The Best Spot In Your Kitchen To Store Dinner Plates, According To Design Experts

A well-organized kitchen can significantly affect your cooking and cleaning experience, and properly storing your dinnerware is essential to achieving this. Experts in kitchen design and organization suggest keeping your dinner plates in a convenient location so that they can be quickly accessed or put away. For instance, Amanda Wiss, founder of home organizing company Urban Clarity, tells Livingetc that she's a proponent of keeping dishes within easy reach of the dishwasher to save time and effort. "Before deciding on exactly where in your kitchen your dishes will land, open the dishwasher and pretend you're unloading it. Which cabinet is easiest to reach? That's where your everyday dishes should live."

Alternatively, storing plates near the dining area can be helpful during meal preparation and table setting. To create a functional and visually-appealing kitchen and eating area, it's important to consider different storage options. Faith Durand, editor-in-chief of Kitchn, suggests adding a dish cabinet or sideboard to the dining room, especially if you have a small kitchen. This allows you to easily transition from cooking to setting the table, improving the flow of your meal routines. By choosing a spot that suits your needs, you can optimize your dish storage in order to improve the overall efficiency of your kitchen space.

When it comes to storing dinnerware, there are various practical considerations, as the best spots for storage depend on your kitchen layout, available space, and personal preferences. Carly Waters, an interior designer and expert organizer, advised Well+Good that it's important to do what seems most logical, such as storing mugs near your coffeemaker or glasses near the refrigerator. 

Assess your kitchen's flow and usage patterns to determine the most suitable location for your dinner plates. Also, consider the sizes, types, and number of dishes you have. It's also wise to think about your family's unique needs. For instance, if you have children old enough to serve themselves, professional organizer Audra George told Southern Living that it's a good idea to keep their plates, cups, and bowls in a lower spot that they can reach. "This is a win-win for everyone in the house!"

It's also essential to consider the availability of adequate storage within your kitchen. If traditional storage options are limited, consider using oversized drawers, as they offer easy access and efficient organization. You can also add alternative solutions to your kitchen such as hanging racks, wall-mounted shelves, or standalone furniture pieces like hutches or armoires that can offer additional dish storage space while adding a decorative touch.

If you need help organizing your dinnerware, some simple tips can make the process easier. First, keep your everyday dishes at a comfortable height for easy access. Avoid shelves that are too high or low, and arrange your dishes in an ergonomic way. 

"If you have to get on a stool or bend way over to get something, you're working too hard," Kate Fisher of The Neatist told Real Simple.

Store heavier or oversized items at waist-level or lower, and keep lighter pieces on higher shelves. To avoid stacks of different-sized plates or bowls, use dividers and shelf risers to create separate compartments. Vertical racks and plate organizers can also save space and make it easier to select a specific plate. For smaller items like saucers or cups, use drawer inserts or dividers to keep them organized. With a little bit of planning and effort, you can transform your dinnerware storage into a functional and aesthetically pleasing part of your kitchen.