Make Space for More Kitchen Essentials with Tall Corner Cabinets
Corner cabinets provide excellent storage space in kitchens, yet their angled design presents some unique challenges. While often overlooked, corner cabinets can be optimized with smart solutions to become highly functional storage. The key is customizing the interior with specialized organizational products and designing the exterior to blend seamlessly with your kitchen’s style.
We’ll cover standard dimensions to consider, creative storage solutions to implement, and design ideas to make your corner cabinet both beautiful and practical.
Considering the Dimensions of Your Corner Cabinet
When looking to maximize storage in a corner cabinet, the first step is understanding the size you’re working with. Corner cabinets come in standard dimensions, but can also be customized to fit your specific space.
Typical Dimensions
Most ready-made tall corner cabinets are around 30-36 inches wide, 12-15 inches deep, and 84-96 inches tall. The interior storage space is usually around 25 inches wide, 11 inches deep, and 78 inches tall.
These standard interior dimensions affect the storage capacity. The width provides ample side-to-side space, while the depth limits how far items can be placed inside. The height offers plenty of vertical storage.
Measuring Your Existing Corner
When installing a corner cabinet into your kitchen, carefully measure the full corner space from floor to ceiling. Be sure to account for any existing trim, molding, or nearby cabinets and walls that may impact the fit.
This will tell you the maximum dimensions your corner cabinet can be. Jot down the width, height, and depth measurements for reference when selecting or customizing a unit.
Customization Options
Standard corner cabinet sizes may not suit your needs. Customization allows adjusting the height, width, depth, and interior shelving.
For example, you can order taller cabinetry to make full use of a high ceiling. Or make shelves adjustable at different heights to accommodate large items.
Innovative Storage Solutions for Corner Cabinets
While a bare corner cabinet has angled wasted space, there are many storage solutions that can be implemented to maximize usable space.
Installing a Lazy Susan
A lazy susan is a circular rotating shelf placed in the corner. Full-size lazy susans utilize the entire width and depth. Tiered or half-circle options save space.
Lazy susans come in materials like wood, metal, or plastic. They smoothly spin to provide access to items in the hard-to-reach corner area.
Adding Pull-Out Shelves
Pull-out shelves mount on slides, allowing you to fully extend the shelf out of the corner cabinet.
Choose sturdy undermount slides for smooth motion. Look for pull-out shelves with features like integrated cup holders, spice racks, or cutlery dividers to save space.
Installing Tiered Shelving
Stationary tiered shelving splits the corner cabinet into separate storage sections.
Optimal shelf placement depends on the items being stored. For example, use the bottom shelves for large platters and the top shelves for small cans.
Utilizing Vertical Dividers
Vertical dividers organize the cabinet into compartments for separation of items.
Full-height dividers maximize storage, while split-height options allow some visibility. Use dividers to neatly organize cooking oils, cutting boards, bakeware, and more.
Enhancing Accessibility in Your Corner Cabinet
In addition to storage solutions, also consider how easily accessible items are inside your corner cabinet.
Installing at an Ergonomic Height
Avoid installing corner cabinets too high or low. Account for having to comfortably reach in and bend down.
Standard heights between 50-60 inches are ideal. Allow at least 15 inches of clear space above for opening doors.
Using Smooth Motion Hardware
Undermount slides, soft-close hinges, and lift assists make accessing contents easier.
Hardware that opens/closes gently prevents strain. Look for soft-close hinges to prevent slamming doors.
Incorporating Specialty Doors
Standard hinged doors limit visibility and access to corner cabinet interiors. Glass panel doors create an open, easily accessible feel.
Pocket or swing-out doors also improve ergonomics. Bi-fold doors fold neatly into the cabinet frame.
Design Tips for an Attractive Corner Cabinet
With clever storage solutions in place, also make your corner cabinet as beautiful as it is functional.
Add Lighting
Implement undercabinet lighting or interior lighting to brightly illuminate the cabinet space.
Accent lighting also highlights a stunning cabinet. Dim interiors lead to forgotten and disorganized spaces.
Match Cabinet Style and Finish
Choose a corner cabinet with the same finish, color, and style as your existing kitchen cabinetry.
Glass-front doors maintain an open, airy aesthetic. Trim gives a custom built-in look.
Use every inch of the corner cabinet interior. Install storage solutions from floor to ceiling vertically.
Ensure shelves, racks, and bins adjust to use the full depth. Wasted space leads to a disorganized feel.
By implementing specialized storage solutions and design elements, it’s simple to transform your kitchen’s corner cabinet into a highly functional and beautiful storage space. Analyze the dimensions, be creative with organization, and customize both the interior storage and exterior aesthetic to best suit your needs.