Today’s kitchen storage solutions present more than clever organization. They offer an easy way for kitchen dealers and designers to increase project value and stand out from their competition.
Homeowners expect cabinetry to do more than look good. They want smart, functional storage that solves everyday frustrations, such as disorganized pantries, cluttered countertops, hard-to-reach corners.
The good news? These kitchen storage solutions are easier than ever to specify and incorporate into your designs. Both the custom line Brighton Cabinetry and the semi-custom line Integrity Cabinets I represent make it easy to specify these storage solutions.
Below are 18 of the most requested kitchen storage solutions, along with insights into how they help you win more jobs and increase your average sale.
Everyday Must-Haves That Sell on Almost Every Job
These are the storage solutions homeowners immediately understand—and almost always say yes to.
- Waste & Recycling Systems. No kitchen should have a freestanding trash can anymore. Built-in pull-out waste systems keep trash and recycling neatly hidden while making them easy to use.
- Pull-out Trash Cans. The double bin configuration makes recycling easy. One bin for trash, the other for recycling. And for smaller spaces, singles are available.
- Hands-Free Trash System. The latest innovation on this popular favorite is the hands-free version. The touch of a foot or a knee opens the cabinet and brings out the trash bins.
- Odor Reducing Trash System. Rev-A-Shelf offers a waste container that features a self-contained odor-reducing bin. The unique design keeps odors from trash and compostable materials out of your household.
These waste and recycling systems offer a near-universal upgrade. They definitely improve usefulness for homeowners, who immediately see the benefit. It’s also an easy way to introduce additional upgrades, such as the hands-free operation or integrated composting.
2. Baking Sheet Organizers
These built-in organizers are perfect for any kitchen item that can be stored vertically. Cabinet manufacturers offer this organizer built-in as part of the cabinet. Or if you prefer wire diividers, you can specify one from Hafele or Rev-A-Shelf to be installed at the factory.
This is a simple upgrade that adds instant organization inside the existing cabinet space. It’s an easy “yes” item that enhances perceived value and helps round out a well-designed kitchen.
3. Under Sink Caddy.
A simple caddy holds all cleaning supplies, pulls out from under the sink and easily lifts out so cleaning supplies are portable. It’s useful in both the kitchen and in the bathroom for corralling cleaning supplies.
Clients may not think of the area under the sink when making selections for their new kitchen. When you point out to them the convenience of having this often over-looked area organized and accessible, they will thank you and say yes to the upgrade.
4. Drawer Inserts.
An essential for any organized space is drawer inserts for both cooking utensils and cutlery. Different configurations of these “must-haves” are available – built-in, drop-in, dual level and adjustable. Plus they are available in different materials, such as chrome, walnut or oak and Plexiglas.
Drawer inserts represent a kitchen storage item that gets used multiple times a day. Recommending the right configuration shows that you are detail-oriented. Further, it justifies a higher overall project price.
5. Spice Storage.
Organizing the many spices that cooks need is always a challenge. A one-size-fits-all solution does not work for a serious cook’s spice collection. You can recommend a drawer insert or a cabinet rack design.
Spice storage is highly personal, which makes it a great opportunity to customize the design. When you get it right, it shows clients you’re listening to their concerns.
High-Impact Upgrades
These high-impact upgrades aren’t always requested, but once you introduce them, they’re hard for homeowners to refuse.
6. Pans and Lids Storage
Organize pots and pans and their lids in this convenient base cabinet pull-out.
Clients will recognize the valuable functionality and convenience of including this built-in in their new kitchen, and you’ll get credit for recommending it to them.
7. Deep Drawer Storage for Dishes.
Open shelves in the kitchen took away wall cabinets, creating a need for somewhere to store plates and bowls. The deep drawer storage system provides the perfect solution. Movable pegs hold plates and glasses in place.
Deep drawer storage is an easy way to modernize a kitchen layout and improve organization and accessibility. Storing items in deep drawers makes them especially appealing to aging-in-place clients and adds value to your kitchen design.
8. Hafele Fineline “Move” Drawer Organizer
Fineline Move is modular drawer organization system that holds and organizes everything from bowls to spices, jars of pasta sauce and condiments. It can be configured in many ways so it’s personalized to your clients’ lifestyle.
Premium drawer organization systems elevate the entire look and feel of a kitchen. They’re an easy way to introduce a high-end upgrade that differentiates your design from standard builder-grade solutions.
9. In-Drawer Charging.
For your clients who are anti-clutter, you can specify concealed device charging that keeps cords and chargers out of sight. Devices can be hidden inside a drawer while they’re charging.
Integrated charging is a modern convenience many clients don’t think to ask for but immediately want once they see it. It’s an upgrade that reinforces a clean, clutter-free design and definitely makes a kitchen feel “custom”.
10. Tupperware Container and Lids Organizer
Bring sanity to the insanity that is plastic food storage containers-and-lids accumulation. This pull-out is for everyone who has struggled to find the right lid and container match.
This isn’t a fancy built-in, but it is definitely a solution to an everyday problem. Solving it creates an instant win, and those are often the upgrades clients remember most after the project is complete.
11. Utensil Bin Base Organizer
Cooks can easily reach utensils when their kitchen includes this handy pull-out organizer from Rev-A-Shelf in a base cabinet by their cook top or stove.
Easy accessibility is especially important in cooking zones, making this upgrade very appealing. It’s a smart way to demonstrate thoughtful design and improve workflow, something clients may not realize they need until you show them how it will increase their cooking efficiency.
12. Wood K-Cup Drawer Insert
Keep a coffee station neat and organized with this drawer insert organizer for coffee pods. The wood version shown here can be trimmed to fit precisely into the drawer.
Coffee stations are a growing trend in kitchen design. This type of organizer helps create a dedicated zone and adds both function and a touch of personalization that clients love.
13. Over Refrigerator Swing-Out
The cabinet above the refrigerator is a most difficult space to access. Now there’s a swing-out shelf that brings the contents to your clients.
Hard-to-reach areas are often wasted space. When you can turn them into usable storage, it demonstrates smart space planning, something that’s especially valuable in smaller kitchens where every inch counts.
Premium Upgrades
The following kitchen storage solutions are the differentiators that turn a good design into a “wow” kitchen.
14. Pull-Out Pantry
A kitchen pantry is one of the most requested features in home design and renovations. It has transitioned from a luxury amenity to a must-have item for many homeowners, especially those who value organization.
A pull-out pantry, like the one shown here, eliminates deep, dark shelves and places them with full visibility and easy access. Everything, from cereal boxes to small appliances, is right in front with a single pull.
This is one of the easiest upgrades to justify. It delivers value and solves a problem every homeowner recognizes.
15. Corner Cabinet Storage | Kesseboehmer LeMans
Corner cabinets have always been one of the biggest design challenges in a kitchen, but modern storage solutions have changed that.
Today’s pull-out, swing-out systems bring the entire contents of the cabinet out into the open. Nothing gets lost in the back, and every inch of space becomes usable.
Solving a problem area like a blind corner demonstrates to your clients that you know what you are talking about. You can turn a traditionally frustrating space into a design highlight and look like a hero.
16. Wine Storage
Wine storage is one of those details that can elevate a design from merely functional to one that showcases the homeowners’ lifestyle. Guiding clients through the options positions you as a design expert. You can show you’re not just a cabinet seller.
The built-in storage experts at Hafele have different options for wine storage: vertical and horizontal, wood, metal, plexi pull-outs and static storage.
17. Slide-out Baskets
Woven wicker baskets on solid wood sliders look nice and are practical for storing potatoes and onions or other produce that doesn’t need refrigeration.
These slide-outs are a “luxury” upgrade that add warmth and a furniture-style feel while improving access to everyday items. They’re a great way to introduce a more custom look without a major cost increase.
18. Stainless Steel Custom Drawer Inserts
Stainless steel drawer inserts take customized in-drawer storage to the next level. Configurations include bread drawer inserts, produce drawer inserts, flour and sugar inserts and more. In addition, they can be used for pet food storage and as a pet feeding drawer.
Stainless steel drawer inserts demonstrate an eye for excellence and attention to detail. They’re ideal for clients who value craftsmanship and they help justify premium pricing.
Conclusion
Storage sells. The more often you incorporate storage solutions into your designs, the easier it becomes to differentiate your business, increase project value and deliver kitchens that work for the way your clients live and use their kitchens.
It’s important that you partner with cabinet manufacturers that offer the storage accessories, construction options and support needed to bring these solutions to life.
Discover how the cabinet lines I represent – both Brighton Custom and Integrity semi-custom – support these types of storage upgrades. Get in touch with me here.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kitchen Storage Solutions
Q. Why do homeowners choose pull-out pantry cabinets?
A. A pull-out pantry eliminates deep dark shelves and replaces them with full visibility and easy access. Everything, from cereal boxes to small appliances, is right in front of you with a single pull.
Q. Which cabinet lines support built-in storage solutions?
A. The cabinet lines I represent – Brighton Custom Cabinetry and Integrity Cabinets – both offer a wide variety of built-in options from the leading manufacturers of built-in storage accessories, such as Hafele and Rev-A-Shelf. If the item your clients are asking for isn’t in their catalog, they will source it for your design.
Q. Are built-in storage upgrades worth the cost in a kitchen remodel?
A. Today’s homeowners expect cabinetry to do more than look good. They want functional storage that solves everyday problems, like overflowing pantries, cluttered countertops and hard-to-reach corners. So, yes, storage upgrades are worth the cost by providing organization, functionality and convenience.
Q. Which storage upgrades add the most value in a kitchen remodel?
A. The most value is provided by the storage accessory that solves a problem for the homeowner. If they don’t like clutter, then they will get the most value from the in-drawer charging station. If they have limited mobility, then the deep drawer storage with its ergonomic benefits will have the most value for them. If they have a problem with cooking utensils not being handy while cooking, then the pull-out utensil bin organizer by the stove will have the most value for them.
More Useful Information for Dealers
- Framed vs Frameless Cabinetry – What to recommend
- Value Selling: Sell Value, Not Price – Sell the sizzle, not the steak
- Fortify Yourself to Successfully Sell Semi-Custom Cabinets – Practical guidance for dealing with challenges selling Semi-Custom
At Bob Aungst Cabinet Sales, we work with kitchen dealers and designers and design-build remodelers throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland to help them plan cabinetry for real homes and lifestyles.