If you have a kitchen cabinet that's hard to reach, its interiors are often items that rarely see the light of day because access is restricted. This is a real shame, because extra vertical storage is a hot commodity, especially in small kitchens. The solution takes its cue from a totally different public space: the library.
Traditionally used to reach impossibly high shelves, ladders can actually be a practical (and, depending on the ladder's finish, chic) item to add to your kitchen via tall, vertical cabinets.
When it comes to kitchen ladders, we're taking a leaf out of Julianne Hough's book: In a recent Instagram post, the dancer and actress showed off her blue glass-topped kitchen cabinets with a ladder railed to either side, and its safety features are just as impressive as its uniformity.
here H&GWe're all keen to make the most of our storage space, and more and more homeowners are turning to creative solutions to make use of every storage option.
“If you have high ceilings in your kitchen, I would definitely recommend considering installing vertical cabinets.” Home & Garden Editor Jennifer Ebert says, “Increased storage space reduces clutter, making your kitchen overall neater and easier to maintain.”
Vertical cabinet storage requires strategic planning. You need to think about what you're going to store in your cabinets just as much as you think about the design of the cabinets.
'you do not “Keep things you use every day on higher shelves and things you use every day within easy reach,” Ebert suggests. “Installing a ladder can help you reach higher shelves, but it's still not ideal to store frequently used items or appliances on the top shelves.”
Another consideration is what tools you'll use to reach tall cabinets: Hough's ladder is perfect for her space (and any other especially tall cabinets), but other ladders may be better suited depending on your layout.
“If, like Huff, your shelves are out of reach and not very high, you might want to consider purchasing a step stool instead of a ladder,” says Ebert. “Only use ladders for really tall shelves that you really need; otherwise, they'll take up a lot of space and may not be useful in a small kitchen.”
Below you'll find a selection of both ladders and step stools suitable for a variety of kitchens.
Huff's Space saving ideas It's inspired by an unexpected space (library), but you can also find a lot of inspiration from other spaces. Lately, I've also been loving the idea of wall-mounted shelves, which are versatile additions that can be used as display areas for decorative items, books, and storage boxes. You can choose floating shelves for a minimalist look, or bracket shelves for something more practical.
