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Get More From Your Kitchen Cabinets With Pull Out Shelves

Tired of crouching down and straining to reach the back of your kitchen cabinets? Are you constantly rearranging items trying to find what you need? Installing pull out shelves can revolutionize the way you use your kitchen cabinets, providing easier access and maximizing your storage space.

Pull out shelves roll out smoothly, bringing hard to reach items right to you. No more messing up your freshly cleaned kitchen digging for pots, pans, and food items buried in the back of cabinets. Pull outs let you instantly see everything you have stored away, keeping kitchens neat and organized.

kitchen cabinets with pull out shelves

Problems with Traditional Kitchen Cabinets

Standard kitchen cabinetry certainly looks nice, but often falls short on practical storage and accessibility:

Having to get down on your hands and knees to dig around deep cabinet spaces is rough on your knees and back. Even at full height, reaching into the rear of cabinets strains your shoulders. You end up shuffling and rearranging items trying to bring things closer - which just makes more of a mess.

Benefits of Installing Pull Out Shelves

Pull out shelves solve traditional cabinet storage problems, offering a wide range of benefits:

Pull outs glide smoothly on metal tracks bringing everything in the cabinet within easy reach. Ball-bearing slides allow drawers to extend fully so you can access the entire depth of the cabinet.

You can also fully adjust shelf spacing to maximize usable height. Custom sizing provides a perfect fit for oddly shaped cabinets and corners.

Maximize Cabinet Storage

Pull out shelves let you efficiently use all the existing space in your kitchen cabinets. Strategic organization keeps like items together and prevents "black hole" areas where things get lost.

For example, designate pull outs for plates and bowls, spices, baking pans, or breakfast foods. Everything has a place keeping your most-used items conveniently at hand.

Reduce Strain and Effort

Reaching high, bending down, and digging to the back of cabinets is hard on your body. Pull out shelves bring everything in your cabinets out to you with simple drawer motion.

Cabinet accessibility and visibility reduce strain for all ages and mobility levels. You spend less time searching and rearranging and more time cooking and enjoying your kitchen.

Types of Pull Out Shelves

Today's pull out shelves feature high-quality materials and smooth gliding actions. Popular options include:

Choose from a variety of heights like 3 or 5 inches for shallower cabinets, all the way up to 30 inches for deep pantry pull outs. Widths range from narrow 9 inch spice racks to several feet wide pantries. Pull outs come in standard cabinet depths like 24 inches but can be customized if needed.

Full Extension Drawer Slides

Look for pull outs that use full extension slides rated for at least 75-100 lbs. Full extension means you can pull the shelf all the way out until the slides stop. This gives you complete access to the entire depth of the cabinet.

Slides use ball bearings or rollers so pull outs glide smoothly without jamming. Quality full extension hardware makes shelves feel almost weightless.

Soft-Close Mechanisms

Soft-close is a great option if you have heavy pull outs or tend to slam things. Instead of loudly slamming shut, the drawer gently glides to a smooth, silent close.

Small dampers on the slide hardware slow the speed before closing. This prevents jarring motion and damage to contents from an abrupt stop.

How To Install Pull Out Shelving

Putting in pull out shelves is a relatively simple DIY project. Follow these basic steps:

  1. Measure your cabinet interior dimensions
  2. Select a pull out system sized to fit
  3. Attach slide rails securely to cabinet sides
  4. Mount the pull out shelving onto the slides
  5. Test operation and make any needed adjustments

The key is taking accurate measurements so your new shelves fit correctly. Most systems use a simple clip system to attach the shelves to pre-assembled slide rails inside the cabinet.

Measuring Your Cabinets

Pull out shelves come in many standard widths and depths, but you'll get the best fit by measuring your actual cabinet interiors. Note the height, width, and depth of each area you intend to install shelves.

Also account for any obstructions like pipes, brackets, or braces when measuring. These may require notching shelves for clearance.

Installing the Slides and Shelves

Start by fastening the slide rails vertically to the inside left and right sides of the cabinet. Use screws included with the hardware through pre-drilled holes. Mount slides level and square.

Next, set the pull out shelf onto the slides, slipping built-in clips or tabs into the slide channel. For frameless cabinetry, slide mounting brackets hold the system in place.

Test operation, and make any adjustments needed to alignment. For touch-latch systems, adjust the latch location for smooth closure.

Solutions for Common Cabinet Types

Pull out shelves adapt well to many cabinet configurations and storage needs around the kitchen:

Base Cabinets

Great for pans, canned goods, or appliance storage. Just be sure to allow for plumbing or electrical.

Wall Cabinets

Upper cabinets benefit from pull outs to avoid unsafe climbing. Great for dishes, glasses, mixers, etc.

Corner Cabinets

Utilize wasted space with diagonal corner pull outs. Round designs save even more space.

Lazy Susans

A pull out tray replaces spinning shelves for ease of access in corner cabinetry.

Trash and Recycling

Pull out bins make taking out the trash clean and simple. Custom sorters available too.

Cost of Pull Out Shelves

The price of pull out shelves depends on size, materials, and features. Expect to pay:

Of course, you can save substantially doing a DIY kitchen installation instead of hiring a professional. While a bit pricier upfront, quality pull outs greatly increase cabinet convenience and storage space for years to come.

Pull out shelves aren't the cheapest upgrade, but provide ongoing value over their lifespan. The accessibility and organization lead to an easier, more functional kitchen. You may even get more life from existing cabinetry before undertaking a full remodel.