30th October 2018 / Beth Oleyar: STORAGE SOLUTIONS FOR A SMARTER KITCHEN

On top of the wish list for any kitchen (aside from designer appliances), is storage. Whether you're designing a new kitchen, or refreshing your current one, a good layout should allow for both hidden and display storage.

1. Open Shelves

Some people are now opting to place their good white dinner sets on open shelves for easy access when whipping up a meal. It's a functional trend which looks here to stay as meals become more casual in focus.

2. Drawer Dividers

Nothing makes for a smarter kitchen than organising the insides of our frequently neglected kitchen drawers. Dividers are a simple and inexpensive way to categorise your kitchen wares, cutlery and cooking utensils to keep your space looking slick.

3. Pantry Containers

As an area mutually accessed by different members of the family, maintaining your pantry can sometimes prove quite tedious. Many a time, we open the pantry to find things not put back where we've left it. Storage containers can help you solve this problem, allowing you to designate what foods are sorted into different tubs, canisters and bottles for easier access.

4. Benchtop Clutter

Have a look around your kitchen and see what can be cleared away. Perhaps your spice rack is taking up too much space on your bench or the sponge and dishwashing liquid near your sink can be given another home. If you're designing a new kitchen, small, vertical pull-out drawers can be a great new nook for items currently on your benchtops.