Transform Your Tiny Kitchen with Storage Hacks for Vaulted Ceilings
If your petite kitchen is graced with gorgeous vaulted ceilings, you know that the beauty comes with some storage challenges. Reaching top shelves can be difficult, wall cabinets offer limited space, and you miss out on prime real estate for organization. But with some clever solutions, you can maximize every inch of your small kitchen with a vaulted ceiling.
From optimizing base cabinets to embracing open shelving, there are plenty of ways to gain storage in a vertically oriented kitchen. With a bit of creativity and these vaulted ceiling-specific hacks, you can transform your tight kitchen into an organized space that’s both beautiful and functional.
Get the Most Out of Base Cabinets
Kitchens with vaulted ceilings often lack ample wall cabinet space, making the base cabinets work extra hard for storage. Luckily, there are ways to upgrade standard base cabinets so they offer more usable space.
For starters, install roll-out trays and sliding shelves to make items in the back of cabinets more accessible. Door racks provide a handy home for cutting boards, cookie sheets, and other flat items. To take advantage of unused corners, install a blind corner cabinet with specialized pull-out storage.
Maximize Your Existing Wall Cabinets
Although wall space may be limited, optimizing what wall cabinets you do have can add usable storage.
Adjust the height of shelves to spaces that you can comfortably reach. Avoid wasting space on top shelves that end up holding rarely used items. Add extra shelves or dividers to split wide cabinets into organized sections for dishes, baking pans, and more.
Wall-mounted rails give you a place to neatly store and display spices where upper cabinets are out of reach. Mount them just below the lowest point of the sloped ceiling.
Embrace the Power of Open Shelving
Trading upper cabinets for open shelving is a big help in small kitchens with vaulted ceilings. Open shelves give you a place to stash items while freeing up precious cabinet space below.
Use a mounting system designed for sloped ceilings to install shelves wherever you need them. Group items like pretty dishes and decorative cookbooks for style and organization. Just be sure to keep dust in mind when deciding what to display.
Hide Appliances for a Clutter-Free Look
Appliance garages in lower cabinets are a perfect way to keep the counters clear while concealing essential kitchen tools. Reserve a roll-out drawer to house often-used small appliances like coffee makers and toasters.
For larger appliances, install cabinets with extra interior height to stash your microwave, stand mixer, and more behind closed doors. Not only does this hide clutter, but it makes appliances easily accessible.
Make the Most of Overhead Vertical Space
While a vaulted ceiling might seem out of reach, you can add storage overhead with systems designed specifically for the extra height.
Install Pull-Down Shelving
Pull-down shelving mounts near the ceiling, then lowers to your level when needed. Hydraulic units allow shelves to gently retract. This wasted space transforms into usable storage.
Use pull-down shelves for items you rarely need like large platters and roasting pans. Lower them when you need to access items, then send them up and out of the way.
Add Custom Raked Ceiling Storage
For the ultimate overhead storage system, have pantry shelving custom-designed to fit the unique dimensions of your vaulted ceiling.
Raked ceiling pantries build vertical storage right into the sloped ceiling. Door access at countertop height creates an integrated and organized storage solution.
Utilize Sloped Ceiling Dead Space
Mounting rails or floating shelves very close to the tallest point of the ceiling takes advantage of the dead space that tends to collect dust and cobwebs.
Use this out-of-the-way area for items you rarely need like holiday platters and infrequently used kitchen tools. Just be sure to anchor shelves properly in ceiling studs.
Creative Touches to Maximize Existing Storage
Sometimes thinking outside the box leads to ingenious storage solutions. Get creative with these unexpected ways to add space with the character of a vaulted ceiling.
Repurpose Ladders
An old wooden ladder adds farmhouse charm while providing storage. Mount one horizontally on the wall for towels or oven mitts within easy reach. Or lean it vertically against the wall to stash spices and cookbooks in its rungs.
DIY Ceiling Pot Racks
Pot racks are perfect for hanging above a kitchen island, but what about a DIY version installed right on the ceiling? Use large eye hooks screwed into the ceiling rafters to hang pots and free up cabinet space.
Floating Shelves
Shelves that seem to float on the wall add stylish open storage. Use angled floating shelves mounted closely to the ceiling to follow the line of the slope.
Or suspend shelves on cables from points in the ceiling rafters. This fun and industrial look adds usable space while complementing the architecture.
A vaulted ceiling adds beauty and volume to even the most petite kitchen. With some ceiling-specific solutions like pull-down shelves, raked ceiling pantries and open shelving, you can gain storage in unique ways.
Embrace the architecture and transform tight wall cabinet and countertop space into a kitchen that’s organized, accessible, and on display. A few clever storage hacks let you make the most of having a small kitchen with a vaulted ceiling.