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Perhaps the most important feature to look for in a kitchen cabinet is quality of construction.

You've just returned home from a long afternoon at the grocery store, your food budget exhausted and your imagination full of savory plans. Bags filled to the brim with canned goods, pasta, cereal and juice boxes, among other things, line the countertops. You've got everything you need for a wealth of delectable meals—except the space to place your perishables.

You're not alone. Situations like this occur daily in kitchens throughout the country. Cabinet space is often at a premium, due in part to the limited size of many kitchens and the inadequate construction of many cabinets. However, with careful planning (and help from a cabinet dealer or designer), your kitchen cabinets can safely and efficiently handle everything you throw at them.

Perhaps the most important feature to look for in a kitchen cabinet is quality of construction. Well-manufactured cabinets, whether they are stock or custom-made cabinets, maximize storage space simply through their design. For instance, a three-quarter-inch-thick shelf eliminates the possibility of "shelf sag" as well as the need for additional shelf support, which saves installation time and provides unobstructed storage space.

Those hard-to-reach cabinets below the countertop are often a source of frustration for homeowners. Canned goods, storage containers and small appliances, pushed to the back by other items, can be awkward to retrieve from conventional cabinets. Rollout trays or shelves are an easy, affordable solution. Designed in any number of depths and styles, these trays make it easier to access items stored in the back of the cabinet. Durable rolling mechanisms on each shelf allow smooth sliding for years to come.

Cabinet manufacturers also offer special features that hide those unsightly items you need, but don't necessarily want to display. Pull-out cabinets near a sink or pantry, made to blend in with your regular cabinets but with no shelves inside, hide garbage cans and recycling bins while keeping unpleasant odors contained. In the pantry, hinged shelf units on rollers unfold, virtually doubling available storage space.

Storage space in the kitchen is a precious commodity. Pay special attention to planning your cabinet layout, and you'll rarely be caught without room for all your groceries. Who knows—you may be able to shop more the next time around.

Sources: Kraftmaid Cabinetry, Inc.; HomeCrest; Merillat.