Have too much space in old kitchen cabinets. How can I use it?

Alisa Murphy
by Alisa Murphy
I have old cabinets in my kitchen underneath my counters, but sadly there's unused space in them because no one put any walls or shelving in there. If you put something in the back corner, you can't reach it without personally climbing in the whole cabinet...not a fan. I don't want a big expense, but you guys are the pros and surely have some great ideas that are worth trying...I should would appreciate the help.

  7 answers
  • Chubby58 Chubby58 on Jun 06, 2018

    You can pick-up some slide out drawer hardware at HD or Lowes for around $20 for a pack, then hit the restore to find you a drawer to put on it. Actually, hit the restore first and see what they have in stock. Also a double lazy susan in the back so you can just spin and grab.

    • Alisa Murphy Alisa Murphy on Jun 06, 2018

      I like both of these ideas...especially the lazy susan...thanks for your help.

  • Janice Janice on Jun 06, 2018

    Hi Alisa, I had the same problem and happened onto a bit of a solution. At Ikea I found a large diameter lazy susan to offered for use under a TV. I bought it and used it rarely for turning the TV angle a small amount and then decided to try it in that cabinet. Woo-hoo, it has completely changed the usefulness of that corner. I can store many items on it and retrieve them by just turning the piece (just not too quickly). You may be able to find something similar at a home improvement store.

  • GrandmasHouseDIY GrandmasHouseDIY on Jun 06, 2018

    Agree on the lazy susan idea in the back corner. You might score in finding a book case at your local thrift store that you could cut in half and simply put inside your cabinets to make shelves.

  • 27524803 27524803 on Jun 06, 2018

    There are cabinet organizers that are made to address just that problem... check with you local home improvement store and see if they have them... or look at a kitchen design store... at least for ideas.... IKEA has some organizers for the kitchen... some can be retro fitted into older cabinets...

    Also.. Google search: kitchen cabinet corner organizers... and choose the "more images" selection.... it is a good place to get ideas.... and at the very least... you may be able to build one or find a cabinet maker..that can make them for you.....

    While you are looking... consider retro fitting your lower cabinets with pull out drawers (fitted to go inside/behind the doors)... My mother had that done.. and it was a lot easier for her to get to stuff in the bottom cabinets... she also had that done in the tall pantry cupboard, it saved her from having to climb on a ladder/step stool to get to stuff on the higher shelves.

    • Alisa Murphy Alisa Murphy on Jun 10, 2018

      Thank you for many ideas...I can't wait to get started looking! Thanks for all your help.

  • Emily Emily on Jun 06, 2018

    Put a cleat on the far side of the cabinet and one on the near side. Cut a board to fit across that is supported by the two cleats. I think installing slide out drawer things would be too difficult. My talented DIY husband had trouble doing two drawers like that and they were in a very accessible space. Good luck.

    • Alisa Murphy Alisa Murphy on Jun 10, 2018

      Thanks for your idea, and your opinion on the slide out drawers...I need all the info I can so I can be happy with the results later on.

  • B. Enne B. Enne on Jun 06, 2018

    I personally don't like Lazy Susans, but I have used an old fridge drawer and a large storage bin, that I could pull out as drawers. They worked really well.