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In the kitchen, 72.3% of cabinet storage is taken up by air. This article provides three small projects to help reclaim dead space in kitchen cabinets and drawers. The first project involves optimizing upper cabinets by adding extra shelves where possible. This simple project requires only a little bit of wood and a few tools. By moving adjustable shelves down and adding new clips, users can create a shelf that fits perfectly with the factory.
The second project focuses on reclaiming space in pots and pans storage. This area is often the most wasted space in the kitchen. By adding a pull-out tray and a simple shelf, users can double their shelf space and gain more options for storing pots and pans. The final project involves creating junk drawer dividers to help keep the kitchen organized. These small projects can help users make the most of their kitchen storage space.
Key Takeaways
- Optimizing upper cabinets can add extra storage space.
- Adding a pull-out tray and shelf can double shelf space in pots and pans storage.
- Junk drawer dividers can help keep the kitchen organized.
Optimizing Upper Cabinets
Adjusting Shelves
Optimizing upper cabinets is an easy and simple project that can help reclaim dead space in the kitchen. By adjusting the adjustable shelves, homeowners can add extra shelves where they can store items under six inches tall. To do this, one can start by moving the adjustable shelves down and then add new clips to create a shelf that fits in perfectly with the factory.
Cutting Plywood
To add extra shelves, a piece of plywood can be used. By laying the shelf on top of the plywood, one can measure and trace a line as the cut line for the plywood. A circular saw can be used to cut the plywood, and a Kraig straight edge can be used to offset the circular saw base while making the cut.
Using Circular Saw
When using a circular saw, it is important to note that it throws off a lot of dust. Hence, using a track saw with better dust collection is recommended. Once the plywood is cut, it is important to note that it is not solid wood but particleboard with a thin veneer. To cover the edge of the plywood, iron-on edge banding can be used.
Edge Banding
Iron-on edge banding is a birch veneer with glue on the back. By using a hot iron, the edge banding can be pressed down into the plywood, and then trimmed with either a chisel or a razor blade. Afterward, the edges can be sanded to make it look like solid wood.
Finishing and Installation
After adding the edge banding, the plywood can be finished with a couple of coats of Amber Polyurethane to match the original factory finish. The new shelves can then be installed by moving down the clips and using little shelf clips to hold the new shelves in place. With these extra shelves, homeowners can have more storage space in their upper cabinets.
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Reclaiming Space in Pots and Pans Storage
Pull Out Tray Modification
Brad suggests that one of the most wasted spaces in a kitchen is where pots and pans are stored. To address this issue, he demonstrates how to make a pull-out tray modification that will give easier access to items at the back and add a little more storage.
First, he measures the largest pot and lid that goes in that area to ensure that the shelf is high enough to clear the pot and then the lids on top. Using half-inch plywood, he cuts the parts and assembles them using 18 gauge nails and glue. After edge banding and finishing with polyurethane, the shelf is installed using adjustable shelf pins.
Cutting and Assembling Parts
To make the shelf fit perfectly, Brad stacks up the piece of wood and marks where it overlaps instead of measuring it and getting the wrong measurement. He then cuts the sides of the shelf on the table saw and uses a jigsaw to cut off the sharp corner.
After assembling the shelf using nails and glue, he fills all the little nail holes with some wood putty. Once the glue and putty are dry,he puts some finish on and drills in the shelf pin holes.
Finishing and Installation
To cover up the edge of the plywood, which has a sticker and some edge banding, Brad uses iron-on edge banding. After trimming it with a chisel or razor blade, he sands the edges to make it look like solid wood.
He then puts a couple of coats of Amber Polyurethane on the board to make it almost an exact match to the original. After moving down the clips and adding the new shelf, he demonstrates how much extra storage space can be created.
Overall, these modifications are simple and easy to do at home, and they can help reclaim dead space in kitchen cabinets and drawers.
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Junk Drawer Dividers
In order to make the most of the dead space in kitchen cabinets and drawers, three small projects can be undertaken. The first project involves optimizing upper cabinets and adding extra shelves. This can be achieved with just a little bit of wood and hardly any tools. By moving adjustable shelves down and adding new clips, a new shelf can be created that fits in perfectly with the factory. This is perfect for cabinets that have items that are under six inches.
For this project, one can use plywood offcuts to find a piece and then lay the shelf on top. A cut line can be traced and a circular saw can be used for the cut. However, using a track saw is recommended for better dust collection. To cover up the edge of the plywood, iron-on edge banding can be used. Once it dries, it can be trimmed with a chisel or razor blade, and then sanded on the edges to look like solid wood. A couple of coats of Amber Polyurethane can be added to the board for a perfect match to the original.
The second project involves adding a shelf to the pull-out tray under the pots and pans. This can be done by taking measurements of the largest pot and lid that go in that area and cutting half-inch plywood parts accordingly. The sides can be cut on a table saw for a nice fit in between, and the shelves can be cut an inch shorter than the back. A sharp corner can be knocked off with a roll of blue tape and a radius can be traced out before cutting it out with a jigsaw.
To assemble the shelf, some good old 18 gauge me nails and glue can be used. Once the glue and putty is dry, a couple of coats of polyurethane can be added for protection. Shell pin holes can be drilled in, and the adjustable shelf pins can be set in place. The fit should be great, and the insert can be loaded up for a lot more options.
The third project involves creating a divider for the junk drawer. This can be done by using a piece of half-inch plywood and cutting it to the size of the drawer. Then, dividers can be cut to fit inside the drawer and glued to the base piece. The dividers can be spaced according to the size of the items in the drawer. Once the glue is dry, the dividers can be sanded and finished with a couple of coats of polyurethane.
By undertaking these three small projects, dead space in kitchen cabinets and drawers can be reclaimed, and more storage options can be created.
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