Toe kicks are one of the most neglected and underrated aspects of a kitchen layout. Learn about them here to elevate the aesthetics of your kitchen conveniently with these unique cabinet toe kick ideas for your kitchen.
What is A Cabinet Toe Kick?
As the name suggests, a cabinet toe kick is the space beneath the cabinet to rest your toes comfortably without having to lean on the countertop. It serves an ergonomic purpose to ensure the right posture especially when washing dishes.
The potential of cabinet toe kick is latent to an extent that people tend to hide it behind the color of the cabinets. This practical feature can be utilized to further unveil a range of surprising vistas.
Here is a list of cabinet toe kick ideas to boost the functionality and aesthetic appeal of your kitchen:
1. Toe Kick Lighting
Installing lights on the toe kick is a game-changing move for multiple reasons.
Trendy and Unique
Why go with old-fashioned style of placing the lights on the cabinet when there is something more elusive available? The out of the box approach will give your kitchen a modish look. Be it classic, eclectic, cottage or French country kitchen design, the toe kick lighting will complement all sorts.
Eye Comfort Light Position
Light ergonomics suggests that appropriate lighting avert headache, fatigue, and visibility issues. The toe kick lighting is positioned below eye level that prevents light glaring directly into the eyes. This petty move can save your eyes an incredible amount of strain especially when working long sessions in the kitchen.
Provides Subtle Brightness
Finding the right balance between brightness and comfort in lighting is as delicate as achieving the right temperature of water in shower. The toe kick lighting is an ideal option to glow up the kitchen just perfectly enough. Moreover, you can work at any corner of the kitchen since the cabinets usually cover the entire kitchen, and so will the light!
Color Changing LED Strips
Colors have the power to change the character of the room in a blink. A LED light panel can cling underneath cabinets and connects into the wall to work as a toe kick lighting. Connect it with your phone to set the color as per your mood with a single tap. You can also personalize the look by installing lights on each cabinet differently. Walk another mile to attach motion sensors to light up the LEDs for a royal welcome in your kitchen.
2. Toe Kick Material
There are several factors to consider when deciding the toe kick material for your kitchen. It is important to pick a material that will reflect the existing theme if you are planning to upgrade the toe kicks only. On the other hand, if you are building it from scratch then your budget is something to take into account.
Here are some common options with pros and cons to help you decide which material suits you best.
Wood
Wood is the oldest and most reliable option for toe kicks that is still in fashion. Maple, oak, alder, mahogany, etc are common types of wood used to make cabinet toe kicks. The polished wood is then laminated with plywood of your desired design, color and pattern.
Shims are used to smooth the surface at joints and fill the gaps. They are also usually made of plywood, cedar or the type of wood that is used to make the cabinets.
The polished oak border can add great dimension and character to your kitchen by beautifully outlining the front .One can also play around different shades of dark wood that offers a tasteful look with a contemporary touch.
Wood is an affordable option for toe kicks that can be painted over time to look as good as new. However, moisture can cause the wood to warp in the long run.
Brass
If you are looking for a material that can bear the harshness of the weather, rough use, and low maintenance then brass is your best match. Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc famous for its susceptible and corrosion resistive nature. The malleable property of brass allows precise cutting and easy installation as well.
The base of solid brass can be matte finished with gold, silver or copper to go hand-in-hand with the style of your kitchen. It is a godsend material with a potential to uplift your kitchen look with a sleek finish that will reflect with the chrome appliances in the kitchen like fridge and oven.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is a perfect option if you want your toe kick to last long even with some mishandling by a buzzing household. The material is corrosion resistant, environment friendly, tough and low maintenance. It offers an appealing look in an affordable price range.
3. Toe Kick Step Stool
The neglected space beneath the cabinets can now be used to help short people reach the wall cabinets without standing on tiptoes. Instead of keeping a stool in the kitchen all the time to open the top drawer, one can now simply have a sliding platform in the toe kick space.
No more need to rely on a tall person or an oversized stool to access the handle of the wall cabinets. Just simply draw the platform out, hop on it and live life with one less thing to worry about.
4. Toe Kick Sliding Drawers
Utilize every inch smartly and you will never complain about inadequate space ever! You will be surprised to know the amount of space people waste by keeping their toe kick area static.
The first step to smart organization is to install hidden sliding drawers to your kitchen cabinet toe kick. The height of those drawers will limit the items you want to store in it. So here are some ideas of how to utilize that space:
Pet Food
It is a great idea to dedicate a portion of your toe kick drawer as a one-stop station for your pet. Incorporate a sliding food and drink station that can be pushed inside when not in use to save space and prevent mess. The drawer can be customized to make it a storage facility to keep accessories like first aid kit, collars, treats, and toys.
Junk Drawer
A shortcut to escape from misery is always welcomed. How about a place which you can stuff with all the mess around you because no one will access it anytime soon? This is why toe kick drawers exist! Be it clothes, books, toys, tools or accessories, just slide them inside the cove and the world will remember you as a great organizer.
Flatware Storage
Talking about the kitchen, the first right to the drawers belongs to the utensils and flatwares. The horizontal storage capacity of cabinet toe kick is a perfect spot for pans and flatwares. It can also be used to store spoons, knives, dishes, cutting boards and other kitchen equipment.
5. Toe Kick Heaters And Vents
The goodness of a kitchen is measured by the effectiveness of its ventilation system. The regular ventilation grill of the house is often blocked by the cabinets. Same goes for the heating system in winters where heat needs to get into the room.
There are several short-lived solutions like making a hole and covering it up with a plate after use to keep it clean. This method is inefficient as it heats up the inside of the cabinets that can deteriorate the wood quality over time.
Here is another kitchen cabinet toe kick idea that can save you from this pain in the neck. Installing a duct in the space beneath cabinets keeps the look intact and fixes the ventilation problems. The hot air is channeled out where you need it via a small duct that links the heating vent to the escape point.
Frequently asked Questions
What are the best materials for kitchen cabinet toe kick?
Wood: Most popular toe kick material with a great aesthetic appeal and range of options.
Brass: Corrosion-resistant and durable toe option with a gold matte finish.
Stainless Steel: Affordable, long-lasting and exquisite look.
What are The kitchen cabinet toe kick ideas?
- Install LED strip bordering the toe kick with color-changing option and motion sensor switch.
- Select from toe kick material options i.e. wood, brass and stainless steel to suit your kitchen style.
- A sliding stool installed in the cabinet toe kick to help short people access top most cabinets.
- Build sliding drawers for storage or pet food.
- Install duct to ensure seamless ventilation.
What is the ideal height of a kitchen cabinet toe kick?
4 inches – The ideal height of a kitchen cabinet toe kick is 4 inches. This height perfectly accommodates the feet and leaves enough space to bring the toe kick space in practical use e.g. installing drawers or building a vent system.
What are the ideal kitchen cabinet toe kick dimensions?
The ergonomic requirements suggest that a kitchen cabinet toe kick should be 4 inches in height and 3.5 inches in depth.
