The Traditional Kitchen Feature That Turns Unused Space Into Extra Storage

After decades of the fitted kitchen's supremacy, trends are turning back to a more traditional configuration, focusing on rooms furnished using a hodgepodge of different styles. Rows of matching upper cabinets above lowers topped with a long stretch of countertop are out. Instead, homey, personalized pieces come together as though they've been collected over the years, bringing a more traditional sense to the kitchen while keeping it functional. If you're not all-in on a remodel but you have an odd, unused space in the room, adding a freestanding cupboard instead of built-in cabinets is an eye-catching way to create extra storage while also nodding to traditional kitchen features.

The concept of a fully-fitted kitchen is only about 100 years old. Before that, a tall cupboard could serve as a pantry, a table would be a workspace, and a dresser might be storage for pots and pans. But you don't have to be chasing trends to appreciate the glimpse into your personality that a single old-school, freestanding piece of furniture brings. A cupboard with or without doors, a corner hutch, or even a vintage bookcase can make your kitchen feel warm and lived-in while also performing an important function. It's an easy way to break up the monotony of a fitted kitchen and add a custom touch.

While traditional kitchens of a century ago were furnished with things we now view as old-fashioned, the freestanding piece you use doesn't have to be an antique thrift store find. A Hoosier cabinet adds storage and work space, but if your taste leans towards minimalism, an unfussy cupboard in a contemporary or mid-century modern style is also appropriate. Freestanding cupboards are frequently used as pantries in kitchens without enough food storage, but they can also be a good spot you keep all of your small appliances in, freeing up counter space. Finding a storage system for spices is a perpetual problem for cooks with a large collection, but a cupboard with lots of small compartments like a library card catalogue or an apothecary cabinet can easily solve that problem.

Adding a freestanding cupboard is one of the easiest ways to create storage without having to build anything. Plus, buying secondhand cupboards has benefits beyond storage; they're sustainable and (usually) more economical. They come in enough different sizes and styles to fit in even a tiny kitchen that could use more places to put things. If you already have a built-in pantry, you can add drawer space with one or two small closet dressers, or you can add shelf space with a bookcase. A glass-fronted cupboard in a prominent space is great for displaying your vintage kitchen collectibles or your mismatched Fiesta dinnerware. And a rolling cart can do double duty as both storage and as a work surface.