Simple Ways To Organize A Kitchen Without Lower Cabinets

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Are you in your kitchen wondering what you're going to do without lower cabinets to store your cooking gear? While floating shelves are a stylish solution for maximizing storage space in a kitchen with no upper cabinets, you may find yourself unsure what to do when storage is missing down below. Whether you're in your very first apartment, are finding yourself in smaller quarters after downsizing, or have bought a new home that is not fully equipped, a combination of creative options can help you make up for those missing cabinets including sink skirts, freestanding shelves, storage bins, and baskets.

If you're accustomed to a kitchen with numerous cabinets, both above and below the counter level, you may find yourself flummoxed on how to store and organize things in your new space. Where do you store those little-used countertop appliances, like your mixer? What are you supposed to do with your pots and pans? How do you organize your glass or plastic food storage containers for leftovers? What about your muffin tins and favorite casserole dishes? All these thoughts can cause a formerly pampered home cook to panic. But rather than despairing, start channeling that energy into exploring new methods of arranging the lower half of your kitchen with helpful alternatives to standard cabinets.

You may be able to store some of your cookware elsewhere than under your counter. One of the best ways to store and organize pots and pans in your kitchen is to hang them on display, making them easy to reach. Once those items are out of the way, you'll no doubt still have small appliances, food storage containers, and perhaps long storage pantry items that need homes. Sturdy stainless steel, freestanding shelves can hold heavy items, like small appliances and bakeware, while you can organize smaller things in baskets, totes, or bins. A well-curated collection of storage items will look stylish together, but you can also choose to continue outfitting your kitchen with an attractive way to hide the area below your counter, making your choice of containers less important.

Using a sink skirt to conceal what's below your countertops is one of the budget-friendly ways to organize your kitchen if you don't have a pantry or lower cabinets. But if you don't like the look of a curtain hiding your cooking gear, you could also consider a short screen divider to do the same job, such as this Short Natural Fiber Woven Folding Screen from the Red Lantern Store. Whichever you choose, make sure to measure the distance between the counter and the floor — counters are usually 36 inches high, but yours may be different. Once the sink skirt or screen is in place, your selection of organizational shelves, bins, and boxes will be out of sight.