What Is a Lazy Susan Cabinet?

When space is limited, there are a range of innovative solutions that can help you make the best possible use of the available storage space and get more out of your kitchen or laundry. 

One smart space-saving storage solution that is utilised across the globe is the lazy susan cabinet—but what is a lazy susan cabinet and is it something you should include in your kitchen or laundry design?

Here we fill you in on everything you need to know about the lazy susan cabinet to help you decide if it’s the right storage solution for you.

Key Summary

Lazy susan cabinets incorporate a rotating round or tray-shaped turntable within the cabinet carcass to provide better access to all its contents.

What Is a Lazy Susan Cabinet?

The lazy susan (also known as a dumb waiter) dates back as early as the 1700s and was traditionally used as a stand-alone turntable device which was placed on kitchen tables to allow diners to easily rotate the table to access the various dishes of food. 

Today, modern interpretations of the lazy susan are often integrated into kitchen and other cabinetry in the form of rotating racks or shelves to maximise the available storage space and provide better access to hard-to-reach items stored at the back of the cabinet.

Typically anchored into a fixed position inside pantries or base cabinets, lazy susan cabinets can be particularly useful in tight corner spaces where it can be very difficult to fully utilise all storage space while still ensuring everything is readily accessible.

Where Would You Install a Lazy Susan Cabinet?

While you could choose to install a lazy susan cabinet almost anywhere in your kitchen, laundry or other cabinetry, they are most commonly used in: 

• pantries to provide easy access to groceries
• corner cabinets to store items such as plastic wear, crockery, pots, pans or other items
• other cabinets which can be difficult to access, such as underneath the sink.

They are generally best suited to lower/base cabinets, as access may become difficult if installed above eye level.

What Are the Different Types of Lazy Susans?

There are several types of lazy susan designs to suit different cabinet types.

Round/Full Circle

The most common type of lazy susan, the circular shape of this design allows a complete 360° rotation. Often tiered in their design, they can be utilised in most types of cabinets including pantries, lower, upper and corner cabinets.

Kidney Shape

Mimicking the shape of a kidney, this lazy susan design features a triangular cut-out which makes it ideal for use in L-shaped corner cabinets. While it doesn’t provide the same complete spectrum of storage as a full circle lazy susan, it’s an excellent choice for cabinets with a 90° angle opening which would otherwise make it very difficult to access items stored at the back of the cupboard. 

D-Shape

Assuming the form of the letter D, this lazy susan design is ideally suited to angled corner cabinets, with the flat edge of the turntable able to sit comfortably against the cabinet door when closed, while still offering a full range of motion.

Half Round

This lazy susan design appears in the shape of a semi- or half-circle and is a great solution for notoriously tricky blind corner cabinets. Typically mounted to the cabinet door, the lazy susan automatically pivots out upon opening, providing easy access to the contents of the cabinet.

What Materials Are Lazy Susans Made From?

Lazy susans are available in a variety of materials. Typically constructed from timber, plastic or wire, lazy susans also come in a variety of other materials such as marble or glass which makes it easy to match them to the style of your cabinetry and decor.

What Are the Benefits of Installing a Lazy Susan Cabinet?

Lazy susan cabinets offer a range of benefits, including: 

• Better utilisation of space: A lazy susan helps you squeeze the most out of your cabinetry by allowing you to fully utilise all the available storage space, including deep, hard-to-reach corners which might otherwise be deemed unusable.
• Easy access to items: Unlike standard cabinets where you might need to get down on your hands and knees and shuffle things around to find what you’re after, with a simple rotation of the lazy susan, you can easily see and access all items stored within the cabinet even if they’re stored at the back.
• Maintain better organisation: The ease of access to the storage space makes it easier to keep things neat and organised. Many lazy susan designs can also be used with baskets or dividers to separate its contents and make it even easier to keep things organised.

Renovating Your Kitchen or Laundry? We’d Love to Hear From You!

If you’re planning a kitchen or laundry renovation, make sure you speak to the team of renovation experts at Mint Kitchens Group first.

With more than three decades of experience under our belt, we can help with every aspect of your renovation project from initial concept formulation right through to completion. 

Take a look at some of our previous kitchen renovation or laundry renovation projects, or find your nearest showroom to get an idea of what we can do.

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