When planning for a future kitchen or bathroom remodel, Pinterest and Houzz can easily become your new best friend. I call this the “dreaming phase” where cabinet colors to countertops, flooring and backsplashes ignite your imagination! With a nearly unlimited number of photos, it’s fun to go down rabbit holes to get good ideas for your space. One of the categories that I encourage people to explore is the world of cabinet accessories. Though this is not the most glamorous, it can be one of the most practical. Here are some of my favorite cabinet accessories to use in a kitchen or bathroom remodel.

PULL-OUT TRASH CONTAINER

The pull-out trash containers have almost become an assumption at this point, and it is easy to see why. In fact, I have never heard of a client asking for their trash can to be more prominently displayed in their newly designed and remodeled space. I truly like the idea of getting the trash cans off the floor and into a cabinet because it eliminates the unsightly trash bins that take up space. It reduces visual clutter and even allows for the trash can to be closer to the sink (where it is often needed most). Additionally, if you upgrade the accessory with a Servo Drive from Rev-a-shelf, you can have the trash can open electronically with a gentle knee tap, keeping your cabinet doors clean from wet and messy hands.

https://rev-a-shelf.com/4wccc-series?primary_color=223304&product=4wccc-wn-1550dm-118mb

ROLL-OUT SHELVES

While base cabinets with drawers are a universally requested design direction, I do like to include a cabinet with doors somewhere in the design. This allows space to add an adjustable roll-out to the kitchen. Drawers are extremely nice to have in a kitchen because they give full accessibility to the items in your cabinets. Instead of shelves where you may need to get on your hands and knees to get to the back of the cabinet, drawers bring the items to you. Similarly, roll-outs do the same, but with an added benefit. Everyone has one or two odd-sized items that they like to store that would not fit in a standard height drawer. Think of an Instant Pot, crawfish pot, or an Asian wok. These items sometimes need just a little bit of extra space that can be accommodated with an adjustable roll-out. There are also different types of roll-outs that can be specified like produce drawers, tray divider drawers, or even ones with pot and pan organizers.

https://rev-a-shelf.com/4wdb-series?product=4wdb-1219sc-1  

TOE KICK DRAWER

I was tempted to put this into the roll-out section above, but toe kick drawers deserve to have their own section to shine. Installed into the typically empty toe kick space of a cabinet, these drawers are touch activated (typically with your foot) and can be used as an additional storage space in a kitchen (or any other rooms that are lacking in space). A few years ago, I worked on a smaller kitchen, and we were able to add about 25-30% more space by filling up her toe kick space with drawers. Now that is space well used!

SPICE ORGANIZER

As someone who loves to cook, having a spice organizer can be a game changer. Before, I would have a nearly black hole of spice containers that I would need to pull onto the counter to find the one I was looking for (and so often, it would be in the VERY back…). Having a spice organizer can reduce wasted time searching and enhance the cooking experience by knowing what you have and where it is. Whether you display the spices on the back of a door with a spice rack, have them laying on a tiered drawer system, or have them front-to-back in a pull-out, you can be sure that any one of these accessories will add some flavor to your future kitchen (pun intended).

                  https://rev-a-shelf.com/4sr-series?product=4sr-15

https://rev-a-shelf.com/4sdi-series?product=4sdi-18

BLIND CORNER ACCESSORY

If you have ever had a blind corner cabinet, where one cabinet disappears into the corner of an “L” shaped layout, you know how hard it can be to access the full space, leaving items to go unused and forgotten.  As a kitchen designer, these frustrating areas have the greatest potential to be the favorite areas with some clever accessories. The Kesseboehmer MagicCorner has been one of those accessories that came to the market in recent years as a solution. Configured in two sets of shelves, the first is mounted to the door which pulls the second set from the corner forward as you open the door. Additionally, there are accessories with strategic shapes, like the Lemans which allows for accessibility through an innovative pull-out shelf mechanism. Both of these, and others, can give complete access to the items inside the cabinet, without the need to go spelunking with a flashlight into the blind corner.

https://www.kesseboehmer.us/kitchen/corner-cabinets/lemans OR https://www.kesseboehmer.us/kitchen/corner-cabinets/magic-corner

MIXER LIFT

Most people think of their KitchenAid mixer when you hear “Mixer Lift”, and they are not wrong. These shelves are designed to hold the weight of a heavy mixer, bring it up while in use, and gently store it away again. Getting these appliances off the countertop is precisely what the lifts are made for. However, they are not limited to mixers themselves. I have seen these used for blenders, food processors, air fryers, toaster ovens, coffee makers, and more. The Mixer Lift can be a great accessory to getting those small countertop appliances out of sight, but not out of mind. Add the benefit of being able to make the shelf custom in either wood or stone, these lifts are not just functional, but can be beautiful as well.

https://rev-a-shelf.com/ml-series?product=ml-mphdsccr-18

UTENSIL PULL-OUT

In the decluttering movement we are in, where homeowners are simplifying their visual space, one of my favorite accessories to recommend is the utensil pull-out. Simply put, this collects your spoons, spatulas, whisks, tongs, and more. Some units even come with the added benefit of a universal knife block, so that one more item can get off your countertop. Placing these pull-outs near a stove top can be another way to have a more enjoyable cooking experience. It elevates the visual appeal of the kitchen while also maintaining or increasing the function of the space.

https://rev-a-shelf.com/448utcc-bcsc-series?product=448utcc-bcsc-5mb

GROOMING ORGANIZER

Increasing in popularity, grooming organizers are being requested left and right. These pull outs generally have a space for your hairdryer, curling iron, straightener, or any other hair accessory you may use. Continuing the trend of decluttering, having a space for each of these items assists with the organization of the bathroom, while giving accessibility to each tool. Several of these pull outs even have trays and shelves underneath to put sprays and hair products, giving it increased usability. While some have built-in outlets for your hairdryer and more to plug into, for safety reasons and code requirements, they only work while the cabinet is open.

https://rev-a-shelf.com/445-vb-series?product=445-vbosc-8c–

HAMPER PULL-OUT

Much like the pull-out trash can above, the hamper pull outs in the bathroom can be a wonderful way of eliminating clutter. Gone are the days of the laundry baskets in the corner, or worse, a pile of dirty clothes on the floor. Hamper pull outs give a creative solution to keeping your space tidy. With multiple sizes and the ability to remove the hamper for carrying to your laundry room, this accessory goes a long way in your home.

https://rev-a-shelf.com/hrv-series?product=hrv-1215-s

DRYAWAY SYSTEM

Something cool that has come out of the accessory market in the past couple of years has been the DryAway Laundry System. In the past, for homeowners who wanted to hang and dry their clothes, there were limited options. Mostly, we would hang a closet rod somewhere in the room and they would use that to hang and dry clothes. The problem with this option is that it took up a lot of spatial length, it was cumbersome to hang clothes, and it was incredibly unsightly. Enter the DryAway system! Now, we are able to put multiple frames inside a tall cabinet which pull out individually for you to drape your damp clothes onto adjustable bars and store it out of sight until they are dry. Add to the fact that it can support the heaviest of clothes like sweaters, jeans, and blankets, and now you have yourself a new laundry room favorite.

https://dryaway.net/dryingrack/30-depth-4-frames-bamboo-white-sw-7006-extra-whit