What freestanding kitchen storage solutions can my trash bin fit UNDER?

February 25, 2016 8:41 AM

I have a trash bin. I have a recycling bin. They are out in the open in my kitchen. I would like to use the space above these bins for additional storage without drilling anything into my walls. What are my options?

My trash bin lives next to my recycling bin In the space between my fridge and the wall.

I'd like to put a freestanding storage solution above these bins for additional kitchen storage. All of the storage units I've found (even the ones with adjustable shelves!) require a bottom shelf for stability.

I do NOT want a bottom shelf under my bins. I also don't want to build this myself. I'm perfectly happy to buy different trash and recycling bins if I can find a great freestanding shelf that fits the space.

I've got 30 inches of width, 30+ inches of depth and about 6 feet of height to play with.

Current trash bin needs about 39 inches to open. I do not want an unlidded trash bin OR a bin where the top folds down into the trash bag to throw trash out.

Ideally I can find a shelving unit with 39 inch legs with some sort of cross-beam situation at the back for stability.

Help?

posted by waterisfinite to Home & Garden (9 answers total)

I think you could custom design an Elfa free-standing solution. No bottom shelf required. And yes, cross beams across the back for stability.

Link is to pre-designed things, but don't buy those. Sketch out what you want, how high you want shelves to be, the width, total height, etc. Then go into the chat and let one of their design people design it for you and put all the stuff in your cart. I say this because it's not obvious all the parts you need and some of them are left/right specific, depend on whether you have baseboards etc. etc., so rather than get the whole thing and find out your shelf bracket is missing one part, let them do it.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 8:52 AM on February 25, 2016 [3 favorites]

Maybe something designed for over-the-toilet? http://www.wayfair.com/TMS-22.5-x-67.3-Over-the-Toilet-Cabinet-50026WHT-TXR2336.html

I'd be pretty reluctant to install something like that without screwing it into the wall though.
posted by jeffch at 8:53 AM on February 25, 2016

Have you looked at the over toilet solutions?

https://www.google.ca/search?q=over+toilet+storage&biw=1920&bih=955&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi-lt2LsZPLAhWElB4KHWNIA3YQ_AUIBigB


Or a narrow hall table, with something strapped to the top of it (precarious, but workable)
posted by Ftsqg at 8:58 AM on February 25, 2016

Best answer: This is a smaller 30" wide version of the shelving I used in my last kitchen. You can put the shelves where you want and they are stable even if you put the lowest one up pretty high (I used them for a desk hutch for a while too that way).
posted by Lyn Never at 9:09 AM on February 25, 2016 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Lyn Never, that's exactly the kind of storage I was hoping for but didn't think I could adjust as high as I needed!
posted by waterisfinite at 9:22 AM on February 25, 2016

Sure you can. You can also put hanger rails around the sides and back at the bottom to give it more stability while leaving the front open so you can slide the cans out.
posted by bink at 9:41 AM on February 25, 2016 [2 favorites]

Whitmor also makes a similar product.
posted by praemunire at 9:41 AM on February 25, 2016

I had not previously known about those hanger rails, which I would definitely advocate at least on the sides.

Also I am buying some myself because I need precisely that thing for another application!
posted by Lyn Never at 10:21 AM on February 25, 2016

Are you near an Ikea? Their narrowest freestanding Algot is about 26" wide and deep with about 23" between the feet (link is to an example with three posts; you'd only need two), and with the cross-brace installed, you can put shelves fairly high up (see the second picture). Plus they're 20% off until the end of February.
posted by mgar at 10:02 AM on February 26, 2016 [1 favorite]