of Sarah’s designs, this seemingly small detail can go a long way in making the kitchen a special place to live and cook. We have to admit, just looking at this picture brings us peace!

And there you have it! We hope we’ve enlightened you to at least a few new kitchen storage ideas that will help you to enhance the functionality of your space. Looking for more? Follow @StudioDearborn and @KitchenConfab on Instagram for even more kitchen design inspo, and (pardon the shameless plug) follow us @DockingDrawer for more content like this and to see how our products can help you to add purpose and increase functionality throughout your entire home.