A beautiful kitchen falls flat if storage doesn’t work. The fix is simple: plan the insides first, then wrap them in finishes you love. Eco Squared designs, supplies and installs European-style cabinetry across the Sutherland Shire, tailoring drawers, pantries and lighting to how you actually cook and live.

1) Start with zones (and what lives where)

Group storage by Prep, Cook, Clean and Serve. Keep everyday items within a single step of the task:

Prep: knives, boards, oils, spices near the main bench
Cook: pots, pans, utensils by the cooktop; trays near the oven
Clean: bins, detergents and towels near the sink/dishwasher
Serve: plates, glasses and cutlery near the table/servery

2) Wide drawers beat cupboards

Deep, wide drawers (900–1200 mm) handle pots, appliances and containers
Shallow top drawers for utensils, wraps and spices with dividers
Add full-extension runners so nothing hides at the back

3) Pull-out pantries (visibility = less waste)

Tandem larders / inner drawers bring everything to you
Use shallow sides so labels are visible
Split tall larders into zones (breakfast, baking, snacks)

4) Corner solutions that actually work

LeMans trays, corner drawers or carousel shelves reclaim awkward corners
Reserve corners for bulky, seldom-used items to keep prime drawers free

5) Appliance towers & garages

Stack oven + microwave/steam in a tower to free benchtops
Hide everyday small appliances in an appliance garage (lift-up, pocket or bi-fold doors), with ventilation and concealed power

6) Waste, recycling & cleaning hub

Fit integrated, multi-bin pull-outs right beside prep/cleanup zones
Add a tall pull-out for brooms/mops, with hooks and caddy shelves

7) Vertical dividers & tray slots

Stand baking trays, boards and platters upright in narrow pull-outs or partitioned base units; you’ll grab one without unstacking the rest.

8) Overheads to the ceiling

Ceiling-height cabinets add capacity and kill dust traps. Use lift-up doors above fridges or a shallow top row for glassware and seasonal items.

9) Smart cutlery & utensil organisation

Modular inserts keep drawers tidy. Mix timber, composite or metal trays; add knife blocks and spice trays where you prep.

10) Lighting that helps you find things

Under-cabinet LED strips for bright benches
Sensor lights in pantries and deep drawers
Soft toe-kick LEDs for night paths

11) Small kitchens: space savers that punch above their weight

One-wall or galley layouts with appliance towers
Slim pull-outs (150–300 mm) for oils, spices and bottles
Peninsula seating (often smarter than a small island)
Integrated fronts to keep lines calm

12) Materials that last (and stay healthy)

Oppolia’s European manufacturing gives you durable melamine/laminate, matte or satin lacquers and woodgrains, with low-emission board options. Hardware is soft-close throughout for daily reliability.

Good / Better / Best storage packs

Good: Wide drawers + pull-out pantry + under-cabinet LEDs
Better: Add appliance tower, corner solution, multi-bin pull-out
Best: Inner-drawer larder, appliance garage with power, ceiling-height storage, sensor lighting, vertical dividers throughout

Common mistakes to avoid

Too many narrow cupboards; not enough wide drawers
Tall pantry with deep fixed shelves (things get lost)
Bins far from prep/sink
No plan for appliance ventilation or power inside cabinets

Local design, tidy installation

We map your storage to your routine, document every internal, then install neatly across the Sutherland Shire (and ~20 km surrounds) with clear timelines and after-care.

Transform Your Space with Eco Squared

Embrace the elegance and functionality of European design with Eco Squared. Our Oppolia partnership provides access to premium materials and cutting-edge manufacturing, tailored for the way Sydney lives.

Get a Free SMART QUOTE

Film a quick 360° video and Text/WhatsApp 0466 119 712 (no home visit required).
Prefer email? info@eco2.com.au

Get a SMART QUOTE

FAQs

What is the best storage for a modern kitchen?
Wide, deep drawers for everyday items, a pull-out pantry with inner drawers for visibility, and an appliance tower/garage to clear benchtops. Add multi-bin pull-outs near the sink and LED task lighting.

Are pull-out pantries better than shelves?
Yes. Pull-outs bring items to you, improving visibility and access, so you waste less food. Fixed deep shelves often hide items at the back and encourage clutter.

How do I organise a small kitchen?
Choose a one-wall or galley layout, prioritise wide drawers, add slim pull-outs for oils/spices, and use ceiling-height storage with under-cabinet LEDs. Keep appliances in a ventilated garage to free bench space.

What should go near the cooktop?
Keep pots, pans, utensils and spices within one arm’s reach: wide drawers below, a spice/oil pull-out to the side, and trays/boards in a vertical divider nearby.

How can I reduce clutter on the bench?
Hide small appliances in an appliance garage with power, use drawer inserts for utensils, and store everyday dry goods in inner-drawer pantries. Keep bins close to prep so clean-up is instant.

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