Should You Line Your Kitchen Drawers?

If you are remodeling your kitchen or purchasing a home for the first time, you may be wondering whether or not to line your kitchen drawers. Is it worth it? And if so, how do you do it? We researched whether or not it's best to line your kitchen drawers. In this post, we will offer you the best solution.

It is a good idea to line your kitchen drawers as they can offer protection from moisture and stains. Liners can also help make your drawers easier to clean and prevent them from becoming scratched or dented from everyday wear and tear.

You'll be happy to know that there are different material options to choose from when it comes to kitchen liners. And there are several benefits that your drawers will receive from being covered instead of being directly exposed to kitchen utensils and other items. Continue reading to learn more about why kitchen drawer liners are helpful and the available options.

Reasons to Use Kitchen Drawer Liners

Liners help protect cabinets from dents and scratches

Using a liner in your kitchen drawer can keep the cabinet free of unsightly scratches and nicks from everyday usage. Cabinets are used to having items dropped and shoved in them, which can cause them to quickly look unsightly--particularly if they're dark-colored.

Unless you're particularly graceful when you set things down in the cabinet, the cabinet may obtain small scratches and scrapes over time. This is especially true for cabinets that contain heavy metal utensils or cooking tools. If you have expensive cabinets that you are looking to protect, a good liner can help make this possible.

They can cover unsightly damage

If you have old cabinets or have damage from water or stains, liners can easily cover it up in a matter of seconds. Even if you have scratches or gouges in your cabinets, a good liner can make your cabinets look brand new in the process.

It makes the cabinets more decorative

Today there are hundreds of different liner styles to choose from, as well as different materials. What colors do prefer? Perhaps a black, red, or taupe lining? Tons of choices are available.

If you prefer liners with a pattern to match your cabinetry or floors, you can also order custom-made liners from certain vendors. So to say, if you want your kitchen to have style and flair from top to bottom, adding a decorative drawer liner can help make this possible. Consider mixing up different colors and styles for an extra bit of pizzazz.

They're great noise dampeners

If you have sensitive ears or a lot of kitchen utensils that tend to clank around in the drawers, a cabinet liner can help dampen the drawers' sounds. This way, you don't have to worry about heavy metal objects being slammed against the wood, scraping it up, or waking up everyone in your home when you put up the silverware from your breakfast.

They make for easier cleaning

Many people use some of their kitchen drawers as junk drawers. These drawers are typically used to house miscellaneous items such as ketchup packets, random notes, small gadgets, or trinkets. It's safe to say that these drawers can develop random stains over time and become riddled with crumbs and debris.

Cleaning these drawers can be much easier when you have a liner. You typically need to wipe down the liner with an everyday cleaner to get rid of the gunk. You don't have to worry about using a wood cleaner or spray pain away stuck-on grime.

What do you line kitchen drawers with?

When it comes to drawer liners, there are quite a few different materials to choose from. Let's look at some of the most popular ones.

Leather

You may not typically think of leather when it comes to kitchen drawer liners, but it can work as a great protector for your drawers. If you have dark-colored or expensive drawers or need a heavy material to withstand the weight of heavier kitchen tools and utensils, leather can be a good option.

The only drawback is that it may be more expensive to purchase leather directly, and you'll typically need to cut it yourself. You can easily wipe the leather clean with a conditioner or polisher to keep it looking shiny and new.

Cork

Cork liners were introduced about 20 years ago, and they don't seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. This versatile material holds up desk to even the sharpest tools, and it won't harm your expensive silver or other utensils. You can apply this liner without using any adhesive, and it's easy to cut and shape for irregularly shaped drawers.

To clean them, you can simply wipe the cork liners with clean with a moist cloth--and it is one of the most durable options you can choose from. If you're looking for a durable liner that can hold well up to water and that's barely stain-resistant, here's a good one.

Find cork liners on Amazon.

Vinyl

One of the most common types of drawer liners that you'll find on the market is vinyl liner. Vinyl is an inexpensive material, and it makes for a great kitchen liner. This type of liner is usually backed with adhesive, making it easy to install, and it can be cut with a pair of scissors.

Vinyl can take a lot of abuse and can easily be cleaned with detergent and a sponge. It's adorable, affordable, and comes in a variety of colors and patterns. What's not to love?

Plastic

Another common material used to make kitchen drawer liners is plastic. Plastic is inexpensive, and it is often mixed with other materials to make it more durable. You'll be happy to know that this type of liner also comes in several different styles, textures, and patterns to go with any kitchen decor.

Find plastic drawer liners on Amazon.

How do you install kitchen drawer liners?

Installation of kitchen drawer liners is fairly simple, though there may be small adjustments depending on the material of liner that you choose. Let's look at a quick method to install drawer liners.

Steps to Install Kitchen Drawer Liners

Take a damp cloth and run it over the inside of the kitchen drawers to remove any dirt and debris. Then let the drawer sit for a few minutes to completely dry before moving to the next step.
Next, measure the width and length of your kitchen drawer using a measuring tape. Remove the drawers from the cabinet if it makes things easier.
Cut your liners according to the measurements of the drawers. Make sure to lay the liners flat before cutting them to avoid short measurements.
Position the liners inside the drawers starting at the end closest to the wall.

If the liners have an adhesive backing, hold the liners down with one hand and remove the back in with the other as you flatten the liners across the length of the drawer. If the liners don't have an adhesive backing, simply place them in the drawer and go over them with your hand to smooth it out.

How do you get drawer liners to stay in place?

There are a few ways that you can get in the drawer liners to stay in place. One of the easiest ways is to use a few pieces of double-sided mounting tape. You can also use a spray adhesive (a light one) or apply a little heat to the liner with a blow dryer for about 10-15 seconds and then place the liner in the drawer.

Find double-sided tape on Amazon.

Can I use wrapping paper to line kitchen drawers?

Yes. While you can use wrapping paper to line kitchen drawers, it's not the best option. Wrapping paper can tear fairly easy; unless you're careful, you may need to replace it more often than you'd like. It's better to go with non-tearing materials such as vinyl, plastic, cork, or leather.

How do you flatten IKEA kitchen drawer liners?

The quickest way to flatten Ikea kitchen drawer liners is to apply a blow dryer to the liner for about 10 to 15 seconds. Be sure to keep it at least 8 inches away from the liner. Then, place the liner in the drawer with a heavy-weighted object such as a large book or another item to hold it in place for a couple of hours. You can also use double-sided tape here as well.