Planning drawer sizes sounds simple… until you realise your cutlery, spatulas, tongs, rolling pin, garlic crusher, air-fryer accessories and that mysterious “just in case” kitchen gadget all want a home of their own. Sydney kitchens—whether in Chatswood apartments, Turramurra family homes, or Stanmore terraces—tend to demand smarter storage because space is precious and traffic flow is constant.

The trick isn’t just “buy drawers”.
The trick is designing drawers that match the way you cook, clean, entertain, and live.

Let’s break down exactly how to plan drawer sizes properly, so your kitchen feels custom-made, calm, and ridiculously practical.

Why Drawer Planning Matters in Sydney Kitchens

Sydney homes come in all shapes and sizes—and some shapes are downright creative (“quirky”, as real-estate agents politely say). That means every centimetre counts. Unlike cabinets, drawers let you store things in a single layer, not stacked like Tetris. If the internal layout is wrong, you’ll be opening five drawers just to find the scissors.

Proper planning solves:

• Cluttered benchtops

• Overloaded cutlery drawers

• Tools jammed diagonally because the drawer is too short

• Wasted deep drawers with no dividers

• No space for tall utensils (ladles, whisks, BBQ tools)

• Poor workflow between prep, cook, clean zones

When designed well, drawers become the quiet heroes of your kitchen—smooth, organised, and efficient.

1. Start With Zones: Where Should Each Drawer Live?

Before talking sizes, you need to decide what goes where.

Sydney kitchens—especially those in inner-west terraces like Newtown or Redfern—benefit hugely from zoned layouts because space is limited.

A. Prep Zone → Cutlery & Everyday Tools

Keep these near the:

• Main prep area

• Pantry

• Island seating (if you eat breakfast here)

B. Cooking Zone → Large Utensils & Tools

Place near:

• Cooktop

• Oven towers

• Spice drawers

• Pot drawers

C. Cleaning Zone → Secondary Items

Perfect for:

• Dishwashing tablets

• Tea towels

• Kitchen foil

• Plastic wraps

• Reusable containers

When you know your zones, you know the types of drawers required.

2. Ideal Sizes for Cutlery, Utensils, and Tools

Here’s the practical, real-life part—actual measurements.

A. Standard Cutlery Drawers

These are usually 450mm to 600mm wide, with a height of 90–150mm.

Why this size works:

• It fits cutlery trays

• Easy to divide into sections

• Still shallow enough that items cannot stack and hide from you

In kitchens across Ryde, Burwood, and Artarmon, this is the most requested drawer type.

B. Utensil Drawers (Medium-Depth)

These hold spatulas, tongs, peelers, mashers, ladles—everything too tall for shallow drawers.

Recommended size:

• Width: 600–900mm

• Height: 150–250mm

Tips:

• Use adjustable dividers to keep things from piling up

• Check your longest utensil (BBQ tongs can be surprisingly long!)

• For open-plan kitchens in Pymble or Wahroonga, wider drawers help you keep clutter hidden

C. Deep Drawers for Bulky Kitchen Tools

This is for rolling pins, measuring jugs, food processor accessories, lunch boxes and all the chunky items you swear you use “at least once a year”.

Recommended size:

• Width: 800–1200mm

• Height: 250–350mm

Deep drawers are lifesavers in modern kitchen renovations across Hornsby, Lane Cove, and Epping, where families need easy access to kids’ lunch boxes and meal-prep tools.

3. Measure Your Items Before Finalising Drawer Heights

Here’s a professional renovator’s secret:
Bring your most-used utensils to the design appointment.

Sounds dramatic, but it works.

Why?

Because no cutlery insert manufacturer has ever met your favourite rice ladle, your grandmother’s wooden spoon or the giant whisk you panic-bought during lockdown.

Measure these before choosing drawer heights:

• Longest tongs

• Ladles

• Whisks

• Rolling pins

• Baking accessories

• Knives (if storing in a drawer block)

A 150mm drawer sounds “standard” until you try closing it over a spoon handle that’s 160mm tall.

4. Drawer Inserts and Organisers: The Real Game Changers

Drawer planning isn’t only about the box—it’s about what goes inside that box.

Top inserts for Sydney homes include:

A. Adjustable Bamboo or Timber Dividers

Perfect for clients in Willoughby and Lindfield who prefer a natural, high-end look.

B. Expandable Cutlery Trays

Because no one’s cutlery collection matches their drawer exactly.

C. Knife Inserts (Timber Blocks)

A safer alternative to benchtop knife blocks—especially in family homes.

D. Deep Drawer Peg Systems

Keeps pots, plates, and containers upright.

E. Anti-Slip Mats

Stops your utensils from sliding around like they’re on a roller coaster every time you open the drawer.

The goal of organisers is simple:
Everything has a home—and stays there.

5. Avoid These Common Drawer Planning Mistakes

These issues appear again and again in kitchens across Sydney:

Mistake 1: Too Many Shallow Drawers

You’ll quickly run out of space for mixing bowls and tools.

Mistake 2: One Giant Drawer for “Everything”

This becomes a junk pit within two weeks—guaranteed.

Mistake 3: No Plan for Benchtop Appliances

Air fryers, blenders, and mixers need a deep space; plan this early.

Mistake 4: Placing Cutlery Drawers Too Far From the Dishwasher

This adds 30 unnecessary steps every day. Multiply that by 365 days…

Mistake 5: Forgetting the Kids

If you want children to access plates or lunch boxes, put them in lower drawers.

6. Drawer Layout Examples for Different Sydney Home Types

A. Small Apartments (Chatswood, Macquarie Park, Parramatta)

• 1 cutlery drawer

• 1 medium utensil drawer

• 1 deep drawer for tools/appliances

• 1 multi-purpose drawer for wraps/foil/tea towels

B. Terraces and Semis (Newtown, Balmain, Paddington)

• Maximise widths (700–900mm)

• Use multi-level drawer inserts

• Deep drawers for pantry-style storage

C. Large Family Homes (Turramurra, St Ives, Killara)

• Dedicated cooking utensil drawers

• Knife drawer block

• Container organisation drawers

• Two-tier cutlery drawers

• Extra-deep drawers near cooktop for pots/pans

Each home type benefits from a slightly different drawer strategy, and renovation success comes from tailoring the layout, not copying a standard plan.

7. Final Checklist Before You Approve Your Cabinetry Plan

Use this quick checklist:

✔ Do I know where each drawer zone is located?
✔ Are my drawers wide enough to avoid clutter?
✔ Do I have at least one deep drawer for tall/awkward items?
✔ Have I measured my longest utensil?
✔ Are my drawers close to the dishwasher, cooktop and prep areas?
✔ Do I have inserts planned for every shallow and medium drawer?
✔ Does my layout match how I cook daily?

If you can tick all of these, your drawer planning is on the right track.

Conclusion

Planning drawer sizes for cutlery, utensils, and kitchen tools is a crucial part of creating a functional, efficient, and family-friendly kitchen—especially in Sydney, where space, lifestyle, and cooking habits vary from suburb to suburb. Whether you’re working with the tight footprint of an Eastern Suburbs apartment or a spacious North Shore renovation, thoughtful drawer layout transforms your kitchen from “okay” to “wow, this actually works”.

For tailored kitchen renovation and cabinetry solutions across Sydney—including detailed storage planning designed around how you cook—visit www.mb9.com.au to learn more about kitchen renovation and bathroom renovation services from MB9 Australia Pty Ltd.