Planning an ideal kitchen and facing reality can be two different things. In an ideal world, we could have endless storage space, but sometimes installing a pantry in the kitchen (or elsewhere in the home) requires some compromise – or at least a little creativity. Here are a variety of ideas to let you know where to install a storage room in your home so you can find the best option for you.
At One End of the Kitchen
Whether your kitchen has plenty of space and a little leftover, or your kitchen is compact and has nowhere else to put a pantry, using tall cabinets at one end of the kitchen is a great solution. This layout, along with the tall cabinet at the other end, creates an appealing symmetry for placing refrigerators or other appliances.
One disadvantage of this solution is that it loses some countertop space compared to using standard upper and lower cabinets with a section of countertop in between.
However, using tall and deep cabinetry can provide more storage space and make the kitchen appear heavy and mature. In addition, it can also give you more surface area to paint in rich shades if you wish.
If you have an island nearby that you can use as a prep space, it may be worth losing a little countertop.
Freestanding Cabinets
Instead of installing a whole set of cabinets on the wall, consider using a single cabinet (built-in or a freestanding unit, securely fastened to the wall) to create a pantry without filling an entire wall.
This can create a beautiful accent in the room, a little contrast with the rest of the cabinets, and become a focal point rather than just a functional storage.
Also, if you use sturdy cabinetry, it can later be easier to move to a new home than a true built-in cabinet. Just make sure to secure it carefully.
In the Former Closet Space
Sometimes planning storage in your home can be a priority. The space near the kitchen that is used as a closet can be convenient for storing coats and boots or cleaning supplies, but transforming this space into a pantry with many shelves and drawers may be a better option for your needs.
For a more traditional look, a plain wardrobe with doors can be transformed into an alcove for a pantry with only a relatively minor modification – whether it’s a custom-sized unit, or a couple of prefabricated cabinets with slender filler panels at both ends to provide a seamless look.
Consider giving this pantry its own finish (as pictured in the beautiful pastel blue-grey) as an accent. It’s also a clever way to avoid pairing newly added pantries with existing ones.
Instead of adding real cabinets, you can transform your closet into a pantry by adding a variety of shelves or drawers to store smaller items.
Baskets are useful for storing certain items, but for frequently used goods and tools, investing in a couple of suitable drawers will provide better functionality.
In an Adjoining Room That Has Been Remodeled
Want to make some bold changes during your renovation? Converting an extra room in the kitchen into a pantry may be a better use of space than a breakfast nook or den that is rarely used, especially if you find yourself spending more time in the kitchen.
If the space after the renovation is large enough, especially if you can run water pipes for the sink, the new pantry can also serve as a prep station for a second chef.
If that’s your goal, use separate upper and lower levels on at least one wall to allow some usable countertop space.
You can also consider using some open cabinets that don’t have doors and keep everything within easy reach.
At One End of the Main Cabinet
When using ready-made prefabricated cabinetry in the kitchen, the available cabinet sizes often don’t quite fill the walls.
Rather than leaving those precious few inches of space unused, consider adding a small, shallow custom cabinet to one end of the main cabinet (to the side of the other) as a compact pantry.
Shelves that are only a few inches deep may not be of much use outside of the kitchen or bathroom, but here they are perfect for storing spices, bottles, jars, and other small containers, all within easy reach.
In the Laundry Room
The ideal laundry room is large enough and well ventilated, with plenty of space to work and alleviate some of the drudgery of washing and folding laundry with a little natural light or fresh air. However, even the most coveted laundry room only needs so much storage space for laundry supplies.
By adding a pantry, the functionality is doubled. It makes the most of the space and gives you an excellent reason to make your laundry room bigger than the bare minimum.
In the Niche
Stealing a small storage space from a place that would otherwise go to waste is a great way to store your kitchenette essentials.
If you get in touch with a good contractor during construction, you may find some empty wall cavity space to transform into clever storage niches.
In the Corner of the L-Shaped Kitchen
It’s a popular trend to skip the upper cabinets and make the kitchen look more open, but obviously this will reduce some storage space.
Balance these two priorities by using full-height cabinetry at the end of the L-shaped layout to get some extra storage space (as a pantry with doors, open cabinets, or both) without drastically shrinking the room.
