Kitchen Base Cabinets: A Simple Guide for DIY Kitchens
As the Head of Purchasing at Ross’s Discount Home Centre, and someone who has renovated more kitchens than I care to count, I can tell you this straight up: kitchen base cabinets are the foundation of any kitchen. Get this right, and the rest of the kitchen usually falls into place. Get them wrong, and even the nicest benchtop won’t save you.
I see it every week. Customers come in focused on doors, colours, or handles, but once we talk layout, they quickly realise the bottom cabinets do all the heavy lifting. Your sink, your drawers, your bins, your appliances — they all live in your kitchen base cabinets. They control how you move, cook, clean, and store things day to day.
The good news is this: choosing the right base kitchen cabinets doesn’t need to be hard. With a bit of common sense and a clear idea of how you use your kitchen, a DIY kitchen can be practical, affordable, and easy to install. That’s exactly what this guide is here to help with — keeping things simple, so you can get on with the job and enjoy the result.
What Are Kitchen Base Cabinets?
Put simply, kitchen base cabinets are the cabinets that sit on the floor and run along the base of your kitchen. You’ll also hear them called kitchen base cupboards, bottom cabinets, or lower cabinets. These are the units that everything else relies on.
They sit directly under your benchtop and support the most important parts of the kitchen — your sink, cooktop, drawers, bins, and appliances. If you imagine stripping a kitchen back to its bones, the base cabinets are what’s left holding it all together. That’s why I always say they’re the true foundation of a kitchen.
From a practical point of view, base cabinets provide the bulk of your under-bench storage. This is where everyday items live — pots, pans, plates, cleaning products, and food prep tools. The height is standard across most kitchens, keeping benchtops at a comfortable working level and making planning your layout much easier.
For DIYers, this is where preassembled base units really shine. Instead of wrestling with flatpacks, preassembled kitchen base cabinets arrive ready to install. I’ve used them in my own renovations, and I’ve watched countless customers do the same. It saves time, reduces mistakes, and makes the whole job far less stressful — especially if this is your first DIY kitchen.
Types of Kitchen Base Cabinets (And What They’re Used For)
This is where most DIY kitchens are won or lost. Choosing the right type of kitchen base cabinet matters just as much as choosing the right size. Over the years, I’ve seen plenty of kitchens that looked great on paper, but once they were in use, they just didn’t work. With the doors closed, most kitchens look the same. It’s the cabinet layout and internal function that turn a good-looking kitchen into one that actually works day to day.
The aim here is simple — match the cabinet to how it’s actually used. Keep it practical, and the kitchen will work hard for you every day.
Single & Double Door Base Cabinets
Single and double door units are the most common kitchen base cupboards you’ll find in any kitchen. These are your classic bottom cabinets, and they form the backbone of most layouts.
They’re used under benches and sinks and are ideal for everyday storage. Cleaning products, large pots, plates, dishes, and small appliances — anything that doesn’t need constant access usually ends up here. Under the sink, these cabinets work well because they easily accommodate plumbing.
To suit different layouts, the most popular options tend to be standard widths like the 60cm Double Door Base Cabinet and 90cm Double Door Base Cabinet, along with narrower units such as the 45cm Base Cabinet and 40cm Base Cabinet for filling tighter spaces.
These cabinets are popular because they’re simple, affordable, and versatile. They suit just about any kitchen style and are often the easiest place to save money without sacrificing function. If you’re working to a budget or keeping things straightforward, single and double door base cabinets are a solid, no-fuss choice that does exactly what it should.
Base Cabinets with Drawers
If there’s one upgrade I almost always recommend, it’s base cabinets with drawers. Compared to standard base cabinets, which feature shelves behind the doors, drawers give you far better access and make everyday use much easier. You can see everything at a glance, and nothing gets lost at the back of the cabinet.
Base kitchen cabinets with drawers are ideal for pots, pans, utensils, and even pantry items. With the addition of a simple cutlery tray, they also become the perfect place to store cutlery, so it’s easy to access and keep organised.
Instead of bending down and digging through a cupboard, you simply pull the drawer out, and everything comes to you. For anyone who cooks regularly, this makes a noticeable difference to how comfortable and efficient the kitchen feels.
To suit different layouts, we offer a range of drawer options — from narrower units like the 45cm 4 Drawer Base Cabinet, through to popular mid-size choices such as the 60cm 3 Drawer Base Cabinet, and wider storage options like the 80cm 2 Drawer Base Cabinet and 80cm 3 Drawer Base Cabinet. This makes it easy to match drawer storage to your space without overthinking it.
Kitchen drawers are always worth it. I’ve put them into my own kitchens and see the same feedback from customers time and time again — no one regrets choosing drawers. They keep the kitchen organised, reduce clutter, and make every day cooking far easier.
Kitchen Sink Base Cabinet
A kitchen sink base cabinet doesn’t need to be a special unit. In most cases, a double door kitchen base cabinet does the job perfectly — it just needs to allow space for plumbing underneath the sink.
Because of this, sink cabinets are usually kept simple inside. The plumbing naturally limits storage, which is why this area is often used for cleaning products or paired with pull-out or internal bin inserts to make the most of the space.
One important tip I always share is to plan the sink cabinet first. The sink position affects plumbing, bin placement, and how the rest of your base cabinets flow. Lock this in early and the rest of the kitchen layout becomes far easier to organise without running into clearance issues later on.
Microwave Base Cabinet
A microwave base cabinet is a simple way to keep your benchtops clear while still having the microwave easy to reach. Instead of taking up valuable prep space, your microwave sits neatly in your lower kitchen cabinets, giving your kitchen a cleaner, more organised look.
This type of base cabinet works especially well in small kitchens, apartments, and rental properties where bench space is limited. Having the microwave under the bench also creates a safer setup, particularly for families, as it avoids having to lift hot food down from above head height.
A good example from our range is the 60cm Microwave Cabinet with Drawer, which combines dedicated microwave storage with an extra drawer underneath for utensils or accessories. It’s a practical, space-saving option that I’ve seen make a real difference in compact kitchens where every centimetre counts.
Corner & Magic Corner Cabinets
Corner areas are one of the easiest places to lose valuable storage if they’re not planned properly. Standard kitchen base cabinets don’t work well in corners, which is why choosing the right kitchen base units here can make a big difference to how usable the kitchen feels.
A 90cm Corner Base Cabinet is a straightforward option that works well for simple storage of less-used items. But if you want to properly maximise the space, magic corner systems are a game-changer. These use swing shelves and pull-out mechanisms to bring everything out into the open, instead of forcing you to reach deep into the cabinet.
We offer both the 90cm Magic Corner Pull Out Cabinet (Right Hand) and 90cm Magic Corner Pull Out Cabinet (Left Hand), so the system can be matched to your kitchen layout. This flexibility is important, as the direction of the pull-out depends on how your cabinets flow.
One thing I’ve learnt over the years is that corners are often wasted if they’re ignored. When planned well, corner cabinets can become some of the most useful storage in the entire kitchen, rather than a dark space you avoid opening.
Pull-Out Base Cabinets
Pull-out units are a small addition that can make a big difference to how organised a kitchen feels. Our base cabinets with drawers slide out smoothly, making them perfect for items you use often but don’t want on display. They’re especially handy for using narrow gaps that would otherwise go to waste.
Most people use our pull-out cabinets for kitchen bins, with a bin system inside the cabinet to keep everything neat and easy to access. It also helps keep the kitchen cleaner and more hygienic by keeping waste out of sight.
A popular option is our 45cm Pull Out Utility Base Cabinet, which you can pair with our Double Rubbish Bin Set. It’s a practical solution that keeps kitchen bins off the floor, frees up space under the sink, and helps maintain a tidy, well-organised kitchen without adding complexity to your layout.
Simple Tips for Choosing the Right Base Cabinets
Choosing the right kitchen base cabinets is much easier when you focus on how you actually use your kitchen. These simple tips will help you plan kitchen base units that work well day to day, without overcomplicating things.
- Start with your sink cabinet: Your sink position controls plumbing, bin placement, and how the rest of your base cabinets line up. Lock this in first and the rest of the layout becomes far easier to plan.
- Use drawers where you cook: Place drawer cabinets near your cooktop and prep areas so pots, pans, utensils, and cutlery are always within easy reach. This one choice can make daily cooking noticeably easier.
- Plan around how you use your kitchen: Think about where you prep food, where you clean up, and what you reach for most often. When cabinet placement follows your habits, your kitchen feels comfortable and intuitive to use.
- Use the 3D kitchen planner if you want peace of mind: If you’d like to visualise everything before buying, our 3D kitchen planner lets you map out your cabinets, check spacing, and tweak the layout until it feels right.
Want to go a step further?
If you want to fine-tune how everything works once your cabinets are installed, we’ve put together a couple of practical guides that many DIYers find helpful:
- Organising Your Kitchen Cabinets: Tips for Improved Functionality
- How to Arrange Kitchen Cabinets for Optimal Functionality
- How to Choose the Right Kitchen Layout Shape
Both articles focus on making your kitchen easier to use day to day, without overcomplicating things or blowing the budget.
A Quick Note for DIYers
If you’re tackling the installation yourself, it’s worth noting that all our kitchen cabinets come preassembled. That means no flatpack instructions, no missing screws, and no wasted weekends trying to get doors lined up.
I’ve seen plenty of customers install their base cabinets over a weekend with basic tools. It makes the whole DIY process faster, cleaner, and far less frustrating — especially if this is your first kitchen.
Final Thoughts: Keep It Simple
When it comes to choosing kitchen base cabinets, you don’t need to overthink it. Most kitchens look good once they’re finished — it’s the bottom cabinets and how they work day to day that really matter.
If you’re planning a DIY kitchen renovation, start with the base and build up from there. Lock in your sink cabinet first, add drawers where you cook, and choose cabinet types that suit how you actually use your kitchen. Making practical choices at this stage will save you time, money, and frustration later on.
If you’d like to explore your options further, you can view our full range of kitchen cabinets online or visit our kitchen showroom in Perth and talk things through with the team. Keeping it simple and focusing on function will help you end up with a kitchen that’s easy to live with and built to last.
Need help with your overhead cabinets? Don’t miss our guide to Overhead Kitchen Cabinet Types & Configurations.
