Replacing kitchen cabinets is often one of the most time- and money-consuming parts of a kitchen remodel. There’s a myriad of choices, they have to be measured and installed, odds are you end up spending more than planned. In short, kitchen cabinets can be a headache.
But maybe you don’t need them — or as many of them.
There are several reasons to rethink traditional cabinetry. Cutting down costs is one, of course. Perhaps you want a more spacious feel for your small kitchen. Or maybe mobility is an issue and you want more storage on easier-to-access lower levels.
Or maybe you just want to jump on the latest in kitchen design ideas. The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) is “seeing less upper cabinetry where homeowners are taking advantage of utilizing space with lower cabinets, islands and pantries,” says Tricia Zach , head of NKBA Research. “New kitchen designs are emerging from new technology solutions, nature-inspired themes and European trends.” With these new trends, you get new options for your kitchen storage.
With that in mind, let’s look at some of the leading alternatives to traditional hanging kitchen cabinets.
Kitchen islands
Islands are one ideal alternative. Getting longer, they’re an increasingly common place to add kitchen storage, with shelves or drawers chosen by three-fourths of renovating homeowners, according to the 2022 Houzz U.S. Kitchen Trends Study. The NKBA also notes that large or double islands are in demand. Plus, Zach says, a lot of homeowners are seeking out multi-function kitchen islands, like “large islands for food prep that also function as dining tables, homework and work-from-home areas.”
