How can you have enough storage in your kitchen without upper cabinets?
This question is one of the most frequently asked by new readers and people who find my kitchen on Pinterest.
When we remodeled our kitchen, I removed most of the upper cabinets. I left a few near the baking area and around the refrigerator, but decided I’d be happier without the others.
Why remove storage? How could taking cabinets away make the kitchen better?
Ten reasons I removed my upper cabinets
Removing cabinets was a deliberate choice based on how we use the space and what makes the kitchen feel inviting. Here’s why it worked for us:
1. I wanted to love being in the kitchen, and I really disliked the look and feel of most of the upper cabinets.
2. The room felt cramped. Taking down upper cabinets opened up the visual space and made the kitchen feel much larger.
3. Many of those cabinets were hard to reach, so they weren’t very practical.
4. Upper cabinets cast shadows over the counters, making work surfaces darker than necessary.
5. Drawers are more efficient for daily use than high cabinets. I replaced the removed upper cabinets by installing two new lower cabinets with six heavy-duty drawers beside the dishwasher. Four deep drawers store dishes; two wide shallow drawers hold silverware and small plates. We only needed two of the deep drawers for everyday dishes; the others house small appliances and overflow items.
6. I added an island for extra storage. Our island isn’t large, but it includes two shelves for baking dishes and overflow, plus two drawers we use for food storage bags and small items.
7. I keep only what we use regularly in the kitchen. Items rarely used either get donated, moved to garage shelving, or stored in the pantry. There is a small junk drawer and a cabinet with miscellaneous items, but overall we have plenty of accessible storage.
8. Removing the upper cabinets allowed us to tile the walls with white subway tile. The tile feels clean and airy and helps reflect light, brightening the whole room.
9. The space feels more open and functional without cabinets overhead. It seems like I gained usable counter space because I enjoy working at counters without something looming above.
10. We improved our small walk-in pantry to increase overall storage. The pantry is under the stairs, so it was dark and awkward; after removing the door and replacing wire shelving with solid shelves, it became far more functional. It now stores everyday items, extra serving bowls, and bulk goods so I haven’t missed the upper cabinets.
In short: I love my kitchen now.
Removing upper cabinets won’t be the right choice for every layout, but for our house it improved light, accessibility, and the sense of space. We supplemented with deeper drawers, a modest island, and a better-organized pantry to make up for the lost upper storage.
PS. Update: we’ve had some exciting news since the remodel that I’ve shared elsewhere on my blog.