Building Components
Should I Opt for a Whole Wall of Cabinetry in My Kitchen?
Confining most of your storage to one wall has numerous advantages, as these stylish designs illustrate
More and more homeowners are choosing to devote an entire wall in their kitchen to cabinetry, taking it right up to the ceiling instead of favouring base units below a benchtop. If you can ensure you have enough work surfaces elsewhere in your kitchen, this is a great way to include heaps of handy storage space. Take a look at these schemes to find ideas and inspiration.
Maximise a U-shape
In a U-shaped kitchen, it’s tempting to keep all three surfaces clear for food preparation. However, this isn’t always necessary, as there’s often enough bench space along two walls.
Here, the designers have decided to use one of the walls for floor-to-ceiling cabinets – maximising the space to ensure there’s ample storage.
Redesigning your kitchen? Find kitchen designers and renovators near you on Houzz, browse images of their work and read reviews from previous clients
In a U-shaped kitchen, it’s tempting to keep all three surfaces clear for food preparation. However, this isn’t always necessary, as there’s often enough bench space along two walls.
Here, the designers have decided to use one of the walls for floor-to-ceiling cabinets – maximising the space to ensure there’s ample storage.
Redesigning your kitchen? Find kitchen designers and renovators near you on Houzz, browse images of their work and read reviews from previous clients
Let in light
If the wall you’re hoping to fit cabinets against is perpendicular to a window, you’ll need to plan carefully. It’s important to leave a gap beside the window to avoid blocking any light, but that could lead to some wasted space.
A little breathing room can, of course, be lovely, but if you’re keen to maximise all areas for storage, try this idea. The designers have installed a shelf unit in the gap between the green kitchen cabinetry and the window. The open design doesn’t block the natural light flooding in, but the shelves provide handy storage space.
If the wall you’re hoping to fit cabinets against is perpendicular to a window, you’ll need to plan carefully. It’s important to leave a gap beside the window to avoid blocking any light, but that could lead to some wasted space.
A little breathing room can, of course, be lovely, but if you’re keen to maximise all areas for storage, try this idea. The designers have installed a shelf unit in the gap between the green kitchen cabinetry and the window. The open design doesn’t block the natural light flooding in, but the shelves provide handy storage space.
Create contrasts
In this kitchen, the entire back wall is covered with units, which works just fine, as there’s plenty of bench space on the peninsula. The neat run of cabinets provides great storage, but is also an attractive visual element.
The block of white contrasts with the adjacent wood-panelled wall and the bright turquoise base units. By blocking out large expanses of colour like this, the designers have created a space that’s striking as well as practical.
In this kitchen, the entire back wall is covered with units, which works just fine, as there’s plenty of bench space on the peninsula. The neat run of cabinets provides great storage, but is also an attractive visual element.
The block of white contrasts with the adjacent wood-panelled wall and the bright turquoise base units. By blocking out large expanses of colour like this, the designers have created a space that’s striking as well as practical.
Incorporate a work space
If you don’t have quite enough bench space elsewhere, try breaking up a solid block of cabinets. Here, swapping the central tall units for base and wall cupboards has created enough of a surface for a sink – with extra prep space on either side – plus the splashback adds decorative interest.
The designers have still made good use of the wall by adding a double row of shelves above the bench, maximising the cabinetry by taking it right up to the ceiling.
If you don’t have quite enough bench space elsewhere, try breaking up a solid block of cabinets. Here, swapping the central tall units for base and wall cupboards has created enough of a surface for a sink – with extra prep space on either side – plus the splashback adds decorative interest.
The designers have still made good use of the wall by adding a double row of shelves above the bench, maximising the cabinetry by taking it right up to the ceiling.
Combine a breakfast nook
The island in this kitchen has everything that’s needed for food preparation – a work surface, a stove and a sink.
Storage space lines the wall behind in the form of cabinets and drawers. However, the designers decided to carve out a small extra space. A painted niche is set up with everything necessary for preparing hot drinks and breakfast.
Browse more gorgeous kitchens on Houzz
The island in this kitchen has everything that’s needed for food preparation – a work surface, a stove and a sink.
Storage space lines the wall behind in the form of cabinets and drawers. However, the designers decided to carve out a small extra space. A painted niche is set up with everything necessary for preparing hot drinks and breakfast.
Browse more gorgeous kitchens on Houzz
Frame the island
You can also use wall-to-wall cabinets as a backdrop for other elements in the kitchen. Here, the flat-fronted, pale green units provide a subtle canvas that showcases the beautiful marble veining on the island.
Choose a design that works with the feature in front of it. The complementary tones here give a subtle look, but you could try something bolder with contrasting surfaces.
You can also use wall-to-wall cabinets as a backdrop for other elements in the kitchen. Here, the flat-fronted, pale green units provide a subtle canvas that showcases the beautiful marble veining on the island.
Choose a design that works with the feature in front of it. The complementary tones here give a subtle look, but you could try something bolder with contrasting surfaces.
Access all areas
Worried about those hard-to-reach upper cabinets if you extend your cabinetry from floor to ceiling? Try fitting a ladder and rail along the bottom of these to make them easier to access.
In this kitchen, the ladder can be moved from left to right, allowing the owner to climb up to grab items from the high cupboards.
Worried about those hard-to-reach upper cabinets if you extend your cabinetry from floor to ceiling? Try fitting a ladder and rail along the bottom of these to make them easier to access.
In this kitchen, the ladder can be moved from left to right, allowing the owner to climb up to grab items from the high cupboards.
Your turn
Do you have a full wall of cabinetry in your kitchen? Tell us what works best for you in the Comments below. And while you’re at it, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Need more kitchen inspiration? Read up on How Rich Colours and Smart Joinery Lifted a Neutral Kitchen
Do you have a full wall of cabinetry in your kitchen? Tell us what works best for you in the Comments below. And while you’re at it, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Need more kitchen inspiration? Read up on How Rich Colours and Smart Joinery Lifted a Neutral Kitchen
A useful advantage of wall-to-wall kitchen cabinets is the opportunity they provide for incorporating integrated appliances.
Here, for example, four ovens have been installed into the row of cabinetry. You could also include an integrated fridge-freezer, which could be concealed behind a cupboard door near or alongside a pantry.