Not having enough space is a challenge of most homes. It may be due to the limited size of one's home or the tendency to accumulate possessions along the way without getting rid of the old stuff.

To maximize any living space, be it your bedroom, living room, or kitchen, you need to practice practical storage tips. The cupboard and the kitchen bench are two of your best storage options inside your kitchen. All you need to do is focus on what your needs are and store things according to those needs.

Here are a few tips for maximizing your kitchen cupboard and bench spaces:

1. Segregate items according to how often you use them. Take out items that you hardly use such as seasonal tableware, expensive china and utensils used for special occasions. Wrap fragile pieces in bubble wrap and store them in boxes in your attic, basement or other storage area outside of your kitchen. Look also for items that are not kitchen or food related such as spare bulbs, electric tape, and other knick knacks that you may have stored in your cupboard while you were de-cluttering your kitchen table. Eliminating the things that you don't need in your kitchen gives you more space for the ones you do need to store in your cupboard.
2. If you have a stand-alone or island bench, incorporate storage shelves beneath it. While your kitchen bench may serve as a food preparation area, a breakfast nook, or a mini bar where guests can have drinks, it may also serve as additional storage space if you install shelving units beneath the bench top and facing inwards. These shelves can be used to keep plates, utensils, bowls, glassware and even chilling drawers for beverages that you often serve to your guests. Add pendant lights over your kitchen bench to convert it into an informal dining table.
3. Think vertical. We often view space horizontally and fill it up only from the left to the right. Make full use of the height of your cupboard and bench storage space by using stackable racks, tiered shelf expanders, nesting bowls and square-shaped containers that allow you to arrange items one on top of the other without risk of falling.
4. Use a lazy susan inside cupboards. A lazy susan is a surface rotating device often found on dining tables. A cupboard version is also available which you can use to reach for small jars and bottles of condiments and spices that you normally store in your cupboard. While a lazy susan may be more of a convenience to most, it helps maximise space by allowing you to store things all the way into the back of your cupboard without having to experience difficulty in retrieving them.

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