How Much Storage Do You Really Need in a Kitchen?
You can never have too much kitchen storage… right?
Wrong.
Too many Melbourne homes end up with oversized overheads, underused drawers, or entire cabinets full of nothing but air.
Smart kitchen design isn’t about more.
It’s about the right kind of storage, in the right places, for the way you actually live.
Let’s break down how much storage you really need — and what that means for your renovation layout.
Step 1: Understand How You Use Your Kitchen
Before we talk cupboards, ask yourself:
Do you cook daily or occasionally?
Do you shop weekly or bulk-buy?
Do you have small appliances you actually use — or just store?
Do you entertain a lot or mostly cook for family?
Are you keeping heirloom china or chasing minimalism?
Because a couple in a small apartment and a family of five with a Costco addiction… need very different kitchens.
Step 2: Break Storage Into Zones
Forget “X number of cupboards.”
Instead, think in zones:
1. Food Storage
Pantry (walk-in or cabinet-style)
Fridge/freezer space
Dry goods and snacks
🔹 Typical family needs 1.2m – 1.8m of pantry width.
2. Cooking Tools & Appliances
Pots, pans, baking trays, slow cooker, air fryer
Want them near the cooktop or oven
Use deep drawers or pull-outs for easy access
🔹 Two wide drawers + a tall appliance cupboard = sweet spot.
3. Prep & Cooking Staples
Oils, spices, utensils, cutting boards
Keep them near bench space and stove
Slimline pull-outs or drawer inserts work best
🔹 Don’t bury essentials behind dinnerware.
4. Dinnerware & Serving
Plates, glasses, mugs, serving trays
Near dishwasher and dining zone
Go overhead only if it suits your height
🔹 Use drawer organisers to avoid stacking chaos.
5. Cleaning & Waste
Under-sink bin, detergent, dishwasher tablets
Bonus points for compost or soft plastic recycling
🔹 Double pull-out bin = peace of mind.
Step 3: What Most People Actually Need
Here’s what works for most Melbourne families:
4–6 wide drawers for pots, plates, plastics
1 double-door pantry with adjustable shelving
2–3 overheads for glasses and “nice” stuff
1 tall cupboard or appliance garage
Under-sink pull-out bins + slim utility drawer
Anything more? Only if you’ve got special needs (or a coffee machine collection worth bragging about).
Common Mistakes
🚫 Overspending on overheads you can’t reach
🚫 Ignoring bench space in favour of more cupboards
🚫 No dedicated spot for keys, mail, or the “junk drawer”
🚫 Forgetting future needs (growing kids = growing food supply)
Our Take?
Great kitchens don’t have more storage.
They have smart storage.
At Bluestone Build Co, we design your kitchen around how you live — not how Pinterest says you should.
Book a consult and we’ll walk you through the right layout, right zones, and right amount of storage for your space.
