Rethinking the Corner Cabinet in Modern Kitchens
Corner kitchen cabinets have long been a standard feature in L-shaped and U-shaped layouts—but are they actually helping you? The truth is, most corner cabinet solutions create more problems than they solve. From wasted space to awkward access, these cabinets often fall short. In this post, I’ll explain why we chose to block off the corner in our L-shaped kitchen and forgo a corner cabinet entirely.
Why Corner Kitchen Cabinets Aren’t that Useful
1. Poor Accessibility and Frustrating Ergonomics
Corner cabinets are notorious for being difficult to use. Even with upgrades like lazy Susans or swing-out trays, you’re still left:
- Reaching deep into dark, cramped spaces
- Straining your back or knees to access stored items
- Wrestling with clunky or fragile hardware
When we considered whether to put in a corner cabinet, we couldn’t find a solution that would hold the items we needed it too. We needed the cabinet to hold cutting boards, pots and glass Pyrex containers, and none of the options seemed right. My experience with the lazy Susan style cupboards were that things often fall off and get stuck in the back and the shelves never felt very strong. There also seemed like a lot of lost space with the curve of each shelf.
2. Inefficient Use of Kitchen Storage Space
Corner cabinets often seem like they offer more storage, but the layout makes it difficult to store anything efficiently. Why?
- Items are hard to see and retrieve
- Bulky mechanisms take up internal space
- Organization becomes a challenge without expensive add-ons
In many cases, that space simply turns into a clutter trap. I’ve seen interesting systems with two sets of drawers that pull out when you pull out the first set of drawers. However, these were expensive and we prefer to keep items we don’t use often in higher cabinets and like to have everything in drawers super accessible, so it seemed like a lot of work to install and pay for sets of drawers for items we don’t use often.
3. Higher Cost, Lower Value
Installing a specialized corner cabinet system isn’t cheap. Whether it’s a rotating shelf, pull-out unit, or accordion-style drawer, these features come at a premium—without truly improving functionality. That money is often better spent on:
- Deep drawers for pots and pans
- A pull-out pantry
- Upgraded lighting or finishes
Why It’s Smarter to Block Off the Corner Cabinet
1. Simpler, More Functional Kitchen Layout
Blocking off the corner entirely allows for cleaner cabinet runs and a more ergonomic design. Benefits include:
- Easier workflow between prep, cook, and clean zones
- Better placement of appliances and drawers
- A more modern, streamlined aesthetic
2. Enhanced Storage in Adjacent Cabinets
Without corner units, adjacent cabinets can take center stage:
- Full-extension drawers can replace hard-to-reach shelves
- Standard organizers and dividers fit easily
- You gain more usable space without awkward mechanisms
3. Budget-Friendly Kitchen Design
Instead of spending hundreds on complex corner hardware, blocking off the space means:
- Lower installation costs
- Higher-quality materials or finishes elsewhere
- Simplified kitchen renovation planning
Once we decided to give up on purchasing a fancy contraption for corner kitchen cabinets, it really simplified our design. We could install the drawers we really wanted, that we knew would fit what we wanted to store.
Alternatives to corner cabinets
One of the first things we considered in our kitchen design was if we could avoid having a corner all together. Not only is the cabinet space not very usable, but the counter top in a corner is not very usable and usually attracts clutter. We considered trying to make our L-shaped kitchen into a galley kitchen, or one stretch of countertop with an island, but it wasn’t possible. In our smaller home, we couldnt move any walls and we have 2 entrances to the kitchen and neither made sense to block off, so we had to embrace the corner.
If you have the opportunity to design a kitchen with no corners, I highly recommend it. But if you decide to block off the corner, like we did, you might find some of these alternative ideas for storage helpful:
- Tall pantry units that maximize vertical space (we have a tall and not-too deep pantry that we installed on an empty wall. It’s great for food storage since we store dishes/pots/water bottles/containers in all of our kitchen base cabinets.)
- Deep drawers with full-extension slides (deep drawers are what we installed instead of a corner cabinet, which are sturdy and useful for storing pots and small appliances. We also used this IKEA drawer for cutting boards and other items we can store vertically)
- Open shelving in strategic areas
- Kitchen islands with ample base storage (if you have space to install one)
“But Isn’t That Wasted Space?”
Technically, yes—you’re losing a small volume of potential storage. But in practice:
- That space is often inaccessible anyway
- You’ll never miss what you can’t easily use
- What you gain in functionality and sanity far outweighs the loss
I think this approach is especially effective in smaller kitchens or minimalist designs, where you have to plan where every item will be stored and you don’t have a lot of items in your kitchen that aren’t used often.
Final Thoughts: Rethinking Corner Kitchen Cabinets for Maximum Functionality
Your kitchen should support your lifestyle—not create daily frustrations. Do what works for you and your lifestyle. You are the only one who’s going to be opening that drawer 100x a week.
While corner cabinets might seem like a logical way to use space, they rarely deliver on convenience or efficiency. By blocking off the corner and investing in smarter storage elsewhere, you create a kitchen that’s easier to use, more organized, and better looking.
Next Steps: Smarter Kitchen Storage Solutions
If you’re redesigning your kitchen layout or planning a remodel, consider checking out our post on why we used laminate countertops or our organizing ideas.
Let us know your thoughts on corner cabinets in the comments!