Smart Custom Built-In Storage Solutions To Consider For Your Next Cabinet Remodel

A kitchen remodel is an exciting renovation. It's a chance to improve the look, function, and storage capabilities of an area you use every day. A lot of money and time will go into this project, so you want to get the most bang for your buck. Now is the time to consider any custom organization features that are tailored to your needs. To help you explore your design options, we've rounded up some useful built-in storage solutions for you to consider when remodeling your kitchen cabinets. 

The ideas ahead intend to maximize storage space and improve organization. Some of them need to be built into new cabinets, while others can be retrofitted into existing structures if you're undergoing a smaller renovation. When considering any custom addition, remember to look for features you'll actually use, not just those that look impressive. While doing so, also consider the style, color (choose from colors that hide dirt and grime), and the cabinet finish (there are pros and cons to consider for common cabinet finishes). From spacious appliance garages to organizers for your favorite kitchen tools, here are some snazzy built-in storage solutions to inspire your next cabinet remodel.

If you have a lot of kitchen tools, you're probably looking for ways to hide your small appliances to reduce clutter. An appliance garage is a great solution. This is a purpose-made storage cabinet for you to tuck small appliances away. There are many different ways to implement an appliance garage, with various options for size and finish, depending on your renovation. You can also add pull-out shelves for better accessibility and choose the door type (options include roll-up, pocket doors, and vertical lift doors). One excellent feature to consider for a custom appliance garage is interior power outlets. Then you don't need to plug and unplug appliances between uses, and the cord will stay nicely hidden when the door is closed, too.

Appliance garages are excellent for anyone who has a lot of small appliances that see frequent use. It gives these tools a home. It's also a good idea for those who want a very clean, uncluttered kitchen look. If your dream is to have absolutely nothing on your counters, then a cabinet garage is one solution. While the norm is to get this cabinet custom-made, that's not the only option. If you're looking for something premade that you can incorporate into your reno, the TITTEBO Roll-Front Cabinet from IKEA is an affordable alternative.

If you have a lot of cutting boards, baking sheets, and other flat cooking accessories, you know that organizing it all can be a hassle. In regular cabinets, these items often end up in a disorganized stack that's at constant risk of tumbling over. A built-in organizer eliminates the pile-up. These organizers have vertical dividers (usually made of wood) which help store cutting boards and baking sheets on their sides. 

This design idea is great for anyone who wants to avoid the typical stack of cooking accessories. It's also sturdier than most organizers on the market (for example, this Cutting Board Organizer by Fikoksol is great if you're on a budget, but is more likely to tip over). Unlike most pre-made organizers, if you're doing a custom cabinet build, you can adjust the layout to personalize it to your needs. Make smaller spaces for thin cutting boards and sheet pans. Create larger ones for serving trays and even skillets and pans.

If you are retrofitting existing cabinets, a product like the Omega National Wood Tray Dividers is more adjustable than most pre-made options, as long as you have the tools to trim the wood pieces. The vertical organizer layout makes each item easy to reach — no need to shift other items around. For those who want to protect their boards, sheets, and pans, this built-in system also prevents accidental damage that can come from stacking items.

Cutting, chopping, and cooking up a storm is a little easier with this clever kitchen cabinet design idea. Pull-out trash cans are a fairly popular custom cabinet feature, but you can take them to the next level by installing a cutting board drawer, with a convenient waste hole right over your bins. This type of drawer is sturdy and designed to hold up to the weight of your chopping and dicing. The cutting board section is removable so you can take it out for washing.

Anyone who does a lot of meal prepping will appreciate this nifty design idea. Running your peels and offcuts to the garbage bin is a small task, but when you're cooking a lot, it's nice to not have to walk at all — just shimmy it through the hole into the trash. If you're working with a cabinet installer to create this drawer, make sure to choose drawer rails that can accommodate the weight of chopping and prepping, and that hold the board flat and steady when the drawer is pulled out. If you want to buy a pre-made product, consider the Rev-A-Shelf Cut-Out Cutting Board Drawer, pictured above. It's available in a few sizes, has a removable funnel insert to direct waste downwards, and comes with a stopper to cover the cutting board hole.

Pull-out caddies can help you make the most of cabinet space. There are many options that are slim, so you can place them in narrow areas that aren't very useful otherwise, like a small gap between cabinets or around appliances. A pull-out utensil caddy is especially useful next to the oven, so you can quickly grab spatulas, serving spoons, and spices, but without having to keep them out on your counters.

A great example of this type of product is the Rev-A-Shelf Pull Out Storage Organizer, which is designed to fit cabinets with a 5½-inch opening. It has three utensil bins along the top section and adjustable shelves on the bottom. A pull-out caddy is perfect if you have a small section of your cabinet that you're not sure what to do with. It's also great if you like to have completely clear counters; it provides a spot to store cooking items nearby, but not in a typical countertop utensil holder or spice rack. Other pull-out products are available as well to fit your fancy and available room. For smaller spaces, consider the slimmer Rev-A-Shelf Pullout Shelf Organizer which fits 3-inch openings and is ideal for storing spices. Or, if you have a large space and want even more utility, this Rev-A-Shelf 11-Inch Base Pullout Cabinet Organizer fits 11½-inch openings and has utensil bins and universal knife holders.

Even if you're trying to use fewer paper towels in your home, these disposable sheets are sometimes required for really nasty messes. While there are plenty of paper towel storage ideas, none of them look as sleek as this built-in paper towel holder and storage drawer. This custom cabinet feature is essentially a U-shaped drawer that has a removable post in the middle, designed to hold a roll of paper towel. The U-shaped interior provides an area for you to store spare rolls. If you're doing a completely custom cabinet build, you can adjust the dimensions to fit your favorite paper towel brand. And, if you don't have the space for a double-drawer configuration, you can opt for a single-drawer one.

A built-in paper towel holder is a good choice for anyone who dislikes having paper towels on the counter. Countertop holders are not the nicest-looking kitchen accessories, no matter how hard they try. A built-in holder keeps sheets within easy reach, but clears counter space. It's also a good option if you don't have much space in cabinets or a pantry for paper towel storage. A double-drawer option can fit a few rolls when they're laid flat.

Corner cabinets can be a hassle to organize. They're deep and difficult to reach into, which is why we've previously rounded up ideas to make the most of your corner cabinet storage. One excellent alternative is a corner drawer. At first glance, these look like a regular cabinet. But, upon pulling on a handle, you'll notice they slide out like drawers.

Corner drawers are ideal if you hate rummaging through deep corner cabinets. They're also useful if you plan on storing smaller items and don't need the taller cabinet space. It's easier to keep smaller items organized in these drawers as well. There is a small caveat: Since they go straight back, you'll lose some space on either side of each drawer. Corner drawers are definitely the more convenient option if you don't mind the space trade-off.

Toe-kick drawers offer extra storage area with pretty much no trade-off. They're a must if you tend to find yourself tight on storage space. As their name suggests, these drawers are installed into the toe-kick portion of the lower cabinet — the very bottom section between the bottom of the lower cabinet and the floor. You nudge the front with your toe, and a mechanism springs the drawer open.

These drawers are a great option, as they typically occupy a space that would otherwise be empty. Just keep in mind that these drawers are shallow, so they can only hold smaller items. They're also low to the ground, so they might be hard to reach if you have difficulty bending. However, they're excellent for storing lesser-used items so you can clear out upper drawers for more important stuff. A toe-kick drawer is perfect for a junk drawer, full of bits and bobs you need to keep, but don't use often. They can also be used for baking sheets, trays, seldom-used platters, etc. 

A sink front tip-out tray is another way to take advantage of an often-empty space. This cabinet feature is installed into the area in front of your kitchen sink, between the sink itself and the cabinet front. The cabinet front conceals this slim storage space. It's affordable to buy one of these shelf inserts, for example, the Rev-A-Shelf In-Cabinet Tip Out Sink Front Tray costs $62.80 from The Home Depot. If you're already renovating your cabinets, this is a small extra cost for a very useful feature.

This cabinet design idea is ideal for those who want a little extra storage for a very reasonable price. It's also great for folks who don't like the sight of scourers and sponges permanently sitting out next to their sink, as it provides a handy place to put these small dishwashing accessories. Ideally, make sure any items you place inside are completely dry to prevent mold or mildew issues. However, many of these tip-out tray products are made of stainless steel, so they are easy to clean and also won't warp if you forget to let your sponge dry completely before tucking it away.

Pull-out cabinet inserts are convenient, but full-size pull-out pantries are even better for storing staples. These sections span the entire height of your cabinet and pull out so you can reach the interior shelves. That means less bending down or getting a step stool to grab staples from regular cabinets. The pull-out design also lets you reach items in the back more easily, which can't be said of deep cabinets.

Anyone who stores food staples in their cabinet can benefit from one of these pull-out pantries. They offer much more convenience, allowing you to see all your stock at once. The Rev-A-Shelf Pantry System for Tall Pantry Cabinets is one option that comes in a wide variety of sizes to suit your cabinet layout. Its shelves vary in height to accommodate tall and short staples, from cereal boxes to tuna cans.

Looking for a stylish way to store your wine bottles? If you have a rotating vino selection in your home, keep reds within easy reach with wine cubbies, built right into your cabinets. These cubbies are sized to fit a wine bottle (if you're customizing your cabinets, you can personalize their size). You can install them underneath the countertop or anywhere else that you have a bit of unused space.

If you like to have your wine nearby and enjoy how this feature looks, it's an excellent option for wine storage. However, for serious wine lovers, there are no temperature controls, so this storage solution won't be ideal for some. You also can't see the bottle label without pulling it out. This design idea is mainly an aesthetic choice, but it does have the advantage of keeping bottles on their sides, which is preferred for vintages with real corks.

The sides of cabinets are often overlooked storage spots. This is an otherwise boring cabinet area you can decorate, but if you're renovating your cabinets, you might as well add a little extra storage too. A tall and narrow cabinet for brooms and other cleaning supplies is a useful addition. These cabinets tend to open to the side rather than forwards, so they add very little extra area to your cabinet layout, but are extremely useful. Inside, have a few shelves for cleaning supplies and a middle section to hang brooms, mops, and dusters.

If you don't have a broom closet, a broom cabinet could be a very useful element to incorporate into your cabinet renovation. But, even if you have a broom closet, it's still worth considering, especially if yours is far from the kitchen. This cabinet design is more convenient so you can put your cleaning supplies where you need them most frequently. Especially in homes with young kids, mealtimes can be a mess, so you'll want your supplies to be readily available. You can also retrofit the cabinet and turn it into a stick vacuum storage closet. Install a power outlet inside the cabinet and a wall-mounted holder for the vacuum.

Another useful idea for the end of a tall cabinet is to make a customized command center. Again, it just needs to be a narrow area, so it won't add too much space to your overall cabinet dimensions. The command center can pull out like in this example or have a door that opens to the side, like the previous broom cabinet example.

This cabinet design idea is useful if you need a lot of organizing space to run your day-to-day life, more than just a whiteboard or corkboard. You can still install these accessories inside (or opt for magnet boards, pegboards, or chalkboards). But, the recessed space also gives you an area to put bins and folders to store paperwork and mail. This is also ideal if you want to conceal the command center and the mess that can come with it.

If your countertop is a mess of phone cables, external chargers, and other electronic accessories, a charging drawer could be a welcome cabinet feature. These drawers have an outlet or a power bar inside so you can plug devices in. They also usually have organizers to keep items tidy. If you're getting one made, you can adjust the organizer layout inside to fit your devices.

This design idea is great for anyone who wants to cut down on electronic countertop clutter. It also helps those who are prone to losing cables, earbuds, and the like: A drawer like this keeps electronics in one place and provides a dedicated storage spot. If needed, you can put a lock or childproofing latch on the drawer to restrict access to little ones. For ease of installation, it's possible to buy a pre-made solution like the eponymous Docking Drawer. This product plugs into an outlet inside the cabinet and is essentially a drawer with a built-in power bar.

Pet bowls can be an eyesore in a minimalist kitchen. Keep them tucked away with a hidden pet bowl drawer. These drawers are similar to toe-kick drawers, installed under the lower cabinets above the floor, but instead of storage space, they have a holder inside for pet bowls.

This design idea is appealing for pet owners who want to be able to hide away their pet's bowls, whether it's an aesthetic choice or to prevent access when it's not feeding time. It's possible to buy these drawers pre-made, like the Pet Kick Open Drawer Feeder by handyctcom from Etsy. Or, if going the custom-made route, this is essentially a toe-kick drawer retrofitted with a top panel where you will need to cut out circles that fit the size of your pet bowls. This type of design also helps raise the bowls slightly compared to placing them on the floor. Choose a smooth and water-resistant material for the top panel so it's easy to clean. Also, it's imperative to make sure there's a water bowl elsewhere so closing the drawer doesn't restrict water access.