24 Corner Cabinet Ideas to Make the Most of a Space That's Usually Overlooked (2024)

Room Design

Kitchen Design

By

Kristin Hohenadel

24 Corner Cabinet Ideas to Make the Most of a Space That's Usually Overlooked (1)

Kristin Hohenadel

Kristin Hohenadel has written on design for publications including the New York Times, Interior Design, Slate, Fast Company, and the international editions of Elle Decor.

Learn more about The Spruce'sEditorial Process

Published on 01/04/24

24 Corner Cabinet Ideas to Make the Most of a Space That's Usually Overlooked (2)

If you are looking for corner cabinet ideas to add storage or display space to your kitchen, there are a number of options to help you make the most of an awkward or underutilized space.

From angled cabinets to open shelving, interior features such as swinging pullout drawers, to tips on how to use paint, lighting, and moldings to seamlessly integrate both base and upper cabinetry, check out these corner cabinet ideas to make any size kitchen more functional and stylish.

  • 01 of 24

    Install Pull-Out Shelving

    24 Corner Cabinet Ideas to Make the Most of a Space That's Usually Overlooked (3)

    Corner cabinetry can be challenging to access, resulting in forgotten items at the back. Bakes & Kropp solved that problem with two-tiered slide-out shelving with a built-in guard rail to store large pots and cookware to keep your kitchen looking organized.

    Tip

    There are a number of ways to make the interiors of your corner cabinets extra-functional. Look for special features like built-in lazy Susans, tiered pull-out shelves, and accordion drawers.

    Continue to 2 of 24 below

  • 02 of 24

    Add Inner Cabinet Lighting

    24 Corner Cabinet Ideas to Make the Most of a Space That's Usually Overlooked (4)

    Take the focus away from an awkward kitchen corner space with glass-front cabinetry that is lit from within to show off your favorite collection of glassware, like this space from Bakes & Kropp.

    Continue to 3 of 24 below

  • 03 of 24

    Mix in Open Shelving

    24 Corner Cabinet Ideas to Make the Most of a Space That's Usually Overlooked (5)

    Combine a double-height countertop-to-ceiling painted corner cabinet with natural wood floating shelves to create maximum storage while allowing your walls to breathe, like this space from Jessica Nelson Design.

    Continue to 4 of 24 below

  • 04 of 24

    Build a Banquette

    24 Corner Cabinet Ideas to Make the Most of a Space That's Usually Overlooked (6)

    If your kitchen has wrap-around windows and a captivating view, focus on maximizing your base cabinetry. Jessica Nelson Design added under-bench storage drawers in this eat-in kitchen that mimic the base drawers and cabinets in the light-flooded space.

  • 05 of 24

    Add a Hidden Compartment

    24 Corner Cabinet Ideas to Make the Most of a Space That's Usually Overlooked (7)

    Fill the empty corner space in an L-shaped kitchen with a hidden compartment for storing appliances or camouflaging your coffee bar that blends in seamlessly with upper kitchen cabinetry, like this space from Bakes & Kropp. (This kind of concealed storage is often called an appliance garage.)

    The cabinetry is finished with crown molding to create a polished and finished look.

    Continue to 6 of 24 below

  • 06 of 24

    Blur the Corners With Paint

    24 Corner Cabinet Ideas to Make the Most of a Space That's Usually Overlooked (8)

    Help make cabinets look integrated by blurring the corners with an extra-dark backsplash and countertops. Desiree Burns Interiors maximized the corner space with wrap-around cabinets that float above the dark backsplash in this Newport, RI, kitchen.

    Continue to 7 of 24 below

  • 07 of 24

    Skip the Hardware

    24 Corner Cabinet Ideas to Make the Most of a Space That's Usually Overlooked (9)

    Keep upper cabinetry free of hardware for a streamlined look that won't call attention to kitchen cabinets of varying widths. This spacious kitchen designed by Eric Gilmer and Sven Simon of DasMod in conjunction with interior designer Sara Simon of Handsome Salt is finished with flat-front stained wood cabinetry in a warm honey tone.

    Continue to 8 of 24 below

  • 08 of 24

    Try Doorless Cabinets

    24 Corner Cabinet Ideas to Make the Most of a Space That's Usually Overlooked (10)

    Lighten up the look of corner cabinets by taking off the doors. Velinda Hellen Design filled the corner of this bright modern kitchen with a natural wood storage cabinet that includes open shelving for cookbooks and everyday items.

    Continue to 9 of 24 below

  • 09 of 24

    Smooth Out the Angles

    24 Corner Cabinet Ideas to Make the Most of a Space That's Usually Overlooked (11)

    An angled corner cabinet will allow you to create an uninterrupted line of storage on the upper cabinetry for a streamlined look, like this kitchen from Gray Space Interiors.

    Continue to 10 of 24 below

  • 10 of 24

    Hang a Pair of Shelves

    24 Corner Cabinet Ideas to Make the Most of a Space That's Usually Overlooked (12)

    If your kitchen includes a corner space with a window on one side, adding upper cabinetry can make it look cluttered or crowded. Opt for a pair of shelves instead, like this airy space from deVOL Kitchens and Our Food Stories.

    Continue to 11 of 24 below

  • 11 of 24

    Choose Pull-Out Drawers

    24 Corner Cabinet Ideas to Make the Most of a Space That's Usually Overlooked (13)

    Store your most-used items at the front of pull-out drawers for maximum efficiency, like these space-saving pull-out drawers from Bakes & Kropp.

    Continue to 12 of 24 below

  • Skip the Upper Cabinets

    24 Corner Cabinet Ideas to Make the Most of a Space That's Usually Overlooked (14)

    In a spacious kitchen, install base cabinets and drawers with enough storage for everything, and swap upper cabinets for a slim open shelf that runs into the corner for display. Then fill the corner with a small piece of art and a table lamp for ambiance, like this timeless space from deVOL Kitchens.

    Continue to 13 of 24 below

  • 13 of 24

    Match Brass Pulls and Handles

    24 Corner Cabinet Ideas to Make the Most of a Space That's Usually Overlooked (15)

    Using the same shiny brass hardware on upper and lower kitchen cabinets as well as plumbing fixtures will give your kitchen a polished and cohesive feel, like this bright kitchen from Bakes & Kropp that includes L-shaped cabinetry that hugs the corner.

    Continue to 14 of 24 below

  • 14 of 24

    Fill Gaps With Open Shelves

    24 Corner Cabinet Ideas to Make the Most of a Space That's Usually Overlooked (16)

    If your kitchen includes a partial wall of built-in, floor-to-ceiling storage, make it blend in seamlessly by painting the cabinetry and backsplash in the same color. Then fill in the corner gaps with open shelving in natural wood to break it up, like this terracotta-colored kitchen from Fantastic Frank.

    Continue to 15 of 24 below

  • 15 of 24

    Use Vertical Space

    24 Corner Cabinet Ideas to Make the Most of a Space That's Usually Overlooked (17)

    Take your corner cabinets all the way up to the ceiling to maximize storage and balance the scale of surrounding windows. Jessica Nelson Design added smaller glass-front cabinets on top to lighten up the look.

    Continue to 16 of 24 below

  • 16 of 24

    Create Under Cabinet Space

    24 Corner Cabinet Ideas to Make the Most of a Space That's Usually Overlooked (18)

    Use the countertop space below an angled corner cabinet for fixed items like a coffee machine or home base for your standing mixer if baking is a regular pastime, like this kitchen from Gray Space Interiors.

    Continue to 17 of 24 below

  • 17 of 24

    Hang Open Shelf Units

    24 Corner Cabinet Ideas to Make the Most of a Space That's Usually Overlooked (19)

    Keep your kitchen feeling open and airy by trading upper cabinets for a pair of open shelf units hung from the ceiling. Jessica Nelson Design filled the corners of this open-plan kitchen with a pair of storage and display shelves that don't interfere with the windows and create a symmetrical look.

    Continue to 18 of 24 below

  • 18 of 24

    Add Skinny Cabinets

    24 Corner Cabinet Ideas to Make the Most of a Space That's Usually Overlooked (20)

    Don't be afraid to mix kitchen cabinets of varying widths to accommodate a kitchen corner. Gray Space Interiors used a combination of skinny cabinets and an angled upper corner cabinet to make the most of this space. White cabinets are finished with antique bronze hardware that matches the pot filler over the range and echoes the grout on the white elongated hex backsplash.

    Continue to 19 of 24 below

  • 19 of 24

    Light the Corner Shelves

    24 Corner Cabinet Ideas to Make the Most of a Space That's Usually Overlooked (21)

    If your range has a large bump-out frame that would make adding a corner cabinet awkward, create a niche with open shelving and add a sconce light at the top so that your kitchen will be evenly lit in the evenings. Jessica Nelson Design styled the open shelves of this kitchen corner with a mix of practical and decorative items.

    Continue to 20 of 24 below

  • 20 of 24

    Use Paint to Unify Space

    24 Corner Cabinet Ideas to Make the Most of a Space That's Usually Overlooked (22)

    If your kitchen layout includes a corner with a load-bearing wall that makes it impossible to install an uninterrupted line of cabinets, paint them in a bold contrasting color.

    Marie Flanigan Interiors painted the upper and lower cabinets on each side of this kitchen corner in deep forest green to create a unified look that makes the most of the space.

    Continue to 21 of 24 below

  • 21 of 24

    Mix in a Corner Shelf

    24 Corner Cabinet Ideas to Make the Most of a Space That's Usually Overlooked (23)

    Fill the gaps between upper kitchen cabinets with open shelving to maximize every inch of space. Living With Lolo outfitted the corners of this neutral modern kitchen with tall, skinny double cabinets and chunky L-shaped natural wood floating shelves.

    Continue to 22 of 24 below

  • 22 of 24

    Use Glass-Front Cabinets

    24 Corner Cabinet Ideas to Make the Most of a Space That's Usually Overlooked (24)

    Use glass-front cabinets in the corner of your kitchen to distract the eye and create a space to display your prettiest or most used kitchen items, like this DIY kitchen design from blogger Ursula Carmona of Home Made By Carmona.

    Continue to 23 of 24 below

  • 23 of 24

    Use Light Tones

    24 Corner Cabinet Ideas to Make the Most of a Space That's Usually Overlooked (25)

    Downplay the look of corner cabinetry by using light tones on the uppers, lowers, countertops, and backsplash, like the pearl grays and creams of this uncluttered kitchen from Desiree Burns Interiors.

    Continue to 24 of 24 below

  • 24 of 24

    Mix Dark and Light Finishes

    24 Corner Cabinet Ideas to Make the Most of a Space That's Usually Overlooked (26)

    If you prefer a high-contrast look, pair jet black corner cabinetry with a white stone backsplash, like this space from Mary Patton Design. Open shelves flank the window to balance light and dark tones.

24 Corner Cabinet Ideas to Make the Most of a Space That's Usually Overlooked (2024)

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Tyson Zemlak

Last Updated:

Views: 6222

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (63 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Tyson Zemlak

Birthday: 1992-03-17

Address: Apt. 662 96191 Quigley Dam, Kubview, MA 42013

Phone: +441678032891

Job: Community-Services Orchestrator

Hobby: Coffee roasting, Calligraphy, Metalworking, Fashion, Vehicle restoration, Shopping, Photography

Introduction: My name is Tyson Zemlak, I am a excited, light, sparkling, super, open, fair, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.