Words: Francesca Seden

From corner pull-outs, pull-down storage solutions, and drawer organisers, to beautiful butler’s pantries, hidden breakfast nooks, drinks stations or open shelving, kitchen storage serves many functions, from the practical through to the purely aesthetic.

The overarching trend we’re seeing is for a carefully considered combination of all of this depending on the homeowners’ lifestyle, with solutions that are becoming increasingly innovative and creative.

Where the more practical elements are concerned, convenience and accessibility are key factors, and they should make the very best use of the available, or otherwise useless, space.

One new example is the Sink Cabinet from Blum, which utilises, as the name suggests, the space around the sink, where cleaning products can be organised. Blanco too recently launched a range of under-sink and base unit solutions, including a storage caddy for cleaning products and a recycling system.

“This often-overlooked area of the kitchen is increasingly being recognised for its potential for practical storage solutions,” Tamsin Mills, Blanco brand communications manager, says.

She continues: “These products help to enhance organisation and also offer seamless integration into the kitchen, transforming under-sink areas into efficient storage zones. Whether it’s for waste management, cleaning supplies, or recycling, these solutions create a more organised and clutter-free space.”

Maximising space

Accessibility is also an increasing concern where we are living with an increasing aging population and multigenerational homes, as well as a growing recognition of the importance of catering of those with mobility issues. 

David Milner, storage category manager at PWS, which exclusively distributes Kesseböhmer, comments: “Kesseböhmer’s products are all about making items easier to see, reach and store; from reducing food waste by ensuring groceries are more visible, to speeding up the time to empty dishwashers by making cupboard shelving more accessible. As the global market leaders in this field; they have the widest range of products and are consistently first to launch new ideas, applications, colours and innovations.”

Simon Collyns, sales and marketing director for Symphony Group notes how pantries have become increasingly popular for those with limited space and that “butler’s pantries definitely have the wow-factor. Everybody wants one of them. Another big trend is the pocket door, as this can be easily be adapted to form a small appliance or drinks station.”

Breakfast nooks are also on the rise, “with Google searches for these features up 30%,” according to Cassie Jones, brand manager for Masterclass Kitchens. “These stylish and practical solutions allow homeowners to keep worktops clutter-free while maintaining easy access to everyday essentials.”

On maximising storage, In House Inspired Room Design’s director Stuart Dance notes that incorporating vertical solutions is becoming increasingly popular, offering an efficient way to free up counter space for food preparation and appliances. “Utilising the space behind the hob with vertical shelves ensures essentials are kept within reach while reducing cluttered workspaces. 

“Vertical storage can work in any style of kitchen – rustic accessories and wall-mounted plate racks can add a farmhouse charm to traditional kitchens, while sleek, metallic frame racks enhance industrial inspired designs.”

Storage stars

Finally, where trends are concerned, there has been a steady rise in the use of open or glass-fronted storage over the past few years, which isn’t surprising given our obsession with personalisation, and our need to update our ‘#shelfie’ game for the ‘Gram (there are 3.5m posts with that tag on the platform).

And open shelving can really elevate a design scheme, as the kbbreview-nominated example from Parker Bathrooms and Kitchens, shows. It allows homeowners to really customise the space, and show off their own design skills. It also helps to keep the space more open, and can be a great way to divide a broken plan kitchen, in the form of a tall shelving unit.

Symphony offers online configurators which allow customers to personalise storage options to their specific needs, while providing detailed product information to help both staff and customers to make informed choices.

Stuart Dance, director of In House Inspired Room Design adds that their versatile kitchen planner features cabinets available in various heights and depths, innovative finishes, and a multitude of storage solutions, allowing retailers to tailor designs to meet diverse customer needs.

“Retailers can also utilise Schüller’s kitchen configurator to experiment with different elements such as fronts, handles, and worktops. This enables the creation of personalised storage solutions that align with customer preferences, enhancing the appeal of the offerings.”

Demonstrating the benefits and value of storage solutions by showing customers the convenience of the solutions is arguably the most critical element, and knowing the products inside-out is part of this. Blum offers training in its training centre, and Blum expert for ergonomics and aging solutions, Amanda Hughes believes that storytelling is “the key to selling this aspirational lifestyle to homeowners. It’s not a nice-to-have add on, it’s part of inspiring the consumer about the impact of improving lives, future-proofing and investing in the long-term well-being of them and their home.

“Retailers can inspire their customers by painting a picture of what the alternative of not taking this approach will be. Cluttered, inaccessible, unfunctional – nobody wants that.”

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View from the showroom

We hear from three retailers who offer their insights into the storage trends they’re seeing in the showroom.

James Bullen, assistant manager at Parker Bathrooms and Kitchens: “The client brief in general was to create an open-plan kitchen/living space with a bold use of colour, trend-driven design with fluted wood accents, practical for family life and to not exceed a budget of £50k.

“With regards to the various sections of open shelving, this was to break up the run of doors and create visual interest, as well as a practical place for storage. The client had lots of stylish accessories which added their own personal touch to the design. 

“The open breakfast bar featured custom shelving above – the bespoke aspect of this was necessary in order to make sure the built-in microwave fitted, as well as allowing space below for small countertop appliances.

“We’re noticing that open shelving is becoming increasingly popular in our projects. People seem to be investing in accessories that can truly influence the overall design, which means it needs to be a consideration throughout the entire process. We’ve also worked on quite a few designs featuring fluted glass, as clients are really embracing the idea of opening up spaces and letting in as much natural light as possible.”  

Tess Stobie, home designer at Raison Home: “The clients for this kitchen enjoy socialising and cooking for friends. The husband, the main cook, wanted the hob in the centre of the island so he can chat to guests while he cooks. A hob needs sensible storage around it for the utensils and commonly used ingredients.

“On each side of the downdraft Elica hob, I placed a 300mm pull-out unit: one with a cook station for utensils and knives, and the other with a bottle rack for oils, salt, pepper, and everyday ingredients. This setup keeps everything within reach without cluttering the surface. The hob is in a 900mm wide unit with deep drawers for Le Creuset pans. Behind him is a wall of storage, featuring a larder and pantry cupboards so storage is easily organised and accessible.”

Emily Pickett, design consultant at Kitchens by Holloways: “Instead of a walk-in pantry, we sometimes create ‘step in’ pantries, which are much smaller, where everything is immediately reachable, these work particularly well if a space is tight but still offers the pantry feel. “Breakfast cupboards are a great pantry-style solution if there isn’t room for a walk-in and are often situated within the main kitchen.

“They provide practical storage space that can then be hidden away when not in use, often even housing appliances such as toasters, microwaves and coffee machines as well as other key items. Wine fridges are also often integrated into breakfast cupboard areas, as well as space for glassware, meaning it can be a morning-to-evening solution – providing breakfast, coffee and tea in the morning and drink ware for the evening.”