IKEA's KALLAX Doubled the Storage in My Small Kitchen Without a Renovation – and It Looks Like a Custom Built-In
This was the easy organizing addition that saved me $25,000 and a kitchen redesign, so I'm buying another four
I have a fair amount of floor space in my kitchen-diner, but a limited amount of cabinets. This has left my newly built home in a storage deficit, and the clutter in my kitchen kept piling up, no matter how many times I decluttered.
After learning it would cost at least $25,000 to overhaul and add more kitchen cabinets to suit our needs, I looked for an affordable alternative. I ended up buying an ever-popular IKEA cube storage system, which starts from as little as $34 for a two-cube setup.
I opted for a spacious $129 12-cube KALLAX, and it’s been a game-changer for organizing my kitchen, leaving my cabinets streamlined, every rattan cube satisfyingly tidy, and my most-used cooking essentials easily accessible. I'm buying four more variations for use across my home.
Start with a KALLAX storage base with 2-25 cubes (the 8-cube option is pictured here) and then choose between a host of wooden, rattan, and plastic inserts, dividers, doors, and more. The customization options are endless, allowing you to build exactly what you need for tidying your space without breaking the bank.
What I particularly love about the unit is how easily you can personalize the storage potential to suit your room's exact needs.
My new unit immediately doubled the amount of practical storage space I have in the kitchen, allowed us to declutter heavily-used wall cabinets, and, crucially, made my brilliant non-toxic cookware more accessible for everyday cooking.
The IKEA KALLAX Has Been My Most Useful Kitchen Storage Addition
Here is my 12-cube KALLAX, which I have set up in my kitchen diner as an expanded storage space to take the strain off my cabinets. It's become the most useful addition in this busy area of my home.
I have been working to create a non-toxic home, starting in the kitchen, and cleared out potentially hazardous non-stick pans that were scratched and replaced them with high-end Our Place cookware sets that are non-toxic but heavier than I'd like. I was struggling to get them out of the lower kitchen cabinets where we had previously kept our cookware.
Now they are at shoulder height, on top of my KALLAX, in the included organizers, seen above, and I no longer have to get my husband to get out what I need to use.
Additionally, the kitchen cabinet that had held our cookware previously now has oodles of space. Nothing is stacked vertically or nested inside each other, just to fit. Everything from our Caraway stainless steel mixing bowls and strainer storage sets to Souper Cubes I use weekly to save space in my freezer.
It Was So Easy to Put Together
Moving everyday household essentials such as scissors, packing tape, and coasters into one of the smaller drawer inserts in my KALLAX unit, pictured, has freed up vital space in my cabinets, which kept getting jammed before.
My husband put the unit together in under an hour, and we opted for the IKEA KALLAX base frame to lift it off the ground a few inches. This not only provides extra hidden storage underneath for all those pesky kitchen items such as spare grocery bags and trays, but made the unit feel instantly elevated in style.
The baskets were also easy to put together, and we chipped away at those over the course of a week or two, as there were 14 to put together.
I added a non-toxic BPA-free shelf liner from Amazon to the top for scratch protection from our heavy metal cookware handles, and to make it easy to clean.
Keeping the KALLAX Organized
I have labelled the rattan KALLAX inserts and each has a theme of product, and I've utilized clever organizers on top, such as the one included as pictured with my Our Place pots and pans set.
,To help our household keep the Kallax unit from descending into chaos, I allocated each cube for something in particular and labelled it as such. This helps us all maintain a simple organizing system moving forward.
It also means I no longer spend my days frustrated with mess on countertops that spilled over from jammed cabinets – or the lack of enough shelves to work with. It’s been truly transformative, and now my initial budget for a new kitchen will be put towards our dream forever home.
Investing in a little label maker, available at Walmart, was one of the best things I ever did for organizing my home as it's such a handy item for organization. Most of our rattan cube inserts from IKEA have their own marker to let everyone, including our cleaners, know where to find or put away what they need.
What Shoppers Say
I’m not the only one now to be obsessed with the IKEA bestseller, and planning on bringing four more to organize my small home, which is lacking in storage. IKEA shoppers have loved it for years, keeping it a constantly top-purchased product.
Shoppers have endless uses for theirs, including storing records, crafting items, adding storage across their home, keeping out-of-season clothes, exercise equipment, using it for decluttering home offices, playrooms, kitchens, living rooms, bedrooms, and more.
There is no end to the versatility. Rating it on average 4.6/5 stars, the KALLAX has had thousands of reviews from verified shoppers in the US and across the world.
Alexis recently wrote that it ‘holds the Multiverse,’ and added, ‘The storage unit is uncanny and amazing! I bought it to store my comic omnibus and collected editions and more. Between DC, Marvel, Image, Dark Horse, etc., this thing holds worlds upon worlds between them. The unit is strong and sturdy. Some of these omnibus books are quite heavy, and this unit appears to have no issues holding them. The look and feel exudes confidence and well-built quality. You've got a fine product here! ‘
Sandra reported that the ‘KALLAX versatility is limitless’ and I wholeheartedly agree. She says, ‘The unit is perfect storage for crafts and fabric. Quality is great and easy to put together. Love these shelves.’
Another, Juliana, reported that it’s the third 4x4 KALLAX she has purchased. ‘I purchased the first units 10 years ago to store and organize my heavy paper-based work materials. I bought a second one to store off-season clothes and exercise equipment. I had no problem assembling the Kallax units, and they have held up perfectly despite being heavily loaded.'
The endless five-star reviews go on like this, confirming its durability, usefulness, and how it fits so much in without taking over your space.
What to Shop
Catering your storage to your particular requirements at home is a smart way to help you maintain order moving forward. Here are some useful items I've used in my kitchen project and extra alternatives.
All prices were correct at the time of publication.
I went for this 16-cube unit for our home, which has proven to be incredibly spacious, sturdy, and useful. Inserts sold separately.
We added the matching base legs for the unit, which elevate it both visually and functionally. Make sure you order the correct size relative to your cube unit and its orientation.
I opted mostly for these sturdy rattan inserts for easy pull-out storage. They were incredibly easy to put together and have been very durable so far.
Available in multiple sizes, rolls, and patterns, this non-toxic cabinet and shelf liner is what I have used on top of my KALLAX to prevent cookware handles from scratching the finish. It makes cleaning easy, is non-adhesive, and can be cut to size.
This Amazon storage offering comes with six fabric bins included and two adjustable shelves. Also available in black and wood finishes and in six and eight-cube configurations.
Adding a clever organizing tool can prove to be an excellent stopgap for unruly cabinets and kitchen storage spaces. This one has expandable dimensions to help you make the most of the area you have.
Next, delve into the most stylish storage ideas for your home.
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