What do your juicer, blender, bread maker and toaster all have in common? They’re all taking up valuable counter space! You’ve put in a lot of work to make your kitchen countertops perfect. If your kitchen is slowly being consumed by countertop appliances it’s time to make a change and take back your space. Follow these tips to find out how to best store your countertop appliances once and for all.
Before You Begin
Before you can store your appliances, you should go through them first. It’s quite possible you have several devices that do a similar if not the same thing, or you have one device that does the job of 3 others. Take some time to sort through your collection and think about what you actually use and how often you use it.
If you have a perfectly good rice cooker that you can’t remember the last time you used, it’s time to let it go. You can either try to give these items away to friends and family or donate them to your local charity shop. If you have items that are still in the box or in near perfect condition and are relatively new, you can try selling them online.
If you’re on the fence about an item, try this tip: Keep it on your countertop for 30 days and commit to using it. If at the end of 30 days you’ve barely used it, you can feel justified in getting rid of it. If you find you end up using it weekly, keep it and find a permanent spot for it.
This should go without saying, but if you have any appliances that are broken or beyond repair, it’s high time you got rid of them. Recycle them if possible and say good-bye once and for all.
Storage Hierarchy
Now that you just have your most used appliances left, it’s time to find proper storage spots for them. Follow these storage hierarchy tips when organizing your appliances.
- Place your most frequently used appliances (think coffee makers and toasters) on your countertops, or on lower shelves in your cabinets. Put these items in spots that are easily accessible and won’t require you to use a stepstool each time you want a piece of toast.
- For items that you use less frequently but still want easy access to, place them on higher up shelves in your cabinets. This way they’re out of the way for everyday cooking, but can be easily brought down when you want to make a batch of slow cooker pulled pork.
- Items that are rarely used but you just can’t part with can be stored at the very back of cabinets or even in another room. You can store these items either in your basement, cellar or pantry.
Adding Storage Solutions
If the above tips have helped you get started but you’re still searching for your perfect storage solution, you might need to go the extra step. These days many kitchen renovation experts are including countertop appliance storage right into their designs. Check out the cool ways you could be storing your appliances if you’re willing to make some modifications to your kitchen.
Pull-Out Shelf
A great combination of accessibility and storage. Using a pull-out shelf for commonly used items like a mixer or juicer is a smart option because you can use the appliance right on the pull-out shelf. This saves you space on your countertops as well as making it easier to use the appliance without the hassle of taking it out and setting it up. Instead, your appliance will be ready to use whenever you need to whip up a delicious recipe.
Appliance Garage
This option neatly stores all of your appliances so they’re there when you need them, and out of sight when you don’t. Another benefit of the appliance garage is that you don’t need to move the items since all wiring and outlets are stored behind the appliances. While installing an appliance garage will require the help of professionals (a kitchen renovation expert and an electrician), it will be worth the work once you see how it transforms your kitchen.
Flip Open Cupboards
This is a great option if you’re short on counter space but have cabinets. Converting one or two cupboards to have flip open doors will allow you to use the door as a countertop when it’s open. Create a self-contained smoothie bar or use the door to make your morning bagel. When you’re done, close the door and it’s like nothing ever happened. Appliances and lingering crumbs will all be tucked away behind closed doors.
Open Shelves
Modern appliances are being designed to be shown off. If you’re a fan of the open shelves trend, then this is the perfect option to display and store your statement-making appliances. If your kitchen is short on space, going vertical is always a good option. Install some simple shelves in your kitchen to not only store but show off your countertop appliances.
Now that you know how to sort through your collection and how to best store your countertop appliances, it’s time to get started. When you’re ready to make some improvements to your kitchen, find a kitchen renovation expert on HomeStars. Quickly and easily get quotes from companies in your area by clicking here.
Do you have any other appliance storage tips? Let us know in the comments below.
Article Updated June 2022.
