Cabinet corner solutions
8 Blind or Corner Kitchen Cabinet Solutions
By
Lee Wallender
Lee Wallender
Lee has over two decades of hands-on experience remodeling, fixing, and improving homes, and has been providing home improvement advice for over 13 years.
Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Updated on 03/18/22
Reviewed by
Johnathan Brewer
Reviewed by Johnathan Brewer
Johnathan Brewer is a home improvement expert with over two decades of professional experience as a licensed general contractor specializing in kitchen and bath. He has been featured on HGTV’s “Super Scapes,” “Curb Appeal the Block,” “Elbow Room,” DIY Network's “House Crashers,” "This Old House," and OWN Network's Emmy award winning show, “Home Made Simple.” Jonathan is also a member of The Spruce Home Improvement Review Board.
Learn more about The Spruce's Review Board
Illustration: The Spruce / Ran Zheng
Corner kitchen cabinets are often the loneliest, most remote space in a kitchen. It's not where you find the much-used, much-appreciated coffee cups or fine dinnerware. Rather, it's where you may find castaway plastic items from decades ago.
The official name for this place: blind cabinet corner. It's found in both kitchens or bathrooms—anywhere with cabinets—but mostly in kitchens because that's where you'll find cabinets that meet at corners.
Fortunately, there are a number of things you can do or accessories to add that make the blind cabinet corner a more liveable space.
3 Reasons Why Blind Corners Are Difficult
Kitchen cabinet corners, whether we're talking about bases (lower) or walls (upper), are deep, dark, and inaccessible. It's what happens when simple geometry meets up with most homes' scarcity of space. The name is simple: it's called a blind corner because, when reaching into it, you reach blindly:
- Deep: Corners can be close to 50-percent deeper than cabinets on either side. For example, base cabinets tend to be 24 inches deep.
But at corners, they are 34 inches deep. - Dark: Light is normally scarce in corner wall cabinets and even worse in corner bases. Adding a light in your blind corner cabinet is a thoughtful design consideration for an otherwise dark space.
- Inaccessible: Reach is hard. If you're not trying to reach straight into the corner (a long distance), you're reaching into the sides, where you can't see.
Tip
Instead of trying to use the corner as a storage area—which entails daily usage and continual reaching far back in the cabinet for items—one idea is simply to eliminate the idea of a cabinet. Installing a wall oven in the corner works well because all of that hard-to-access dark corner area is occupied by the oven's electrical parts.
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01 of 08
Taking Cabinet Blind Corner Access Beyond The Lazy Susan
Sabine Schoenberg, a successful kitchen designer and author of Kitchen Magic: Secrets to Successful Kitchens, says that "[c]orners in base cabinets are always tricky.
Circular Lazy Susans used to be the only option. But fortunately today, there are great, so-called 'blind corner pullouts.'" Blind corner pullouts are available from most major kitchen cabinet manufacturers at the time of installation. Alternatively, if you already have cabinets in place, companies like Rev-a-Shelf offer remodel solutions.
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02 of 08
Swing Out Cabinet Base Is Like a Smarter Lazy Susan
Cabinet manufacturer Merillat devised a base cabinet swing-out that solves many problems. The two drawers on the right: they don't reside there. They slid over from the right-hand side, from deep in the corner. That's how the swing-out shelf can pivot and fit into the cabinet.
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03 of 08
The Much-Evolved Cabinet Lazy Susan Swings and Pulls Out
Many lazy susans don't work very well. Most tellingly of their failure: round pegs don't fit into square holes. A lazy susan is the round peg that fits into the square hole only by shrinking it down so far.
What about all of that wasted corner space? Merillat put its collective cabinet-designing brainpower to the task with its two-tier lazy susan for bases. It does two things: first, it swings within the cabinet, then it pulls out of the cabinet for easy reach.
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04 of 08
Classic Kitchen Lazy Susan
It's the one you've been waiting for, the friend of blind corners since Day One: the lazy susan.
This type works a bit better than the old-school kind because it's essentially a big circle—bigger than the base cabinet itself. But it has a 90-degree slice cut out of it to make it fit into the cabinet corner.
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05 of 08
Blind Corners Partially Solved with Diagonal Cabinet
Another simple solution that goes a long way is the corner wall cabinet. It is a staple of good kitchen remodeling practice, and it does help mitigate blind corner problems.
You can still couple these types of cabinets with a classic, round lazy susan to increase access.
But one notable pitfall of these cabinets is that their doors are smaller than the interior space.
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06 of 08
Staggered Wall Cabinets Help With Blind Corners
An unusual way to deal with blind corners is to stagger, or alternate, the cabinets as they go up the wall.
You're not buying yourself much more storage space this way. But it looks better than many other options.
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07 of 08
Counter Corner Space is a Waste; Drawer Pull-Outs the Solution?
We forget about how much kitchen countertop space is wasted above those base cabinet blind corners and below wall cabinets, and you could do all sorts of things with it. Leave it that way. Or add angled drawers under the diagonal wall cabinet.
There will be some wasted space to the left and right of the angled drawers, dead zones built into the drawer to create 90-degree angles with the adjoining counters.
But if you can live with those two triangles of hollow space, angled drawers help fill in an otherwise forgotten corner.
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08 of 08
Curved Cabinets Banish Blind Corners Because There Are No Corners
Another inventive solution for blind corners is to do away with the corners entirely.
Curved wall and base cabinets are a good, high-end solution to dark blind corners. Note, too, that it allows you to place your kitchen sink in that problem corner.
Curved cabinets are still not common, so expect to pay substantially higher prices for them.
Watch Now: Designer Kitchen Tips
Foolproof Storage Solutions for Corner Kitchen Cabinets
In an L- or U-shaped kitchen plan, a question often comes up: What do I do with that corner cabinet? Corners can provide a lot of storage, but they don’t always make items very accessible. That juicer or bread-making machine you tucked away may never see the light of day again simply because you don’t want to fish it out of the deep recesses of a corner cabinet. However, there are options that can help you get the most out of every corner of your kitchen.
Here are some top solutions for kitchen corner cabinets.
Figura Kitchens & Interiors
1. Lazy Susans
Perhaps the most classic corner cabinet solution is a Lazy Susan (simple shelves that spin in a circle to allow access to all sides). They come in two basic forms, one being models like the one shown here that sit inside the cabinet and spin around a fixed center, with a corner door that opens on a bifold hinge.
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Dura Supreme Cabinetry
Notice how this version has a cheese-wheel shape, with a notch that fits the doors when closed. These shelves aren’t 100 percent space-efficient, but they come pretty close, leaving just a little space in the corners unused. One downside of this style is that each notch must be spun back to the right spot every time. Some people may consider this a tiny price to pay, while others will think it’s a nuisance, so it ultimately depends on personal preference.
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Kitchens by Peter Gill
Alternatively, rather than having a separate door, models like this one integrate the door into the shelving, so the entire cabinet can be spun open or shut in one motion. Just make sure that it has a good mechanism for stopping the door in the right spot (usually employing magnets or weights), or else it will always be just slightly (and annoyingly) off.
The Aldrich Group, LLC
You can also pair a Lazy Susan with an angled corner cabinet to allow for an entire circle to fit inside instead of the cheese-wheel shape. This particularly clever example uses an octagon shape instead of a circle to maximize usable space while still allowing it to easily line up with the door.
Dura Supreme Cabinetry
2. Spinout and Pullout Shelves
A slight variation on the Lazy Susan concept, spinout shelves like this actually rotate out of the cabinet (instead of just spinning within the cabinet) to allow access to more of the shelf at once.
They can still use the same cheese-wheel shape on an inexpensive central rotating mechanism, which will allow the shelves to rotate out partway.
Swanson Kitchens, Inc.
However, many modern systems allow for a fuller extension of the shelves, such as this example that allows the entire shelf to extend out of the cabinet (with each shelf moving individually so the bottom one isn’t covered by the top).
Bouchard-Pierce
The odd, blobby shapes of shelves like this allow them to smoothly swing out of the cabinet without bumping into the sides or corners. This reduces the square footage of shelf space a bit but makes it much easier to dig out medium-size appliances such as mixers and blenders or large pots without struggle.
Dura Supreme Cabinetry
3. Advanced Pullout Systems
Even more advanced pullout systems use multiple rectangular shelves connected by a complex set of hinges and tracks, allowing for maximum shelf space and ease of reach.
Gilday Renovations
Essentially, the first shelf pulls out with the door and pulls the other one along behind it. This sort of unit can cost a bit more than others, but when square footage is precious, it can be worth it to be able to really use every inch of your cabinet space.
Turan Designs, Inc.
4. Angled-Front Cabinets
Cabinets that face forward into the kitchen can come in two different shapes. One is a pentagon shape that uses the entire corner. If the front of a pentagonal cabinet is wide enough, the interior will be fairly easy to reach into, although the interior corners will be a bit hard to see from the outside. This can be a good place to store large but lightweight items such as pots, or seasonal items that don’t have to be taken out often.
Donna DuFresne Interior Design
For drawers, a pentagon shape won’t work, so the usable cabinet interior is still essentially a rectangle, but it’s angled outward.
In this case, there will be some wasted slivers of space around the drawers, but the drawers themselves will be be easy to use with no complicated pullouts required. Again, the trade-off comes down to preference: You get a little less square footage for storage, but also less hassle.
Jay Rambo Co.
Note: In the case of angled uppers, they are best paired with an angled lower cabinet. If you mix an angled upper cabinet with a standard lower corner, the upper may protrude too far into your face for you to easily use the lower counter. However, an angled lower with a typical upper works just fine and gives you lots of breathing room.
Sarah Stacey Interior Design
5. Corner Drawers
Speaking of drawers, quirky corner drawers like this set are another option worth considering. They pull directly out and offer storage spaces in 45-degree angles, but the fronts line up at 90-degree angles for a clean look.
Flavin Architects
Depending on your counter material, an angled top can be a large extra expense — for example, when using a prefab rectangular counter slab in stone or butcher block. Or it can eat up too much precious floor space or not fit well around an island. But this drawer option allows you to keep your counter to a basic L-shape while still getting handy drawer space.
Glenvale Kitchens
Corner drawers like this work well for storing small items that can fit into the odd angles, making them a good place to store cooking utensils, seasoning jars and other small items.
Turnstone Custom Homes
6. Corner Pantries
Rather than using many small drawers or pullouts, sometimes the best solution is to use a corner space for a full-height pantry cabinet. This reduces your counter space but gives you plenty of room for storing dry goods.
Sigmar
The deeper and larger the cabinet, the easier the interior will be to access, but the more floor and counter space it will eat up.
If you’ve got a sufficient prep space on one side or at an island, losing a little counter space on one end of your kitchen may not negatively affect your workflow at all.
Crown Point Cabinetry
7. Corner Gallery Cabinets
If you prefer to store items such as plates and serveware in a corner cabinet, consider using glass inserts on both sides of the cabinet to make the items within visible. This will keep you from losing items in back corners that you can’t see and create a beautiful gallery case-like feature.
Stonington Cabinetry & Designs
8. Corner Shelves
Using open shelves for some of the uppers makes for an attractive kitchen feature and lets you perch lunch plates, breakfast bowls, recipe books and other daily essentials within easy reach. Using shelves instead of a corner cabinet allows you to avoid dark corners and frames your items to create an attractive display with architectural appeal.
Moroso Construction
This kitchen uses lots of open shelves that wrap into the corner to achieve a breezy and open look while still keeping with the rustic-tinged decor scheme. Floating shelves in wood paired with pale painted cabinets offers freshness and natural warmth and balances open storage for beautiful items with closed storage for the rest.
Astro Design Centre
9. Corner Desks
Instead of trying to use a corner space for a cabinet, maybe you should consider using it for something else entirely.
Jo Alcorn
A desk placed in the corner turns that hard-to-use space into totally usable legroom. If you need a place to do a little work or browse on a laptop, but not a dedicated home office, a corner nook in the kitchen can be just the right amount of desk space.
Von Fitz Design
Using a stool instead of a chair allows you to fully tuck the seat away so nothing is in your path when you’re in chef mode.
The open storage baskets on shelves similarly keep items such as bills and supplies quickly organized, and out of sight when not needed.
Smartstyle Interiors
10. Corner Sinks
If you can route your plumbing to the area, a corner sink can be a practical and beautiful use for a kitchen corner.
Spacecrafting / Architectural Photography
This arrangement gives the sink a little extra room around it, with the back corner acting as a perfect spot for essentials such as dishwashing supplies or an attractive feature such as a planter. Plus, the back corner of the cabinet interior can house plumbing, so that area isn’t going to waste.
Filament Lighting & Home
Combine that with two windows offering a beautiful view and you’ve got a dream solution for a “blind” corner.
Ejay Interiors
11.
Empty Corners
Here’s one last idea: Sometimes the best thing to put in a tight corner is nothing at all. In a small kitchen, leaving a little breathing room in your uppers can make a kitchen look much roomier. Plus, when you are working at the counter, you feel less claustrophobic if there is less heavy cabinetry closing in on you. If you can eliminate some nonessential items and clutter from your life, you may not miss the extra storage space at all.
Tell us: Have a smart corner cabinet solution of your own? Share it in the Comments.
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Corner wardrobe - the ideal solution for a modern interior
All owners of apartments and houses not only want their home to be cozy and stylish, but also prefer to use their living space with maximum benefit, so that the interior design is multifunctional, and as much as possible ergonomic. This is especially important and relevant for owners of small spaces.
The ideal solution would be the purchase and installation of a corner wardrobe - compartment.
In any room, it is implied that there are empty areas where the owners, as a rule, like to put unnecessary or old things. In this regard, so that these areas are not empty (usually these are corners), furniture designers have come up with a lot of options for corner wardrobes - compartments in order to use the empty space with maximum benefit.
Choice of corner cabinet model and priorities to pay attention to
To select the most convenient and suitable cabinet model that will fit perfectly into your room, you must first consider: the size of the living space and the interior. The main thing is that the wardrobe fits favorably and harmoniously into your interior.
The most common wardrobe configurations - compartments:
- triangular;
- trapezoid;
- g - figurative;
- five-wall.
The modern furniture market is represented by a wide variety of models of different cabinets, it is important to choose exactly the equipment that will last long enough and be as comfortable as possible.
When choosing a wardrobe, pay attention:
- to the shape (design) of the wardrobe;
- for the material of manufacture and quality indicators of components;
- finishing materials;
- internal filling of the cabinet - compartment;
- installation location.
Corner cabinets - compartments are:
- built-in;
- cased.
Cabinets are convenient for their mobility, they can be rearranged, disassembled, and transported to another living space at any time (for example, when changing their place of residence), but they are much more expensive in price.
Built-in wardrobes are cheaper because they do not have a back wall, and often side ones. They are mounted with the help of accessories to the floor and ceiling, but they have one significant drawback - they are mounted once and for all. The advantages of built-in furniture include ease of care for it, it does not need to be moved.
When installing a corner wardrobe, it is necessary to pay attention to the material of manufacture, especially the quality of components, sliding mechanisms, wheels, since the service life of any furniture depends on them, and corner wardrobes - compartments and even more so.
Being a beautiful piece of furniture and an optimal solution for saving room space, the main requirement for this type of cabinet is the ability to be ergonomic and multifunctional, that is, the cabinet must be roomy.
The main components of the cabinet are:
- shelves;
- drawers;
- hanger bars;
- baskets;
- large niches for large items;
- shoe racks;
- mini chests of drawers, shelves for accessories.
First of all, the complete set of a corner cabinet - a compartment should correspond to your needs and requirements. If you have not found a suitable ready-made furniture option, then today there is a way to solve this problem - you can order furniture according to individual sizes, which will fully meet all your requirements and wishes.
Kitchen Nab is a creative and modern manufacturer of home furniture in Korolev and Shchelkovo. Modern and stylish design, quality of products, availability of prompt delivery, as well as the high professionalism of our managers will please you and help you quickly make a choice and place an order as soon as possible. We will take into account all your wishes, we will make for you an original, beautiful and most comfortable corner wardrobe at an affordable price.
Our stores are located at:
- Shchyolkovo-7, st. Bravarskaya, 1A; Shopping center "Gorodok";
- Shchelkovo, st. Talsinskaya, 59; Salon "Modern";
- Korolev, Cosmonauts Avenue, 34B; Shopping center "Jupiter", pavilion No. 24 (ground floor).
Corner wardrobe: video
After watching this video, you will see what corner wardrobes are:0001
The main feature of corner cabinets is that they are installed in the corners of rooms. Such furniture allows more rational use of corners and does not take up too much free space.
Usually the corners are used inefficiently, at best, only a bulky cabinet is placed against one of the walls, which takes up a lot of free space.
Corner furniture allows the most efficient use of the entire space of the corner and does not clutter up the room. This is especially important for small rooms and studio apartments.
This saves some money as sliding doors are more expensive. In general, corner furniture has a higher cost than regular furniture. The price of cabinets depends on the following parameters:
- Manufacturing complexity;
- Material;
- Dimensions;
- The presence of additional elements (lights, fittings, and so on).
If the cabinet is made to order according to an individual project, then it is more expensive than serial models with similar characteristics.
Contents of the article:
- The choice of angular cabinet
- The design of the angular cabinets
- Internal space
- Disadvantages of the angular cabinet
- Photo of the angular cabinet in the interior
There are several varieties of such cabinets: rectangular, trapezoidal, five-wall, built-in corner wardrobe and so on.
For small rooms, five-walls are best, as they are very roomy, but do not look bulky. Often such furniture is installed in the hallways, as there is not enough space in these rooms.
A small triangular closet is best suited for hallways.
It is worth noting that some people do not correctly understand the advantages of corner cabinets and order such furniture for themselves only because of a non-standard appearance or because they think: "Any corner furniture is better than ordinary furniture."
Sometimes the result is the purchase of a product with a small cut. That is, in fact, the cabinet is simply placed against one of the walls of the corner, like ordinary furniture. In this case, the advantages of the angular design are practically not disclosed.
Moreover, the additional space of such a closet is only enough to put several pairs of socks in the closet, and the resulting ledge into the interior of the room visually takes up much more free space.
In addition, corner furniture usually costs more, so there is also an overpayment for almost the same usable volume.
Therefore, before buying or ordering furniture, you should think carefully about whether a corner wardrobe is suitable for a particular room or you can get by with traditional furniture and save money.
It is best to look at the photo of the corner wardrobe, it will help you decide.
Corner cabinet design
Sliding wardrobe in the interior of small rooms occupies an important place. Now there are many ready-made solutions for the design of corner cabinets. Many designers recommend buying models with mirrored doors.
Reflective surfaces allow you to visually increase the space of the room. Such products must be handled carefully so as not to break the mirrors.
In the case of conventional wardrobes, designers recommend buying only models with sliding doors if there is not enough space.
A corner cabinet may well have hinged doors without any inconvenience.
Inner space
The inside can be arranged as outerwear compartments, as well as shelves for bed linen, shoes, and so on. Many models have mezzanines for storing various things that are rarely used. If you wish, you can order a corner cabinet according to your project or designers' developments.
Corner cabinet disadvantages
Corner cabinets have several disadvantages. For example, if the corner is already set, then before installing the cabinet, you will have to rearrange the furniture, which may require the services of loaders.
In addition, corner furniture is almost always more expensive than regular furniture. The disadvantages also include the fact that the sliding door system additionally reduces the space of the room by about 10 cm.
Thus, the corner wardrobe allows you to effectively use the space of the room.
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