4 Min. Read
At some point every kitchen remodel has the question, ‘What cabinet should we use in the corner?’. For years the options have been very basic or bland, to say the least, but not anymore. Some homeowners would rather block off the corners. But if you would rather take advantage of storage space, consider the 5 best corner kitchen cabinet solutions below.
1. Diagonal Wall with Lazy Susan
Gain more function in your corner cabinets with a diagonal wall lazy susan. This corner cabinet design has an angled front door with 2-3 spinning trays on top of plywood shelves. Small items will be easier to access than ever without digging in the back of your cabinet.
2. Base Blind Corner with Full Access Trays
Blind corner cabinets used to be a pain, but this option is different. The front trays pull out and glide to the side so the back trays can move into the opening. This cabinet provides ample, effective storage.
Non-slip, maple-printed trays with chrome rails will keep all your pantry items safe. There's nothing like efficient access to kitchen corner storage.
3. Counter Wall with Door Garage
Conceal unsightly kitchen accessories and add more concealed storage to your kitchen with a tall wall cabinet with a garage door. This cabinet comes with 3 spinning trays and a hinged garage below. You can easily store spices, canned foods, bread, and even small appliances. This cabinet will give you clutter-free kitchen storage.
4. Base Corner Drawer Cabinet
Ease of use is what the corner drawer cabinet is all about. Although it may not use every inch of corner storage space, it was designed with function in mind. Three drawers pull out from the corner so anything can be stored away. From serving utensils to tinfoil or Tupperware, this cabinet stores it all.
5. Base Blind Corner with Pull-Out Storage
Along the same lines as the blind corner with full access trays, this pull-out corner cabinet design is very similar. Kidney-shaped swing-out shelves hold up to 55 pounds each with chrome rails to keep food in place. Shelves can be adjusted in 2-inch increments. There are two options: a full-height door base, or a drawer above for more storage.
Pros & Cons of Corner Storage Cabinets
There are many corner cabinet pros and cons. Some of the top benefits are more storage space and organization in the kitchen. The point of a kitchen remodel is to maximize storage and make your space easier to use.
Corner cabinets also make it easier to avoid crouching and crawling into the cabinet to find what you need. By using lazy susan spinning trays, blind corner pull-out trays and other clever accessories, corners become much easier to work with and prevent homeowners from losing food to the back of the cabinet. This means your kitchen remodel is better for you ergonomically and in storage.
More Corner Cabinet Pros
- Space Utilization
- Aesthetic Appeal
- Reduces Clutter
- Versatility
- Maximized Room Layout
- Customization
Some cons could include that it’s very difficult to fully maximize corner spaces. When you use cabinet accessories, it’s almost a guarantee that some storage space will be lost. For example, lazy susan spinning trays are great, but the circular shape means you automatically lose space in the corners.
More Corner Cabinet Cons
- Accessibility Issues
- Cost
- Installation Complexity
- Limited Standardization
- Wasted Space
- Maintenance
Installation Tips for Corner Cabinets
Preserve the beauty of your cabinets by first taking the doors and drawer fronts off the cabinet. For the most effortless installation, start with wall cabinets first. Install corner cabinets and the sink base first aligning them with wall studs.
These components need to be centered, so work your way out from there. Every cabinet also needs to be level on the floor and wall, so use laser levels to check prior to installation and add shims where necessary.
5 Quick Corner Cabinet Installation Tips
1. Remove Doors & Drawer Fronts
The first step towards a successful kitchen remodel is to remove doors and drawers from your cabinets, including the corner cabinet. As the face of your cabinets, the last thing you want is for the door fronts to get scratched or chipped during the installation process. Store them somewhere safe while cabinet boxes are installed.
2. Start With Corner Cabinets
Install wall cabinets first. It’s easiest to install base cabinets last because it prevents you from leaning over base cabinets to put up wall cabinetry. Corner cabinets and the sink base are two points in the design that can’t change, so it’s best to start with these first. Once the foundations of the kitchen are installed, everything else will run smoothly.
3. Use A Laser Level
Find the mounting height for wall cabinets based on your floor plans. Once this has been identified, located all the stud locations. Mark where the studs on each of the walls and use a pencil to trace the level line at the bottom. At this point, some installers like to nail in ledger rails for wall cabinets to support the weight during installation. Try to make sure each wall cabinet, including the corner, can attach to at least one wall stud.
4. Mark Stud Locations on Cabinets
After marking the stud locations on the walls, draw the locations of the studs on the back of each cabinet including corners. Use a 3/32” drill bit to pre-drill holes on the cabinets 2 inches from the top and bottom on the stud lines.
5. Use Shims to Level Cabinets
Once again use the laser level as you install wall, base and corner cabinets. This will keep you on track as cabinet installation progresses. Use #8 x 2-1/2” trim screws, but don’t tighten them all the way. Use your level to check the front, back and corners of each cabinet. If anything is uneven, use shims to support that location. Confirm once more that everything is level. Once the cabinet is leveled, finish tightening the screws.
Cabinet installation can be complex, especially for a first time DIYer. Check the CliqStudios video library for more in-depth corner cabinet and kitchen installation tips.
Custom Options for Corner Cabinets
Explore custom corner cabinet storage options with our Rev-A-Shelf product selection. If you can’t find what you need in our RTA, Mercury, Signature Plus and Craftsman cabinet lines, Rev-A-Shelf products allow you to customize corner cabinets based on your needs.
Maintenance and Cleaning Tips
Corner cabinet maintenance and cleaning is the same as regular cabinet maintenance. Always use a soft, non-colored microfiber with either water or a mild soap. Avoid using harsh chemicals and abrasives or wax-based cleaners that could harm the exterior finish or shelves.
For painted finishes, use something gentle like Ivory® Soap that's diluted in water. When cleaning stained cabinets, use diluted original Murphy® Oil Soap or something similar. The best rule of thumb is to clean regularly to avoid stains or damage to your cabinetry. This should include dusting cabinets with a wet rag to avoid dirt buildup over time.
Although finding the right solution for you can be challenging, corner cabinet options have expanded to provide more versatile options for any style and taste.
Explore Cabinets to find more cabinet accessories now!
