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Hidden Kitchen Storage: How to Make a Tip-Out Drawer

Jimmy Graham

By Jimmy Graham
Updated July 25, 2023

The kitchen is a busy place, and it doesn't take much to turn it into a big mess. To add some hidden storage space and keep things organized, we'll show you how to create a false-front tip-out drawer.

Skill

Beginner

Time

Few Hours

Tools and Materials

Tools

Materials

Note

Product costs, availability and item numbers may vary online or by market.

Why Should I Add a Tip-Out Drawer?

A tip-out storage drawer with kitchen sponges.

It used to be that kitchen counters and the kitchen sink area were a catch-all for soap, sponges, brushes and other kitchen necessities. This clutter made people look for new kitchen storage ideas. Inventive home owners and kitchen cabinet makers realized that there were a couple of panels that were just for decoration, a false front covering an area that was thought to be too small for any real purpose. A clever invention known as a tip-out tray became a solution for clearing away clutter and being a kitchen space saver.

If your kitchen or bath has one of these false fronts, it’s easy to see if you can fit a tip-out tray in the space. Look at the back of the panel and see how it is secured, usually with a clip or bracket. Remove that and the panel should easily come off. Make sure you don’t try and force the panel away from the cabinet to avoid any possible damage. 

Measure the height and width of the opening, along with the space from the back of the cabinet to the front of the sink. These measurements will guide you as to the proper size tray to purchase for installation.

Install the Tip-Out Tray

A tip-out tray kit.

The easiest way to do this project is with a kit. The kit has everything you'll need including tip-out hinges, tray and all the necessary hardware.

Instructions

A woman opening a tip-out tray in front of a sink.

Now you have a working tip-out tray that will help to keep your kitchen looking a little more organized.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions on tip-out trays.

What is a tip-out tray?

Tip-out trays are a hidden kitchen storage idea that takes advantage of small false cabinet fronts below the kitchen sink and above the cabinet doors. They are advantageous for storing small kitchen items and keeping the counter and sink area clear of clutter.

What are tip-out trays used for?

Tip-out trays are used to store and hide common kitchen and bathroom items like scrub and bottle brushes, sponges, dish cloths, and drain stoppers.

What do you put in a tip-out tray?

When used in the kitchen, tip-out trays can hold a variety of things for use around the sink, like sponges, brushes, sink strainers and drain stoppers. For the bathroom, you can place combs, hair brushes and clips, toothpaste, or just about anything else that you may need to be handy. The only limits on storing items is making sure they fit properly in the tray.