When Sydney homeowners plan a kitchen renovation—whether it’s in the apartment blocks of Chatswood, the Federation homes of Haberfield, or the family residences across Pymble and Turramurra—one question pops up again and again:

“Should I combine drawers and cupboards for better storage?”

Short answer? Absolutely yes.
Long answer? Let’s dig in—because the mix of drawers and cupboards can completely reshape how your kitchen feels, functions, and flows.

Why Most Modern Sydney Kitchens Use a Hybrid of Drawers + Cupboards

Every kitchen layout has its quirks. Sydney homes come with everything from narrow terrace-house kitchens in Newtown, to oversized entertainer kitchens in Castle Hill. A single storage style rarely works for all.

Combining drawers and cupboards gives you the best of both worlds:

• Drawers = easy access, zero bending over, perfect for heavy items

• Cupboards = tall storage, large appliances, cost-effective fillers

• Hybrid layouts = better ergonomics, better practical zoning, better resale value

Sydney buyers love kitchens that look clean and work hard behind the scenes. A well-balanced cabinetry plan does exactly that.

The Benefits of Adding Drawers to Your Kitchen

Sydney homeowners increasingly choose deep, full-extension drawers during kitchen renovations because they solve so many old-school cabinet problems. Here’s why drawers are game-changers:

✔ 1. No More ‘Lost at the Back’ Items

In a drawer, even the soy sauce bottle living at the back sees daylight again. Full-extension runners make everything accessible.

✔ 2. Perfect for Heavy Pots, Pans & Appliances

Drawers distribute weight evenly. So your Dutch oven or 20-kg rice bag from Eastwood’s Asian grocer? No problem.

✔ 3. Makes Small Kitchens Feel Larger

Drawers improve storage efficiency by up to 40%, especially in tight terrace-house kitchens in Balmain, Paddington, and Surry Hills.

✔ 4. Ideal for Everyday Zones

Cutlery, utensils, plates, bowls, mixing tools—life gets easier when they slide instead of hide.

The Benefits of Keeping Cupboards in Your Layout

While drawers often get the glory, cupboards still have important jobs—especially in the bigger homes stretching across the North Shore.

✔ 1. Great for Tall, Bulky Items

Think slow cookers, air fryers, blenders, and multipurpose cookers. Cupboards can accommodate taller appliances that drawers cannot.

✔ 2. Cheaper Per Square Metre

Cupboards cost less than drawers because fewer hardware components are needed. This lets you prioritise drawers where they matter most.

✔ 3. Flexible for Corner Designs

Corner cupboards with pull-out systems are ideal for odd spaces common in older Sydney homes—like those quirky post-war houses in Ryde or Gladesville.

✔ 4. Perfect for Pantry Zones

Floor-to-ceiling pantry cupboards create impressive vertical storage that drawers simply can’t provide.

The Ideal Ratio: How Many Drawers vs Cupboards Do Sydney Homes Need?

A practical modern kitchen usually follows one of these balanced combinations:

⭐ Option 1: 70% Drawers + 30% Cupboards (Most Popular for Renovations)

This suits:

• Families

• Entertainers

• Home cooks who need fast access

Common in suburbs like St Ives, Epping, and Baulkham Hills, where larger kitchens deserve full efficiency.

⭐ Option 2: 50% Drawers + 50% Cupboards (Best for Smaller Homes)

This suits:

• Units and apartments

• Compact terrace houses

• Tight kitchen footprints

Popular in areas like Bondi, Neutral Bay, Eastwood, and Burwood.

⭐ Option 3: 80% Drawers + Minimal Cupboards (Premium Modern Look)

This suits:

• High-end custom kitchens

• Minimalist or ultra-contemporary designs

• Large open-plan spaces

Seen in luxury renovations in Mosman, Vaucluse, and Woollahra where design takes centre stage.

Best Drawer Types for Sydney Kitchen Renovations

Not all drawers are created equal. Here’s what performs best in Sydney’s kitchen designs:

✔ 1. Deep Pot Drawers

Perfect for pots, pans, baking trays, chopping boards and appliances.

✔ 2. Mid-Depth Utility Drawers

For plates, bowls, lunch boxes, containers and meal-prep essentials.

✔ 3. Top-Level Shallow Drawers

Your go-to spot for cutlery, spices, wraps, foils and utensils.

✔ 4. Internal Drawers Behind Cupboard Doors

A great trick when you want sleek aesthetics but high functionality.

Best Places to Put Cupboards in a Mixed-Storage Kitchen

Kitchen designers in Sydney often recommend cupboards in these zones:

✔ 1. Under the Sink

Plumbing eats drawer space—cupboards work better and keep costs down.

✔ 2. Above-Bench Wall Cabinets

Great for cups, spices, and lightweight items.

✔ 3. Pantry Walls

Cupboards allow tall shelves, adjustable heights, and bulk storage.

✔ 4. Corner Sections

Corner swing-outs, carousels, and lift-up shelves make these oddly shaped spaces functional without overpaying on drawer systems.

What About Small Kitchens—Does a Combination Still Work?

Absolutely. In fact, smaller kitchens need a hybrid system even more.

For example:
In inner-city suburbs like Newtown, Redfern, and Waterloo, where kitchens are narrow and every centimetre counts, designers often recommend:

• Deep drawers for pots, pans, and plates

• Cupboards above the bench for lighter items

• A slim pantry cupboard to maximise vertical height

The mix keeps things organised without crowding the space.

How MB9 Designs the Perfect Mix for Your Home

MB9 Australia works on kitchens across the entire Sydney region—from the leafy north to the coastal east to the busy inner-west. We create storage layouts based on:

✔ The size and shape of your kitchen

✔ How your family cooks and eats

✔ Whether you entertain often

✔ The style of home (Federation, modern, terrace, apartment…)

✔ Your budget

✔ Your must-have appliances

✔ Your long-term lifestyle plans

Some clients want a drawer for every plate. Some want everything hidden. Some want a hybrid pantry-drawer system. Some want a minimalist Scandinavian layout.

There’s no one-size-fits-all.
There’s only the system that fits your home, your habits, and your renovation goals.

Practical Real-World Examples From Recent Sydney Projects

🔧 Turramurra – Single Level Home Addition & Kitchen Upgrade

We used:

• 3 banks of deep pot drawers

• A full-height pantry cupboard

• Overhead cupboards with LED strip lighting
  The clients wanted a calm, organised space with maximum efficiency for a busy family.

🧱 Newtown – Terrace House with Compact Kitchen

Space was tight, so we used:

• 70% drawers

• Overhead cupboards

• One tall appliance cupboard
  This dramatically increased usable storage without compromising walkway width.

🌊 Hurstville – Family Home Renovation

The kitchen needed to support multi-generational cooking.
We used a mix of:

• Drawers for heavy cookware

• Cupboards for tall pantry items

• A hybrid island with drawer banks on both sides

The result was a kitchen that felt spacious, intuitive and easy for everyone to use.

How to Decide Your Drawer-to-Cupboard Layout

Ask yourself these questions:

❓ Do you cook often or mainly reheat?

❓ Do you use large countertop appliances?

❓ Do you buy in bulk or shop weekly?

❓ Do you want everything hidden or everything accessible?

❓ Is your kitchen large, narrow, or part of an open-plan layout?

❓ Do you want your storage to grow with children or future renovations?

Your answers guide us to the perfect blend.

Final Thoughts

Yes—you absolutely can combine drawers and cupboards.
Not only can you, but most Sydney homes should. A mixed cabinetry layout gives you the flexibility, efficiency, and practicality that modern living demands.

Every suburb, every home type, and every cooking style benefits from a slightly different configuration. The right blend transforms your kitchen from “looks good” to “lives brilliantly.”

For more ideas and to explore kitchen renovation or bathroom renovation services from MB9 Australia Pty Ltd, visit www.mb9.com.au.