Open Up Your Kitchen Storage with Drawerless Style

Drawerless kitchens are becoming increasingly popular for their clean, minimalist aesthetic. By removing drawers entirely, everything is openly displayed for a streamlined look. But a drawerless design also comes with some unique storage challenges. Without those handy compartments, how do you organize all your kitchen tools and gadgets? Get inspired by the creative solutions for storage and style in a drawerless kitchen.

Drawerless kitchens showcase your beautiful dishware, glassware and cookware. Open shelves let you access items easily. Pull-out shelves and slide-out trays fit neatly into your existing cabinetry for hidden storage. And specialty organizers keep your cooking tools tidy. With some clever solutions, you can enjoy the pros of a drawerless kitchen without sacrificing function.

Deciding on a Drawerless Design

Going drawerless makes sense in contemporary and modern kitchens where you want a sleek, uncluttered look. It's also great for small kitchens since it visually opens up the space. If you love displaying your favorite cups and plates, a drawerless design lets those items shine.

But before you demolish all your drawers, consider how you'll adapt. Evaluate which cabinets make sense to convert to open shelving and where you'll need drawer alternatives. Also think about your most-used tools and how you’ll access them efficiently.

When does it make sense to skip drawers?

Drawerless kitchens work best in small spaces. Removing drawers visually opens up the room. The minimalist style also pairs well with modern and contemporary kitchens. If you prefer open storage and seeing all your items easily, it allows you to highlight cherished dishes or cookware.

Consider a drawerless design if you are renovating your kitchen and want a fresh, uncluttered look. New cabinetry makes it easier to customize storage. Just be ready to organize with solutions like pull-outs and specialty organizers.

Things to consider before removing drawers

Before committing to a drawerless kitchen, think about how you'll access your most used tools and gadgets. Spices, utensils, and baking pans may need a new home. Measure your cabinets to see what pull-outs or rollouts will fit.

Also consider small loose items like tea bags, spices, and silverware. Open shelves or cabinets may not corral these as easily. Maximize vertical space with wall-mounted rails, overhead racks and hanging baskets.

Drawerless Kitchen Storage Solutions

Open Shelving

Open shelving instantly gives your kitchen an airy, contemporary vibe. Mixing materials like wood, metal and glass adds visual interest. Style open shelves with risers, hanging bars and baskets to corral items. Keep things dust-free with enclosed cabinets for some items.

Pro tip: Mount shelves at varying heights for a unique look. Try different depths for shelves to create nooks for specialized items.

Pull-Out Shelves

Pull-out shelves mounted on slides give you easy access to items in the back of cabinets. Customize them to fit your space and storage needs. Try rollouts just for utensils or spices. You can find pull-out trays, baskets and acrylic organizers to corral items while keeping your cabinet contents hidden.

Tip: Label pull-outs so you remember what's inside. For heavy pans and platter, be sure to get sturdy full-extension drawer glides.

Specialty Organizers

Specialty organizers help keep a drawerless kitchen functional. Custom inserts for plates, pans and baking sheets make use of every inch. Spice racks, stemware holders and knife blocks stow essentials attractively right on open shelves.

Look for custom inserts sized for your lower cabinets to hold large pans and platters vertically. Lazy susans, pull-out baskets and vertical dividers also maximize cabinet space.

Cupboards and Cabinets

Don’t overlook the storage possibilities of existing cupboards and cabinets. Use full-height pantry cabinets for appliances and larger items you only use occasionally. Upper cabinets are great for cups, glasses and items not needed every day.

Maximize base cabinet storage with rollouts, shelves and trays. Try tilt-out designs that make items in the back accessible. Lazy susans in corner cabinets spin for easy access.

Organizing a Drawerless Kitchen

Keep things visible

The key in a drawerless kitchen is keeping everything visible and easy to access. Use clear canisters and containers so you can see inside. Glass-front upper cabinets spotlight cherished dishware.

Acrylic trays corral items on open shelves while keeping them visible. Baskets or bins for bulk items like potatoes and onions can slide or pull out.

Labeling is key

With open storage, labeling is essential to keep things organized. Affix labels to shelves, bins, baskets and jars identifying contents. This keeps related items together and helps family members put things away properly.

Pro tip: Color coordinate labels and storage containers by food type or usage zone. For example, blue labels in the baking zone; green in the salad prep zone.

Mounted rails and baskets

Take advantage of vertical wall space with mounted rails for utensils and racks to hang mugs or utensils. Mounting a rail above your prep zone provides easy access to essential tools within arm's reach.

Hanging baskets or shelves let you stack items while keeping them visible. You can find many cleaver products designed to mount without drilling like floating shelves.

Turntables and tiered shelving

Lack of drawer dividers is one challenge in a drawerless kitchen. Make use of small vertical spaces with turntables for spices and tiered shelves for cutting boards.

Spice organizers with narrow vertical cubbies keep bottles accessible without taking up precious shelf space. Tiered shelves double your storage real estate.

Clever utensil storage ideas

Uncontained utensils can be tricky in a drawerless kitchen. Products like counter-mounted crock lifts pots up to corral spatulas and spoons. Wall-mounted mason jars or utensil crocks provide handy access.

Tiered clear trays keep utensils organized yet visible. If you opt for enclosed wall cabinets, install full-extension shelves to easily view contents.

Hardware and Styling a Drawerless Kitchen

Knobs, pulls and handles

Without drawers, knobs and pulls become purely decorative. Opt for oversized statement hardware in finishes that complement your look. Mixing metals like brass, blackened steel and nickel creates interest.

Tip: Repurpose old silverware or tableware like antique teacups into unique pulls. Show off your personality through unusual cabinet hardware.

Highlighting collections

Drawerless kitchens are the perfect way to display your favorite pieces. Use risers, floating shelves or glass front cabinets to highlight collectibles. Incorporate meaning through family heirlooms or travel mementos.

Try open sided cabinets to feature decorative plates. Use lighting to draw attention to special items or collections.

Hanging pots and utensils

Previously hidden pots, pans and utensils get to shine in a drawerless kitchen. Hang them on peg rails or magnetic strips for quick access and stylish appeal.

In a small kitchen, hang utensils right above the prep area to maximize efficiency. Pot racks free up storage space while adding visual interest.

Creative Drawerless Kitchen Ideas

By cabinet type

Take cues from what will be stored where when designing your drawerless kitchen. For example, use full-extension shelves in uppers for easy access to items in back. Install pull-outs in base cabinets sized for large platters or pans.

Optimize blind corner cabinets with angled lazy susans. Use tilt-out trays to make items in the back of lower cabinets accessible.

By item type

Think about how to store specific items without drawers. Core cooking tools like utensils, cutting boards and baking pans often live in drawers. Now try a mounted knife strip, hanging racks or custom-sized pull-outs.

Everyday dishes and glasses might shift to open shelves or upper cabinets. Core ingredients like flour and sugar can be kept tidy in pull-out trays or baskets.

Small kitchen examples

Going drawerless maximizes space visually in tiny kitchens. You’ll need to get creative with organization. Try wall-mounted rails and folding shelves that tuck away when not in use. Multitasking storage like spice shelves that also function as towel bars saves space.

For small floorplans, consider partial-height walls with open shelving above. You'll gain space by removing upper cabinets while keeping items visible.

Budget-friendly options

You don’t need a full custom remodel to try a drawerless kitchen. On a budget, start small by removing a bank of lower drawers and adding an open shelf. Or just take out utility drawer inserts.

Repurpose budget finds like metal wall brackets into floating shelves. Ikea has lots of affordable shelving options and organizational products to try out first.

Skipping traditional drawers creates a light, spacious look and makes items easily accessible. You can highlight beautiful dishware and other beloved pieces. Custom pull-outs and specialty organizers keep things tidy while enhancing your design aesthetic.

With some creative solutions, you can enjoy the streamlined style and open feel of a drawerless kitchen without sacrificing function. The minimalist look pairs perfectly with contemporary spaces, but drawerless can work with almost any kitchen style.