The Curse of the Corner Cabinet

As a self-proclaimed kitchen organization enthusiast, I’ve tackled some pretty tricky storage dilemmas in my day. But the one that has consistently stumped and frustrated me over the years? You guessed it – the dreaded blind corner cabinet.

You know the one I’m talking about. That deep, dark abyss where kitchen gadgets and bakeware go to disappear, never to be seen again until you embark on an Indiana Jones-style expedition, scraping and clawing your way to the very back in search of your elusive Dutch oven.

As one reader eloquently described, it’s the cabinet “you can reach into but then have to practically crawl into to get to everything you’ve stuffed into the corner of it.” An absolute nightmare, if you ask me.

I mean, seriously, who designs these things? Was there some sort of diabolical plot by early kitchen cabinet manufacturers to drive homeowners mad? Because that’s precisely what they’ve achieved.

Lazy Susan to the Rescue?

Now, I know what you’re thinking – “But Annie, isn’t a lazy susan the answer to all my corner cabinet woes?” And you’re not wrong. The trusty rotating disk has certainly helped countless kitchen owners regain control of their dark corner domains.

As one enthusiastic commenter shared, “I changed both my blind corner cabinets into lazy susans. Best decision I ever made!” That sounds promising, doesn’t it?

Well, not so fast. While the lazy susan can be a game-changer for some, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. As I’ve learned from personal experience and reader feedback, the classic lazy susan with a center pole can create its own set of problems. Spinning shelves that send contents flying, collapsing shelves, and jammed mechanisms – the struggle is real, my friends.

Thinking Outside the (Corner) Box

So, if the lazy susan isn’t the magical panacea we’ve all been hoping for, what’s a corner cabinet-afflicted homeowner to do? Well, my friends, it’s time to get creative.

As I’ve outlined in a previous post, there are a variety of strategies you can employ to tame the beast that is the blind corner cabinet. From carefully curating your cabinet contents to exploring custom cabinetry solutions, the possibilities are endless.

One of my personal favorite ideas? Battery-operated stick-on tap lights. Why didn’t I think of that sooner? No more fumbling in the dark abyss – just a simple little light to guide your way.

But what if you’re renting and can’t make any major modifications? Fear not, my friends, I’ve got your back. Savingthefamilymoney.com has a genius DIY solution that doesn’t require any permanent changes to your cabinets. Think slide-out trays and baskets – game-changers for the most stubborn of corner cabinets.

Tackling the Upper Corner Calamity

Ah, but we’ve only scratched the surface. Because as if the lower corner cabinet wasn’t challenging enough, there’s a whole other layer of frustration to contend with – the upper corner cabinet.

As I’ve explored in a dedicated post on the topic, these high-up havens of lost treasures can be even more maddening than their lower counterparts. I mean, who decided it was a good idea to put a cabinet all the way up there, where only the tallest among us have a prayer of accessing it?

But fear not, I’ve cooked up some creative solutions for these upper-level offenders as well. From corner organizers to custom shelving, there are ways to make even the most inaccessible cabinets work for you.

Embrace the Unconventional

You see, the key to conquering those stubborn corner cabinets is to think outside the box – or rather, outside the corner. Forget everything you’ve been told about how those spaces “should” be used and instead, ask yourself, “What do I really need here?”

Maybe it’s a wine rack. Or a rotary recycling center. As one savvy reader suggested, you could even hang pans by their handles, freeing up valuable real estate elsewhere in your kitchen.

The point is, the corner cabinet is yours to command. So, take a good hard look at your space, get creative, and watch as that once-dreaded cabinet transforms into a storage oasis.

A Cabinet Transformation Journey

And speaking of transformation, let me tell you about my own personal corner cabinet odyssey. It all started when I moved into my current home, with its delightfully deep and dark lower corner cabinets.

At first, I was tempted to just resign myself to their cluttered fate, resigning myself to the fact that I’d forever be a slave to their insatiable storage demands. But then I remembered my mantra: “There’s always a solution if you think creatively enough.”

So, I got to work. I purged, I organized, I experimented. And you know what? Just like that enthusiastic commenter, I ended up converting both of my lower corner cabinets to lazy susans. And let me tell you, the difference is night and day.

Now, instead of a black hole of clutter, I have two beautifully organized, easily accessible storage zones. Gone are the days of excavating for my slow cooker or rummaging for a random serving tray. Everything has its place, and I can spin that sucker around to find it in a matter of seconds.

SofaSpectacular may be in the business of crafting stunning custom sofas, but let me tell you, they’ve got nothing on the transformation I’ve achieved in my kitchen cabinets. It’s a whole new world of storage bliss, my friends.

Unleash Your Cabinet Creativity

So, there you have it – my hard-earned wisdom on conquering the corner cabinet conundrum. From lazy susans to custom shelving, there are so many ways to transform those pesky problem areas into storage powerhouses.

The key is to approach it with an open mind and a healthy dose of creativity. Forget the “rules” and focus on what works best for your specific space and needs. Because at the end of the day, your kitchen is your domain, and you deserve to enjoy every inch of it – even the challenging corners.

So, what are you waiting for? Grab a screwdriver, a tape measure, and your most innovative thinking cap, and get to work on those corner cabinets. Trust me, the payoff will be more than worth it. Happy organizing!