Wall cupboards are out of favour – so what do consumers want instead?

KitchensFeatures Fri 29th Jan 2021 by Emma Hedges

Wall cupboards are out of favour – so what do consumers want instead?

Wall cupboards are out of favour – so what do consumers want instead?


Feature by Emma Hedges | Fri 29th Jan 2021

Editor of KBBFocus Emma has been writing about design and interiors for over 25 years. A former editor of Essential Kitchen & Bathroom Business magazine, her work has been published in a wide variety of leading trade and consumer titles. More



It’s easy to see why homeowners have fallen out of love with wall cupboards – without them kitchen schemes of all sizes look and feel far more light, open and pleasant to be in. But ditching wall units presents designers with a dilemma, because the upshot is that a significant amount of hardworking storage is potentially lost, leaving the functionality of the space severely compromised, and a client who is potentially not so happy with a finished design. So what are the options?

The comparison room at the Blum Experience Centre in Milton Keynes shows clearly the advantages to the overall aesthetic of deep wide drawers on the left, over upper cabinetry on the right

At the Blum HQ in Milton Keynes the brand has been working hard to solve this ongoing problem. “We all know it’s nicer not to have upper wall units – they’re difficult to access and cause a room to feel dark and hemmed in,” says Blum UK’s customer experience manager Amanda Hughes. “At the Blum Experience Centre we showcase the benefits of deeper, wider drawers, instead of doors and fixed shelves. Your end consumers frequently ask for more storage, when what they actually want is accessible, visible and organised solutions, and their items within easy reach.”

Deep drawers such as Masterclass Kitchens wood crate drawers, shown here in Portland Oak, can increase storage by up to 40% compared to a standard cupboard

Making the lower units and drawers work harder is a logical and effective solution, but what are the best ways to maximise walls without hemming the space in with upper cabinetry? “Feature glass units provide an innovative storage solution and a stylish yet practical alternative to conventional wall cabinets,” says Richard Turner, Pronorm’s national sales manager for UK & Ireland. “Designed to look and feel less ‘blocky’, glass units can help open up the kitchen and create the illusion of more space.” Added to that as long as the contents are well curated, the glazed units are useful extra storage.

Pronorm kitchen in Platinum Grey Ultra Matt and Black Matt, with glass-fronted units on the far wall

Masterclass Kitchens Shelford kitchen in Highland Stone is pictured with glazed cabinets and open shelving

For those clients who dare to go more bare, open shelving is an attractive and workable solution, although probably not so much for the hectic household that struggles with controlling clutter. For a successful look, keeping contents minimal is key.

Open frame modular shelving units from PWS, shown here in a 1909 scheme in Dry Rose and Graphite

Complete shelving systems are being introduced by several manufacturers, for example Rotpunkt’s wall panelling storage system solutions co-ordinate with its ranges, and are designed to be clipped onto the panels for easy customisation. They can be used to house books, store utensils and hold tablets and smartphones.

Rotpunkt’s storage system, shown here in Titanium Bronze Metal and featuring shelves, a recipe book holder and a knife block

Scavolini’s Mia by Carlo Cracco kitchen features a wall panel with accessories such as open shelves, containers for herbs and spices, bowls and bottle racks, and a hanging structure above the island

Cage structures are currently also proving popular as a way of utilising upper storage space while keeping the aesthetic lighter and less obtrusive than cupboards.

Rotpunkt’s brand-new ceiling frames offer a canopy-style storage system that helps make use of floors, walls and ceilings

This structure in a scheme by Day True helps to break up the living and cooking zones in an open-plan design

But while upper cabinetry jutting out of walls at head height might be out of style, tall units are still hugely popular. Enabling designers to maintain a seamless floor-to-ceiling aesthetic, and homeowners to achieve the desired amount of storage, they offer an ideal solution when space allows.

This scheme with Rotpunkt's new Ceramic Dark Grey doors features a winning combination of open shelving and tall units

Tags: kitchens, features, open shelving, masterclass, rotpunkt

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