In busy commercial kitchens, every square foot matters. Tight floor plans, heavy traffic, and nonstop prep work make it essential to maximize all available space to improve organization and productivity. One of the easiest ways to reclaim valuable room and improve workflow is by taking storage off the floor and onto the wall.
Wall shelving helps create cleaner, more organized kitchens where everything has a place within easy reach. When used strategically, wall shelving systems like Metro SmartWall® turn unused wall space into highly functional storage zones.
Here are five common storage problems that every foodservice operator faces, along with practical ways wall shelving can solve them.
1. Crowded Prep Areas
When counters serve as both prep and storage areas, clutter accumulates quickly. Mixing bowls, containers, and smallwares eat into usable workspace, forcing staff to work around the mess. It can also lead to cross-contamination and raise sanitation concerns.
The fix: Wall shelving keeps items off prep tables, freeing up valuable work space. Installing shelves or a SmartWall complete wall shelving system above prep tables allows operators to keep tools, cutting boards, and frequently used ingredients within reach but out of the way. The result is a cleaner, safer work surface that helps improve speed and reduce cross-contamination risks.
Metro SmartWall Complete Food Prep Kits are specifically designed to increase storage and organization above food preparation areas. Food Prep Kits are available in Metroseal Gray and stainless steel.
Pro Tip: For kitchen planners designing new layouts, pairing wall shelving with TableWorx stainless steel prep tables offers a flexible solution that can adapt as menus or workflows change.
2. Disorganized Dish Stations
Dish areas are one of the biggest problem zones in any kitchen. Without proper organization, racks pile up, utensils disappear, and drying space becomes impossible to manage. And because these areas are often very humid, the wrong shelving can rust and corrode, creating unsanitary conditions.
The fix: A wall-mounted system above the sink makes it easier to keep flatware, lids, and baskets sorted and sanitary. Metro SmartWall and SmartWall Life Complete Sink Kits are designed for dishwashing and cleaning stations, featuring shelves, storage grids, hooks, and accessories that promote air drying. This design improves efficiency and supports a cleaner, more HACCP-friendly environment.
SmartWall Sink Kits feature MetroSeal Gray epoxy-coated components with built-in Microban antimicrobial protection and a 15-year warranty against rust and corrosion.
SmartWall Life Sink Kits feature 304 stainless steel components that offer exceptional durability and come with a lifetime warranty against rust and corrosion.
Pro Tip: Operators often find that improving dish station organization has a ripple effect throughout the kitchen, reducing backup and improving end-of-night cleanup times.
3. Limited Floor Space
Space constraints are one of the top challenges for commercial kitchens, especially for facilities with older buildings. Service needs may increase, but physical space usually cannot, leaving facilities with a difficult question: how do you add more storage space to an already tight kitchen?
Adding more traditional shelving units isn’t always an option, especially when floor space is already at a premium. Too many mobile or stationary shelving units in an already packed kitchen can limit room for movement or additional equipment, hindering workflow and efficiency.
The fix: Wall shelving takes advantage of vertical space that’s often overlooked for its storage potential. By storing supplies, cookware, and cleaning tools on the wall, operators can open up walkways, improve safety, and increase storage capacity without expanding their footprint. Wall-mounted shelves and grid storage systems like SmartWall can be installed almost anywhere, creating efficient storage zones in even the tightest layouts.
Pro Tip: When it comes time to expand or renovate, planning for wall shelving early in the design phase can reduce clutter and future-proof the workspace.
4. Difficult Cleaning and Maintenance
Cleaning and sanitation are critical to ensure food safety by preventing the growth of bacteria and avoiding cross-contamination. In busy kitchens, this means cleaning is constant. But when storage systems collect grime or rust, they become both a sanitation concern and a maintenance problem.
The fix: SmartWall and SmartWall Life wall-mounted shelving systems resist rust and corrosion and are easy to clean. Metroseal Gray epoxy-coated options have built-in Microban antimicrobial protection, and Type 304 stainless steel components provide long-term durability, even in high-moisture environments.
SmartWall shelving units can be wiped down quickly between shifts, and accessories, grids, and shelves can be easily removed without tools to access the wall for cleaning. The easy-clean design not only improves sanitation but also extends the lifespan of the shelving system, reducing long-term costs and improving ROI.
Pro Tip: If your shelving will be subjected to harsh chemicals frequently, we recommend Type 304 stainless steel wall shelving for ultimate durability.
5. Poor Workflow and Accessibility
For commercial kitchens aiming to maximize efficiency, it’s important to consider workflow. When essential tools aren’t within reach, staff lose valuable time walking back and forth between stations. Every extra step in a kitchen adds up, and this wasted motion can impact back-of-house production and customer satisfaction if customers are waiting longer than necessary for their orders.
The fix: Wall shelving and productivity systems make it easy to keep the right tools exactly where they’re needed, especially when they are mounted above prep areas. With SmartWall grid shelving systems, accessories like hooks, baskets, and shelves can be rearranged at any time to match changing menus or workflows.
When you build a custom wall-mounted shelving system, you can create a productivity solution unique to your setup and work processes—and easily change it as your needs evolve.
Pro Tip: Many operators also use wall shelving to define zones within the kitchen—such as separating prep, cooking, and plating areas—creating a natural flow that supports productivity.
Smarter Storage Starts on the Wall
It’s not an exaggeration to say that effective wall shelving contributes to a more successful kitchen. It creates a cleaner, safer, and more functional workspace by turning otherwise empty wall space into active storage.
Investing in wall-mounted shelves and shelving systems is a simple yet effective way to boost productivity, enhance sanitation, and maximize space in your commercial kitchen. Whether used above prep tables, in dish areas, or along service lines, systems like Metro SmartWall give operators the flexibility to store more without sacrificing workflow or floor space. Explore the full line of SmartWall® wall shelving kits and accessories to start building a more efficient workspace.
To help operators plan the perfect setup, Metro offers an interactive Wall Builder tool that allows you to design, visualize, and quote a SmartWall system in 3D.