How Do I... Store My Benchtop Appliances?
Are your benchtops cluttered with appliances? An expert reveals some smart and stylish ways to stash them
In this practical series, we ask experts to answer your burning design and decorating questions. Here Michael Simpson, director and designer at The Kitchen Design Centre, shares his top tips for storing coffee machines, blenders, toasters and other small appliances neatly away.
Smart positioning
When thinking about what to store where, focus on practicality. The appliances you use most frequently should be kept in easily accessible spots, whether that’s inside drawers or an appliance cabinet next to your benchtop, or – for lighter items – inside overhead cabinets.
When thinking about what to store where, focus on practicality. The appliances you use most frequently should be kept in easily accessible spots, whether that’s inside drawers or an appliance cabinet next to your benchtop, or – for lighter items – inside overhead cabinets.
Butler’s pantries
If you’ve got the space, a butler’s pantry offers the best storage for appliances. A fully functioning butler’s pantry will have a sink, dishwasher, storage and plenty of bench space so you can use appliances near to where you store food. This makes it easy to keep the kitchen clean and clear – perfect for when you’re entertaining and don’t want guests to see the work going on behind the scenes.
If you’ve got the space, a butler’s pantry offers the best storage for appliances. A fully functioning butler’s pantry will have a sink, dishwasher, storage and plenty of bench space so you can use appliances near to where you store food. This makes it easy to keep the kitchen clean and clear – perfect for when you’re entertaining and don’t want guests to see the work going on behind the scenes.
The minimum amount of space you’ll need for a butler’s pantry is 1500 millimetres in width (this allows for one straight run of cabinets), 600 millimetres in depth for benchtops, and 900 millimetres of space in front of benchtops so you have enough room to bend and pull out drawers.
Browse more kitchen pantries
Browse more kitchen pantries
Appliance cabinet
If you don’t have room for a butler’s pantry, an appliance cabinet or pantry where you can store all your benchtop appliances – or even just your daily essentials such as the kettle and toaster – is another good solution. But before settling on this option, make sure you can fit one in without compromising on bench space.
Tip: Running the same material from your benchtop to the base of your appliance cabinet will give you a seamless look and make the area easier to clean. If you choose a heat-resistant material, such as stone, it can also help prevent burn marks from appliances that get hot at the base.
If you don’t have room for a butler’s pantry, an appliance cabinet or pantry where you can store all your benchtop appliances – or even just your daily essentials such as the kettle and toaster – is another good solution. But before settling on this option, make sure you can fit one in without compromising on bench space.
Tip: Running the same material from your benchtop to the base of your appliance cabinet will give you a seamless look and make the area easier to clean. If you choose a heat-resistant material, such as stone, it can also help prevent burn marks from appliances that get hot at the base.
If you’re short on room, consider dividing and conquering your appliance storage. Rather than storing the microwave inside your appliance cabinet, position it separately on a shelf or open cupboard above the benchtop – around 450 millimetres from your benchtop is ideal.
The 8 Biggest Kitchen Blunders
The 8 Biggest Kitchen Blunders
Roller doors
There are two main door options for an appliance cabinet. The first one is a roller door. These are practical as they simply roll up and down, and won’t swing out onto benchtops and take up valuable space. But be aware that the roll itself will take up room inside your appliance cabinet, which means that you’ll always need to leave some upper space free.
Tip: Have your roller door made in the same finish as the rest of your kitchen doors for a cohesive look.
There are two main door options for an appliance cabinet. The first one is a roller door. These are practical as they simply roll up and down, and won’t swing out onto benchtops and take up valuable space. But be aware that the roll itself will take up room inside your appliance cabinet, which means that you’ll always need to leave some upper space free.
Tip: Have your roller door made in the same finish as the rest of your kitchen doors for a cohesive look.
Bi-folds
Bi-fold doors are another option for appliance cabinets. Bi-folds look great, and will give you full access to the cabinet without impinging on storage. Choose from a single bi-fold that opens to the left or right, or a double bi-fold with two doors opening in opposite directions.
One downside of bi-folds, however, is that once opened the doors will protrude onto the benchtop. To minimise this jutting-out effect, have your appliance cabinet set back 200 millimetres or so.
Bi-fold doors are another option for appliance cabinets. Bi-folds look great, and will give you full access to the cabinet without impinging on storage. Choose from a single bi-fold that opens to the left or right, or a double bi-fold with two doors opening in opposite directions.
One downside of bi-folds, however, is that once opened the doors will protrude onto the benchtop. To minimise this jutting-out effect, have your appliance cabinet set back 200 millimetres or so.
Drawers
Drawers are an appealing option for appliance storage. They pull out towards you, rather than you having to bend or reach inside them, giving you far easier access to their contents than cupboards.
If using drawers to store regularly used appliances, go no lower than the middle drawers to ensure easy access. It’s also wise to have drawers made to measure for a perfect fit; they should be deep enough to accommodate your appliances, while offering enough room so they can be used in their stored position, rather than having to be moved onto the benchtop every time you want to use them.
Less frequently used appliances such as bread makers and slow cookers can be stored in the bottom drawer. If you need extra height to accommodate tall appliances, consider a combination kickboard drawer – by combining the interior spaces of two drawers in one, you’ll get up to 350 millimetres of extra height, without altering the external appearance of your cabinetry.
Read more kitchen storage stories
Drawers are an appealing option for appliance storage. They pull out towards you, rather than you having to bend or reach inside them, giving you far easier access to their contents than cupboards.
If using drawers to store regularly used appliances, go no lower than the middle drawers to ensure easy access. It’s also wise to have drawers made to measure for a perfect fit; they should be deep enough to accommodate your appliances, while offering enough room so they can be used in their stored position, rather than having to be moved onto the benchtop every time you want to use them.
Less frequently used appliances such as bread makers and slow cookers can be stored in the bottom drawer. If you need extra height to accommodate tall appliances, consider a combination kickboard drawer – by combining the interior spaces of two drawers in one, you’ll get up to 350 millimetres of extra height, without altering the external appearance of your cabinetry.
Read more kitchen storage stories
Power points
Once you’ve chosen your appliance storage solution, don’t forget to include enough power points nearby. This means you won’t have to move appliances far from their storage positions (if at all) to use them. Also include power points on your island bench, which is usually the cooking prep zone.
For an appliance cabinet, aim for a minimum of four power points (two doubles), plus an extra for the microwave. In a butler’s pantry, aim for a minimum of three double power points – and a USB charging point is a good idea too.
Once you’ve chosen your appliance storage solution, don’t forget to include enough power points nearby. This means you won’t have to move appliances far from their storage positions (if at all) to use them. Also include power points on your island bench, which is usually the cooking prep zone.
For an appliance cabinet, aim for a minimum of four power points (two doubles), plus an extra for the microwave. In a butler’s pantry, aim for a minimum of three double power points – and a USB charging point is a good idea too.
Lighting
Adding LED strip lights on sensors to appliance cabinets is wise, as it will allow you to use the kettle or toaster without having to illuminate the entire kitchen or even flick a switch.
LED lighting is also affordable enough to leave on overnight, meaning that any restless sleepers can safely find their way to the fridge for a glass of milk.
Adding LED strip lights on sensors to appliance cabinets is wise, as it will allow you to use the kettle or toaster without having to illuminate the entire kitchen or even flick a switch.
LED lighting is also affordable enough to leave on overnight, meaning that any restless sleepers can safely find their way to the fridge for a glass of milk.
Tell us
How have you taken control of benchtop clutter? Tell us in the Comments below. And while you’re at it, don’t forget to like, share or bookmark this story. Join the conversation.
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Find a kitchen designer near you
How have you taken control of benchtop clutter? Tell us in the Comments below. And while you’re at it, don’t forget to like, share or bookmark this story. Join the conversation.
More
Find a kitchen designer near you
The microwave is the main item clients want to get off their benchtops, but toasters, kettles, juicers and sandwich makers can all create clutter too.