Drawers vs. Doors: How to Rethink Kitchen Storage Like a Designer

When it comes to kitchen design, layout tends to steal the spotlight—but ask anyone who’s lived in a poorly designed space, and they’ll tell you: storage can make or break a kitchen.

One of the most common questions we get during remodels is whether drawers or traditional base cabinets are the better choice. And the answer, almost always, is a little of both.

Over the past decade, deep drawers have become a staple in modern kitchen design—and for good reason. Unlike standard cabinets, drawers allow you to see everything at once. You’re not on your hands and knees pulling out half your cookware just to get to the Dutch oven. Full-extension glides, soft-close hardware, and customizable inserts turn what used to be awkward, underutilized space into a seamless part of your workflow.

We often recommend drawers in the cooking and prep zones—especially for pots, pans, mixing bowls, and pantry items. Grouping similar tools together in a wide, deep drawer makes everyday cooking easier and keeps surfaces clear. For clients who spend a lot of time in the kitchen, it’s one of those upgrades that feels small but quickly becomes essential.

But drawers aren’t always the answer.

In some areas—like under the sink or in tight corners—cabinet doors still win out. Tall items like baking sheets, small appliances, or cleaning supplies often store more efficiently behind doors, especially when paired with pull-out trays or vertical dividers. And in spaces where budget is a factor, door-style cabinets are often more cost-effective than heavily customized drawers.

There's also the visual component. Too many drawer banks can make a kitchen feel rhythmically off, especially in more traditional homes. A mix of drawer and door fronts allows us to balance proportion and keep the cabinetry feeling grounded.

The key, as always, is designing for how a client actually lives. We start every kitchen project by asking questions: Where do you prep meals? What’s always on your counter? What do you wish were easier to grab? That level of detail informs how we zone the space and determine which kind of storage belongs where.

We’ve built deep spice drawers next to cooktops with angled inserts that make every label visible at a glance. We’ve installed extra-wide drawers for baking tools under the island, and we’ve tucked simple door cabinets under sinks where plumbing makes drawers impractical. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution—but there is a right answer for each client.

Ultimately, great storage is about more than maximizing square footage. It’s about creating a space that supports your routines, reduces visual clutter, and feels effortless to use. When that’s the goal, the real decision isn’t drawers or doors—it’s knowing when to use each, and why.