Tag: kitchen design

6 Clever Solutions for Appliance Storage

The appliances in our kitchens can be great time savers and allow us to carry out a wide variety of kitchen tasks. Despite this, kitchen appliances can be a pain to store when they are not being used. Storage space may be at a premium, and each device will need its own space that is easy to access. Let’s take a closer look at six handy appliance storage solutions that will help you to get your kitchen organized.

  1. Some General Concepts

Find a spot where you can arrange some storage for your devices in their original packaging or an even better option is to use plastic bins. Stackable containers can be used if heavier devices are kept at the bottom. Each appliance box could have a label; this is especially useful if there are multiple smaller appliances in a single storage bin. The storage bins could be located in existing shelves or perhaps you even have enough space to add a freestanding shelf unit. If you want to use a new shelf unit, remember that some of the appliances could be heavy.  Make sure the shelves can handle the weight and that the shelf is secured to the wall for safety.

  1. Always Start High

When you’re looking for storage, always start high up on the top shelves of cabinets or high up in your pantry. Above the refrigerator may be a good spot and many of these high up areas are neglected and are not used for practical storage. Larger appliances may be too large for shelves, but they could be stacked on top of kitchen cabinets. This will allow you to make the most of your storage space and appliances can easily be reached with stool.

  1. Storage Below

Larger and/or heavier appliances need to be stored on lower shelves in a pantry or on a dedicated shelving unit. Clear space in lower cabinets, especially those that don’t seem to get used very often. If you keep your back straight, bending at the knee and lifting a heavier appliance is far safer than trying to lift the same device off a higher shelf.

  1. Consider Other Locations 

There are other rooms in your home that may be related to serving food or entertaining. These can act as an overflow for your kitchen appliance storage efforts. As an example: a buffet piece in a dining room could be used to store your linens and serving trays. This could free up valuable kitchen space for storage, and as a final resort, appliances that are used very rarely could be kept in the basement.

  1. Careful Storage 

Kitchen appliances can represent a significant investment, so it’s essential to protect them during storage. If you need to store appliances in the basement or garage, use the original boxes where possible or a plastic storage bin. Keep appliances off the floor to protect them from moisture and multiple appliances in the same storage bin should be wrapped to prevent scratches.

  1. Use Labels

Ideally, there should be a label for each storage bin displaying the contents of the container. This will help you to find the appliance you need and remind you where it’s stored when you want to put it away. If you have a lot of storage bins or bins that contain lots of smaller appliances you may need a master list. This will tell you at a glance where everything is, without hunting through shelves and reading lots of labels. A master list will be handy for reference when you’re planning a meal that requires a specific appliance. Getting this organized can be difficult initially, but it will be worth the effort later and save you a lot of time.

If you’re thinking about upgrading your appliances, you can explore your options with this online collection or speak to a home appliance expert for professional advice and guidance.

Integrating a Microwave into Your New Kitchen Design

Microwaves are considered vital in today’s busy lives, but it is hard to deny that they can take up a great deal of counter space. This can be problematic in even the most generous of kitchen layouts, but it is possible to reclaim some of this precious space by integrating your microwave into a new kitchen design.

Choosing the Right Microwave

Before you can even consider integrating your microwave, you need to choose the right model. Countertop models can be tucked into a shelf, or you could opt for a wall mounted unit. If you have limited space, you may prefer a drawer style unit that can be placed at any height. Over the range microwaves can be directly placed above your oven, sharing light and ventilation with the range below. Your choice of microwave model will have a direct impact on how it can be integrated into your kitchen design, so you will need to give it some serious thought before you make a purchase decision.

Stack Your Cooking Appliances Vertically

A floor to ceiling unit can be a fantastic, space saving way to stack your cooking appliances on top of each other. This configuration not only looks sleek and attractive, but helps to maximize space. A single unit tower allows you to have lots of serving and prep space alongside your oven or microwave.

Group Horizontally

A horizontal grouping can also save space and still offer great functionality. Placing a drawer microwave alongside your oven makes it easy to move food from one appliance to the other. For example, you can quickly transfer baked potatoes from your microwave to your oven to finish them off. This creates a visual aesthetic of a professional kitchen with a sleek look that complements any style of kitchen design.

Conceal it in a Larder

Modern kitchens are harking back to the past with larder units coming back into fashion. Not only is a larder an excellent storage option for your canned goods, but it can also hide your microwave and free up counter space. If you want a minimalist feel to your kitchen, you could even store all your other small appliances in the larder. Just be sure to keep the larder doors open when your microwave is in use.

Place it High

This isn’t an option for people with children interested in independent cooking or those who are vertically challenged, but placing your microwave at eye level can save counter space and also add interest to a run of wall units. If you don’t like the idea of your microwave compromising the sleek aesthetics of your wall cabinets, you could always conceal it within a unit. You will need to ensure there’s sufficient ventilation and you will be restricted to use only when the door is open.

Recess It

If you have wall space available from a closet or garage, it could be possible to recess your microwave into the wall. This provides a convenient solution without it looking unsightly protruding out into the kitchen. Ideally, your recess would be created near your range for complete ease of use.

Consider Additional Microwave Features

If you are still struggling to incorporate a microwave into your kitchen, you may wish to consider a model with additional features. There are models available with grilling elements. This eliminates the need to have both a microwave and toaster oven in your kitchen. You can not only use the appliance as a standard microwave, but you can also toast, brown and crisp your food.

A microwave is an essential appliance in the modern kitchen. Fortunately, there are a myriad of choices to find the ideal model for your kitchen layout. If you’re looking for a new microwave, you can explore your options with this online collection of microwaves or speak to a home appliance expert for a more specialized service.