Home Improvement Kitchen Remodel & Repair Cabinets

7 Kitchen Cabinet Corner Solutions

what's the problem with kitchen corners illustration

Illustration: The Spruce / Ran Zheng

Kitchen cabinet corners are deep, dark, and hard to access. Also called blind corners or dead corners, these areas are where your castaway plastic containers are probably hiding.

With kitchen storage always in demand, it's time to reclaim those spaces. Learn how to turn these kitchen conundrums into useful spaces. Maximize cabinet size with kitchen cabinet corner solutions like pull-outs, swing-outs, and a variety of lazy susans.

  • 01 of 07

    Classic Lazy Susan

    Tiny home storage ideas, lazy susan, kitchen, skinny shelf

    @paulas.life / Instagram

    A cabinet lazy susan is essentially a large circle that has a 90-degree slice cut out so it will fit into the cabinet corner. A lazy susan is more efficient and spacious when tiers are added. Lazy susans can easily be installed by a DIYer with simple tools.

    Tip

    One way to save money on the high cost of kitchen cabinets is to decline the accessories at the time of order, and then install them by yourself later on.

  • 02 of 07

    Half Lazy Susan Shelves

    Blind-Lazy-Susan.jpg
    Blind Lazy Susan Unit | Blind corner storage Nicolette Patton, CKD

    A half lazy susan is a wood or plastic unit with two half-moon or half-circles that glide along a side pole. Most shelves operate individually and can be pulled halfway or all the way out. Some also swivel out toward the user.

    Inexpensive and easy to install, try using these units for small appliances or sauce pans.

  • 03 of 07

    LeMans Corner Pull-Out

    Cable-LeMans-Unit.JPG
    LeMans Corner Storage System Nicolette Patton, CKD

    The LeMans unit from Kessebohmer was named after the race track in France for its shape. With peanut-shaped shelves, its pull-out swivel motion rolls smoothly along the tracks.

    The rounded shape of the shelves allows for various types of storage, from mixing bowls, pots, and pans to food. It also has slip-resistant shelves with a side railing so items don't slide or fall off the edges.

  • 04 of 07

    The Cloud

    the cloud shelf from Revashelf

    RJM Cabinets

    The Cloud, from Rev-A-Shelf, has an unusual shape that looks like a cloud and fits seamlessly in a blind corner cabinet to maximize space. The railing around the side prevents items from toppling into the corner.

    Continue to 5 of 7 below
  • 05 of 07

    Custom Corner Units

    onions stored in blind corner cabinet

    @interiorsbyjcurry

    Build a custom drawer inside your blind corner cabinet to take advantage of all the dark, dry space and use the cabinet as storage for garlic, onions, and other alliums which do best stored in a room-temperature dark space. The shelf below is used for pots and pans making this a great cooking area that's near the stove.

  • 06 of 07

    Blind Corner Drawers

    funny shaped drawers in blind corner

    @golancustommade

    Clever custom made cabinets that resemble an open book are the perfect way to use more of the square footage within a blind corner cabinet. Instead of lost blind corner cabinet space, this blind corner has custom drawers that are a funny shape but they're perfect for storing spices, kitchen utensils, and other smaller items.

  • 07 of 07

    Half Moon Shelves

    wire half moon shelves in blind corner cabinet

    @revashelf

    Easily access items in the back of the cabinet with another option from Rev-A-Shelf. This half-moon blind cabinet organizer functions like a lazy Susan. It first pivots out, then slides all the way out so you never have to blindly reach in hoping to find what you need.

How to Avoid Kitchen Cabinet Blind Corners

Pull-outs and lazy susans are built after a kitchen already has blind cabinet corners. Two ways to avoid blind corners in the first place, during building or remodeling, is with diagonal cabinets or curved cabinets.

Diagonal Cabinets

Diagonal cabinets are found in many kitchens and they help to mitigate blind corner problems.

Couple diagonal cabinets with a classic, round lazy susan to increase access. Use this for seasonal items or other pieces that can be stored in a slightly unconventionally shaped cabinet, or put a glass door on it and use it for storage of pretty items like pitchers or ceramic bowls.

Curved Cabinets

Curved wall and kitchen base cabinets are a high-end solution to dark blind corners. Curved cabinets work a lot like diagonal cabinets, but the curve helps to merge the cabinet with surrounding cabinets.

Curved cabinets are still not common, so expect to pay substantially higher prices for them, especially depending on the type of kitchen cabinet material.

FAQ
  • What is the minimum opening for a blind corner cabinet?

    The minimum opening size for a blind corner cabinet is just under 16 inches.

  • What can you put in corner cabinets instead of a lazy susan?

    Instead of a lazy susan, you can put corner drawers, custom built-ins, half-moon shelves, pull-outs, or one of the many variations on pull-out lazy susans.