Title: Kitchen Redesign Adventure: Worth the Hype or Not?
Deep drawers are the MVP, no question. Whoever decided “let’s make cabinets you can actually reach into without dislocating your shoulder” deserves a medal. I’ve seen so many kitchens with those awkwardly shallow drawers that only fit a single spatula and a bunch of crumbs. Deep drawers are like the Mary Poppins bag of the kitchen—just keep pulling stuff out, somehow it all fits.
Open shelving, though... I get the appeal. It photographs beautifully, but in real life? Unless you’re Marie Kondo or have a secret cleaning staff, it turns into a display of mismatched mugs and half-eaten snack bags in about five days. I tried it once after binge-watching too much HGTV. Looked amazing for a hot minute, then my cereal boxes staged a coup. Now I tell clients: open shelves are for people who don’t actually cook, or for displaying exactly three items you never touch.
Under-cabinet lighting is one of those things you don’t realize you need until you have it. Suddenly, you’re slicing apples at midnight like you’re in a fancy hotel suite. It’s also a lifesaver if you’ve ever tried to read a recipe in the shadow of your own upper cabinets. The only downside is now I notice how much crumb action is happening on my counters... but hey, at least I can see it to clean it.
If you’re weighing what’s worth the hype, deep drawers and under-cabinet lighting are hard to beat. Open shelving? Proceed with caution unless your cat needs a new hangout spot.
Deep drawers really are a game changer—couldn’t agree more. I used to have those shallow ones and honestly, half my utensils just lived on the counter because nothing fit. Deep drawers make it so much easier to keep things organized, and you’re not digging around for that one pan at the back.
Open shelving... yeah, it’s pretty in theory but unless you’re super tidy or barely use your kitchen, it gets chaotic fast. I tried it once thinking I’d keep everything “curated,” but after a week it looked like a thrift store shelf. Not for me, though I do like having one open shelf for plants and jars I actually use.
Under-cabinet lighting is something I wish I’d done sooner. Makes the whole space feel brighter and way more functional, especially late at night when you don’t want to turn on all the lights. Plus, LED strips are super energy efficient, so that’s a bonus if you’re trying to be eco-conscious.
You’re definitely on the right track focusing on what actually makes life easier day-to-day. The hype is real for some of these upgrades.
- Deep drawers are honestly a lifesaver for pots and pans. I never realized how much time I wasted stacking and unstacking stuff in those shallow cabinets.
- Open shelving looked cool in the photos, but I couldn't keep up with the dust. Now I just use one for coffee mugs and call it a day.
- Under-cabinet lighting is on my wish list. Does it make a big difference when you’re chopping veggies at night?
- Curious if anyone's tried those pull-out pantry shelves. Worth it, or just another thing to break?
Deep Drawers Aren’t Always Perfect?
I keep hearing how deep drawers are the holy grail for pots and pans, but I’m not totally convinced they’re always better. Maybe it’s just me, but sometimes I find them a bit awkward for smaller kitchens—like, you pull one out and suddenly half your walking space is gone, especially if someone else is trying to get by. Plus, if you don’t have good dividers or organizers in there, stuff just slides around when you open or close them. Has anyone figured out a way around that?
On under-cabinet lighting—I tried those stick-on LED strips from the hardware store (the battery ones), and honestly, they were kind of underwhelming. The light was patchy and not that bright. Maybe hardwired is the way to go? Curious if the extra hassle is worth it.
Pull-out pantry shelves are on my maybe list too, but I’ve heard mixed things about the hardware wearing out or getting stuck over time. Would love to know if anyone’s had them for more than a couple years without issues...
Deep drawers definitely seem like a great idea until you actually live with them in a tight space. I’ve had the same issue—if someone’s at the sink and you try to open a drawer, it’s like a traffic jam. I tried using those adjustable bamboo dividers, but honestly, they only help so much if you’re storing a mix of big and small items. Stuff still shifts around unless you’re super careful.
On the under-cabinet lighting, I went with the plug-in LED bars instead of battery ones. They’re brighter and more even, but the cords are a bit of an eyesore unless you get creative with hiding them. Hardwired seems like a hassle, but maybe it’s worth it for the clean look and better light?
About the pull-out pantry shelves, I’m curious if anyone’s found a brand that actually holds up. I’ve seen some that get wobbly after a year or two, which makes me wonder if it’s better to just stick with regular shelves and use bins or baskets. Has anyone tried retrofitting existing cabinets with pull-outs instead of buying new ones? Wondering if that’s a more budget-friendly way to go...
