Keys to Smart Kitchen Storage

Are your spices organized in alphabetical order? Or thrown in a junk drawer? Do you like your dishes displayed where all can see? Or hidden behind closed doors? No matter your storage quirks, if it works for you, it's OK. That's not to say that the experts might not have some tips you'll find useful. Read on.

HGTV Dream Home designer Linda Woodrum: "I'm totally against a lot of organization. It just doesn't have any appeal to me personally. The alphabetized spice drawers — I don't see it. If a client wants ten slots built-in to hold their ten trays, I say, 'Well, you have ten this year but what if you have 15 trays next year? What will you do with the extra five trays?' I just don't understand that need."

Designer Kenneth Brown: "It's up to the homeowner. There is a point where the designer's role stops and the homeowner's role really starts. I can make a kitchen function and look really great, but I can't tell you where to put your cans of soup. Take your kitchen plans and label where everything is going to be. You have to do your homework to make sure the kitchen is going to function with how you cook."

Designer Lin Lee: The secret to successful storage? "Pull-out drawers. They make everything so much more accessible."

Kitchen pro Joan Kohn: Design your storage areas to really accommodate your needs. "Make sure your have drawers that are only as deep as what you're storing in them. That way, you don't have things in the drawers that are hidden under other things."

Kathy McCleary is a frequent contributor to HGTV.com.

More Info

Linda Woodrum, T.S. Hudson Interiors

Joan Kohn
www.joankohn.com

Lin Lee & Associates
www.linleeasid.com

Kenneth Brown Design, Inc.
www.kennethbrowndesign.com

reDesign
www.hgtv.com