The Best Way To Add Hidden Cabinet Storage In Your Kitchen

For all their charm and coziness, small kitchens can quickly become a nightmare when you need space to store everything that makes this room the heart of your home. The essentials that go into whipping up hearty meals for your family or your personal snack faves quickly add up — cooking gear, ingredients, spices, cleaning supplies — they all need a spot of their own. Luckily, hidden cabinet storage can come to your rescue in the form of toe-kick drawers. These are slim, slide-out compartments that you can install in the small space at the base of your kitchen cabinets.

When you've already tried every clever tip to make your small kitchen feel bigger, this hidden cabinet storage option is a game-changer. With some patience and creativity, toe-kick drawers give you the space you've been dreaming of while saving you quite a bit of cash. And if you're still hungry for more space, you can try some wall storage alternatives that help free up valuable cabinet space.

Toe-kick drawers are one of the go-to ways to make the most out of your small kitchen for good reason. Occupying a space that would otherwise go unused, they offer unparalleled functionality and provide additional storage for all those less often used and flat items that haven't found their home in your usual kitchen setup yet, like baking sheets or spare serving trays. Typically 4 inches high and set about 3 inches back from the cabinet's face, these drawers are also decidedly convenient, as they're out of the way whenever they're not in use.  

Toe-kick drawers can be installed on existing cabinets, but this is a relatively advanced woodworking project. As you may be able to tell from their name, toe-kick drawers often utilise a specific opening mechanism — you lightly push them with your feet, and they pop out seamlessly. This adds another layer of convenience, allowing you to open the drawer even when your hands are full (and with all the cooking, this is a common scenario in the kitchen). This can be tricky for DIYers to master, but luckily, many contractors can perform the project. 

But if you want to maximize storage in your small kitchen for items that aren't flat enough to fit the slim drawers, it's time to think vertically. You can add some floating shelves and pot racks to your walls. This will not only free up space in your cabinets but also help you keep things within immediate reach for unparalleled convenience.