Making the best use of cupboards and shelving

Press, 10 September 1987, Page 32

Making the best use of cupboards and shelving

Many people lament the fact that they do not have enough storage space. Frequently this Is because their cupboard and shelving space is not fully utilised.

When planning a new home, careful consideration must be given to cupboard space but the exercise does not finish there; once cupboards are built full use must be made of the storage space each cupboard provides. Too often the builder is charged with the responsibility of installing shelving in cupboards and no guidance is given as to where the shelving is to be located.

Later when the client moves into the house and commences to put things away in the cupboard he finds that the shelving is in the wrong place and the builder Is then blamed.

The architect or draughtsman need not specify the exact location of each shelf In every cupboard but you can tell

him how many you want In each cupboard; he in turn can specify that number plus stipulate that the builder liaises with the owner, on site, for instructions as to the space between each shelf. When the wardrobes, the linen cupboard, the broom cupboard and the hot water cylinder cupboard are all framed up and lined, have a look at each one and try to visualise what you will store in each one.

Remember, you have already specified how many shelves you are going to have in each cupboard so the builder has allowed for this number — you now need to give him measurement details for specific positioning of each shelf.

If we take the linen cupboard as an example, the towels and sheets need more space than pillow cases; face flannels do not need the same amount of space that hand towels need. If the five rows of

shelving are all evenly spaced there is just no way that space can be used to the maximum.

Do not forget to fix a coat hook in the broom cupboard to hang up the vacuum cleaner and flex. There is usually plenty of room in this cupboard for a shelf, probably two or three, there Is no need to put the shelf or shelves up high.

The problem area is going to be the built-in pantry and here the answer has to be adjustable shelving.

Pantry shelving from waist height should not be too deep. The lower wide shelves are ideal for the biscuit and cake tins, the higher shelves should be designed to take the multitude of small items which seem to end up in the pantry. Building costs today have made it too expensive to have separate cup-

boards above every wardrobe so It is necessary to position the shelf, or shelving, to suit the access.

For years, we have tended to locate the wardrobe shelf and the clothes rail too high, leaving a great free area down under.

A wardrobe can provide much more storage space if the clothes rail is fitted at 1400 mm from the floor instead of the usual 1650 mm.

This certainly makes better use of the space particularly in a child's wardrobe as more than the usual one shelf can then be fitted at a higher level — Ideal for storing suitcases, blankets, sleeping bags, etc.

The position of each shelf in any cupboard is important — do not leave it to your builder to decide for you as he is not going to live in the house.