Do you dread opening that dark, cluttered corner cabinet and reaching in, only to find a mess? We get it.
Base blind corner cabinets are some of the most frustrating problems in kitchen design, and understandably so. A blind corner cabinet is extra wide to provide storage space deep into the corner where cabinets meet, but it is accessible only through a single door on the visible portion. As a result, it’s often difficult to see and reach into, and it tends to become a dumping ground for cluttered equipment.
Still, with the right approach, this underutilized space can become a highly functional and accessible part of your cabinetry. Let’s discuss some solutions for optimizing blind corner cabinet space to help you maximize your kitchen.
Challenges of Blind Corner Kitchen Cabinets
A blind corner cabinet sits in the corner where two adjacent cabinets meet. It’s called “blind” because part of the cabinet isn’t easily visible since it extends into the corner. As a result, these limitations become apparent:
- Difficult Visibility: Given its location, finding and retrieving items at the back of the cabinet becomes hard.
- Inconvenient Reach: Blind corner cabinets, especially those within wide cabinetry, are very deep and usually challenging to reach into.
- Inefficient Storage: Given their poor accessibility, it’s difficult to reorganize blind corner cabinets and maximize storage space.
Some consider these spaces an outdated design due to their inconvenience. However, restructuring entire cabinets is often expensive, so many homeowners and contractors tend to leave blind corner cabinets as is.
Thankfully, there are blind corner cabinet solutions you can implement to optimize storage.
Innovative Solutions to Optimize Blind Corner Spaces
Blind corner cabinets don’t have to be dark, underused spaces. Here are some kitchen storage solutions to help you make the most of these underrated features.
Pull-Out Corner Units
You could install pull-out shelves, such as those from Magic Corner and LeMans II, to make it easier to see and access items in blind corner cabinets. These devices are similar to Lazy Susans as they pull out of the cabinet for complete visibility.
Swing-Out Shelves
Like pull-out shelves, swing-out fixtures allow easy access to deeper spaces by bringing stored items to you. However, instead of pulling out, they swivel out of the cabinet. This feature makes them convenient for small appliances, pots, and pans stored deep inside blind corner cabinets.
Diagonal Drawer Banks
Restructuring your cabinetry by installing diagonal drawer banks is a great way to maximize storage space and add visual interest to your kitchen. That said, it may be a bit pricey since you’ll have to modify your existing cabinets and install track systems for the drawers to run on.
Open Corner Shelves or Wine Racks
A popular solution to the blind corner cabinet problem is to remove it altogether. In its place, you could install shelves or a wine rack to make the new open space functional while also giving your kitchen a high-end design element.
Corner Appliance Garage
Is your blind corner cabinet level with your countertop? If so, consider using the space to create a corner appliance garage. This fixture enables you to maintain a clutter-free workspace, with small appliances still readily accessible inside a small angled cabinet when you need them.
Traditional Options Still Worth Considering
While these trendy solutions fix the blind corner cabinet problem, many homeowners still swear by the tried-and-tested lazy Susan, which offers the following practical benefits:
- Full-circle trays that allow access to everything on the platform.
- Soft-close cabinet doors for a quieter operation.
- Tiered and adjustable shelves to fit items of all sizes, from ingredients to small appliances.
In addition, lazy Susans are also highly affordable—no wonder they remain a popular solution for optimizing blind corner cabinet space among budget-conscious homeowners.
Cabinet Refacing as a Cost-Effective Solution
Are you planning to implement any of these corner cabinet ideas as part of a kitchen remodel? Consider starting with a cabinet refacing project.
Cabinet refacing typically refurbishes your existing cabinet boxes with new faces, doors, and hardware. A competent, full-service refacing company can also allow you to reconfigure your existing cabinetry to implement any of the corner cabinet solutions discussed above, giving you the functional, modern amenities you expect in new cabinetry—all while allowing you to reap the cost savings of rehabbing your existing cabinets.
Maximize What You Already Have
Blind corner cabinets are perfect for cookware, appliances, and pantry staples, so don’t let them go to waste. Instead, consider practicing these solutions for optimizing blind corner cabinet space to maximize your kitchen’s potential.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to a qualified professional. American Wood Reface provides top-notch cabinet refacing using 1/4″ solid wood and handcrafted hardwood components to produce quality results. We can also reconfigure your cabinetry and maximize every surface, including blind corner cabinets, to turn your vision into reality.
Request a free consultation with us to explore your options!
