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Increase the height of your kitchen cabinets by adding shelves or risers to make the contents easier to reach
How to make high kitchen cabinets easier to reach |
Understanding the Problem
If you’re anything like me, then one of your biggest bugbears in the kitchen can often be reaching those high cabinets. They are often necessary for adding extra storage space and maintaining a clean and organized kitchen, but they can also be quite inconvenient to access. This is especially true for people who are shorter or have mobility issues.
It’s important for us to make our homes as comfortable and accessible as possible. Finding how to reach the top shelf of your kitchen cabinets might not seem so significant until you need that ingredient or utensils stored up there while cooking. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!
To bring you a solution, offerings include various methods that aren’t simply “use a stool” (Although sometimes stools and step ladders can be handy). These range from adjustable shelving to swing-down mechanisms, each with unique advantages and disadvantages.
*Let’s consider a scenario*: John and Lisa just moved into their new home. Lisa loves the kitchen, but she struggles to access the upper shelves due to her height.
– Lisa can’t comfortably reach items at an arm’s length.
– She needs assistance anytime she wishes to retrieve these items.
– It hampers her efficiency in the kitchen.
– Activities in the kitchen become laborious.
– It discourages her from organizing and storing items in the higher shelves.
– She dreads cooking because it tends to be more stressful than enjoyable.
Exploring Available Options
There are several options available for making high kitchen cabinets easier to reach. We’ll look at some popular ones offering flexibility and convenience, including pulldown shelves, adjustable shelves, under-mount racks, back-of-door storage and more. You might want to grab your note pad; some innovative ideas are about to be unleashed.
Knowing that Sarah was having issues reaching her high cabinets, John set out research to help find a solution. He encountered different recommendations that could ease Sarah’s kitchen stress.
– He found out about pull-down shelves that lower items to an accessible height.
– Adjustable shelves which allow custom height settings were an option.
– Undermount racks or baskets are perfect for storing frequently used items.
– Back-of-door storage is quite useful for utilizing cabinet doors.
– Vertical tray dividers turned unused space into storage units.
– Items could be stored in easy-to-reach locations with a carousel or lazy Susan.
Implementing the Solutions
Upon selection of an appropriate solution, it’s key to execute appropriately. This usually involves either do-it-yourself (DIY) installations or hiring a professional. Some knowledge of tools, installation process and safety measures is important if you choose the DIY path. Accurate measurements are also essential to avoid mishaps.
John saw that he could alleviate Lisa’s difficulty dealing with high cabinets. After studying some how-to guide materials, John felt ready to try his hands at a couple of these solutions.
– He purchased a pull-down shelf system and started installing it.
– John took the necessary safety precautions, like using gloves and protective goggles.
– He made sure he understood the manufacturer’s instructions.
– Accurate measurements were taken during installation.
– Regular checks were done to ensure it was properly installed.
– Test runs were done before presenting it for use to Lisa.
Seeking Professional Assistance
If you’re wondering what if you aren’t confident about handling the challenges of remodelling your kitchen, there’s always the option of seeking help. Numerous professionals specialize in modifying kitchens for ease of access, movement and overall functionality.
Let’s see how the Wilsons approached this when faced with a similar problem. Mr. Wilson wasn’t good with tools and decided to seek the help of professionals.
– They first mapped out their problems and identified possible solutions.
– Together they looked up professional service providers who could help.
– A budget was put together and a service provider was selected.
– They communicated their needs clearly and effectively.
– During implementation, they made sure they were satisfied with the progress.
– After work was done, they checked thoroughly to ensure their need was met.
Kitchen Organization 101
If brute force doesn’t cut it for you, some rethinking and rearranging of your current kitchen storage might be necessary. Some kitchen organization rules of thumb can make your kitchen not only better looking but also more efficient and accessible, adding an extra layer of convenience when preparing meals.
Take Anne, for instance. She too was faced with high kitchen cabinet woes, but instead of installing a new fixture or calling in helpers she decided to re-arrange her whole setup:
– She moved infrequently used items like party ware and fancy chinaware to the top shelves.
– Everyday items were brought down to easier-to-reach positions.
– She removed the clutter and freed up space to prevent overcrowding.
– For deep cabinets, she front-loaded most-used items.
– Items were arranged into similar categories for easy location.
– She noted that a neat and categorized environment eased the task.
Evaluating End Results
After implementing any of these techniques, it’s important to evaluate whether the desired result has been achieved. It’s crucial to check if the goal of making high kitchen cabinets easier to reach has been met and the users are comfortable operating within the new arrangement.
Remember Lisa and John? Post the pull-down shelf installment, they found:
– Lisa was now able to easily access items stored in high kitchen cabinets.
– The kitchen became more efficient and less tedious for her.
– Their quality of life improved through the resolution of this problem.
– They saved on cost by carrying out the fix themselves.
– Lisa’s tension and worry about her kitchen challenges were eliminated.
– In the long run, it proved to be a worthwhile investment.
Summary table:
Solution | Advantages | Disadvantages |
---|---|---|
Pull-down Shelves | Easier access, efficiency | Installation might be DIY or require professional help |
Adjustable Shelves | Custom height settings | Possible adjustment issues |
Carousel or Lazy Susan | Easy location of items | Spinning might be challenging for some people |
Reorganisation | No need for construction; inexpensive | Takes time and planning to execute |
Regardless of what solution you choose, remember that the purpose should always be convenience, easy access to items, and a comfortable overall kitchen experience. Happy organizing!