How to solve your kitchen storage dilemmas: 6 Smart Design Tips

Struggling with cluttered worktops or overstuffed cupboards? You’re not alone. According to Cash & Carry Kitchens designer Marie Browne, the number one storage issue in Irish kitchens is the messy countertop.

“Our kitchens work so hard - cooking, eating, entertaining, living - so it’s easy for clutter to build up,” says Marie. “But it really disrupts the function of the space.”

The good news? You don’t necessarily need a bigger kitchen to fix it. With clever kitchen storage solutions, you can create a more organised, functional, and enjoyable space without adding a single extra inch.

Q: How can I create more kitchen storage without extending my space?

A: Declutter first, then maximise every cupboard and corner with tailored storage solutions like pull-out drawers, carousel units, and vertical space organisers. Group items by type and use, give everything a dedicated ‘home’, and refresh your system regularly.

1. Start with a Kitchen Stock Take

Before you invest in storage upgrades, take everything out of your cupboards and drawers. This helps you:

• Identify expired food, duplicates, and unused items.

• Decide what truly needs to be stored.

• Plan space for the essentials only.

Marie recommends being ruthless; if it’s broken, outdated, or missing parts (like those lidless Tupperware containers), get rid of it. Once pared down, you can reintroduce items with a clear, organised system.

2. Clear Those Cluttered Countertops

Often, worktops get messy because items don’t have a proper home. Marie suggests:

• Dividing your kitchen into zones (cooking, food storage, cleaning).

• Giving every item a place within its zone.

With this system, finding and returning items becomes automatic, making it much easier to maintain a clutter-free space.

3. Keep ‘Like with Like’

Marie calls this the one-touch approach: group similar items together so they’re always within easy reach.
Examples include:

• All glasses together, all plates together, all mixing bowls together.

• A dedicated snack drawer to keep treats tidy.

• Pots and pans stored right beside the hob.

The result? You only need one movement to grab what you need.

4. Make Your Shelves Work Harder

Instead of static shelves that hide items at the back, invest in customised storage like:

• Pull-Out Drawers for full visibility.

• Carousel corner units for easy access.

• Basket systems for cleaning products that can move from room to room.

Marie says a single well-accessorised unit can outperform multiple basic shelves, and often hold more too.

5. Remember that needs can change

Don’t be afraid to acknowledge that your kitchen does different jobs at different times of year. What a family needs during the school year, for example, might be different from during the summer or even over Christmas. 

“Regularly taking stock is really important,” says Marie. “Look at what you need.”

That could mean giving priority to the things that are in heavy rotation right now, and changing as the year progresses. “My summer kitchen is a little different to my school year kitchen. During the school year I have a drawer of lunch boxes and bags - that moves up, it becomes a priority. In summer, maybe it’s beach stuff for picnics.”

6. Upgrade the Storage You Can’t See

The most impactful changes often happen behind closed doors:

• Internal Spice racks to free up counter space.

• Hettich internal drawers for smoother organisation.

• Corner units like the ,Fly Box exclusive to Cash & Carry Kitchens in Ireland, which glides fully out of the cabinet and can hold over 100kg — making previously wasted space fully functional.

Q: What’s the best way to organise a small kitchen?

A: Declutter first, then group items by use and store them near where they’re needed. Use vertical space, pull-out units, and corner solutions to maximise capacity without overcrowding the room.

Transform Your Kitchen Storage

Whether you have a compact galley or a spacious open-plan kitchen, the right storage design can make it feel bigger, tidier, and more efficient. To explore smart solutions like the Fly Box, full-height larders, and pull-out spice racks, browse our Interactive Brochure or visit your nearest Cash & Carry Kitchens showroom.