Perfect pantry ideas for an organized and space-saving kitchen

Pantry ideas might evoke images of grand, spacious kitchens with walk-in larders filled with jars, but actually, they are an achievable storage solution that can work for every type of kitchen. The pantry used to be thought rather old-fashioned, but in recent years it has become a modern kitchen essential. 'The traditional pantry offers a convenient way to store away dry foods at eye height in a way that makes them easily accessible,' says Reuben Ward, designer at Blakes London. 'However, nowadays pantries have become an all-encompassing design feature that allows you to create mini functional zones within a kitchen.

'We design pantries as cocktail bars, as breakfast stations, as tea and coffee hubs even as work spaces for homeworking. Hidden behind stack-away doors these pantries will typically have luxurious worktops such as marble, LED lighting on sensor controls and plug sockets, and increasingly small sinks. This allows clients to create destinations within their kitchens,' says Reuben. By working harder, visible work surfaces remain clear and uncluttered which means they can be adorned with decorative features, giving you a more elegant and refined kitchen storage. 

1. Go for a sliding pantry door

Turn your pantry door into a design feature, with an elegant sliding door system that is both space-saving and design-forward. 'A fluted glazed screen is a wonderful way to visually break up a long run of cabinetry and offer some drama and impact to a space,' says Jennifer Hamilton, director of The Vawdrey House. 

'Reeded or fluted glass offers an obstructed view of what's behind which can be especially useful if the client doesn't want the pressure of having to keep the space tidy at all times. In this kitchen the ability to move the glass panel across the units to expose other areas of the kitchen brings a dynamic interchangeable appeal to the space and the tough black ironmongery offers a chic industrial edge against the pale Scandi timber. 

2. Go for in-built tech

Typically a place jars, dried foods and Kilner jars, the pantry is evolving to encompass our home tech. This design from House of Grey features a built-in coffee machine as part of a breakfast bar built into a pantry area. The tech can be easily concealed as the doors shut after use and gives the space a real function and focus. 

3. Try a free-standing piece

You might not want to totally overhaul your interiors with new cabinetry, in which case a standalone kitchen pantry might work best, like this example designed in a kitchen by Patalab Architects. 'We conceived the kitchen area in this project as an extension of the living room and wanted to avoid a too utilitarian and overbearing appearance,' explains Uwe Schmidt-Hess of Patalab. 

'Therefore the kitchen pantry has been designed as a free-standing piece of furniture while providing space for storing food as well as a power supply for additional kitchen appliances such as a toaster or coffee machine. If not in use, all is neatly concealed behind beautifully oak veneered doors, blending into the open plan.'

Freestanding design

Loop armoire shelves by Design Within Reach

A tasteful oak cabinet which doubles up as a pantry in the kitchen, perfect for storing all your larder jars and dried foods.

View Deal

4. Light your cupboard

The essence of all pantry designs is to showcase the very best of bespoke cabinetry packed with clever storage options – such as shallow shelves inside the door for herbs and spices, deeper shelves for dry foods and neat baskets for organizing fruit and vegetables, to built-in wine racks for your wines and spirits. But to make the space all the more of a statement, consider lighting the interior of your cabinet - adding a stylish spotlight while providing a practical function.

This kitchen features a streamlined layout that continues into the large walk-in pantry across the way. LED lighting accents the bar cabinet, drawing attention to the other half of this kitchen design, contrasting against the dark timber veneer. 

This pantry shelving design from Rose Sorkhehis sophisticated and refined.

5. Divide your pantry with chic glass doors

Adding a walk-in pantry can be an option for small kitchens, you just have to be clever about how you do it. Blocking off a section to dedicate to storing your ever-growing pasta collection, isn't really an option as that's only going to make a tight space feel even more squeezed, but you can still get that separate, walk-in effect by using glass doors or a glass screen instead.

This gorgeous deep green kitchen is far from huge, and yet has a really spacious pantry that feels like its own zone and yet doesn't break up the room. Crittall doors create that translucent divide, and as all Crittall doors do, add a heap of bang-on-trend style. 

6. Design a pantry that's room of its own 

We'll cover many pantry ideas that don't need that luxury of space, but as Alex Main, director of The Main Company says 'it can also be beneficial to consider a pantry that is completely separate from the rest of the kitchen. While you will need to ensure that it is still within a convenient distance for cooking, there can be many pros to having a detached and dedicated area, away from the hustle and bustle of the main kitchen.'

'When planning a separate pantry, if you have plenty of space, then you can design a space that is more flexible and really works for you, rather than something that just fits into the existing cabinetry design. In addition to creating a more tailored and bespoke space, this also means that you’ve freed up more room for your direct ‘onsite’ kitchen needs, such as more worktop and appliance space'

If you're a minimalist, this white kitchen is sure to fill you with glee. And it's that roomy separate pantry that allows for this space to be so clutter-free and also means it can afford to forgo wall cabinets too, keep the space so light and open. So if you want your kitchen space to be pared back and purely aesthetic, it might be worth sacrificing some space to add a larger walk-in pantry. 

7. Organize your pantry so it works for you

Pantry and kitchen cabinet organization is key to them being an asset to your kitchen, rather than becoming a dumping ground where tins of chickpeas go to die. So consider how you want to use the space? How regularly will you reach for things in there? Will it be solely for food or will baking equipment and spare appliances be stored in there too?

See our kitchen organizers guide for handy buys to maximize storage space in your pantry, as well as inside your kitchen cabinets and drawers.

'Getting the shelf spacing right can maximize the room you have for storage. Large, deep cupboards with integrated workspace are ideal for storing appliances you may not want on your kitchen work surface.' explains Tom Howley.

'The easy-to-reach middle section of your kitchen pantry is perfect for tins and jars. Use dividers or shorter spacing to keep foodstuffs separate so you can see everything you need at a glance. A handy storage basket at the bottom of your kitchen pantry is ideal for storing fresh bread or veg. If you have space, include a rack for spices on the inside of the door – it’s convenient if you’re cooking and need to go straight to the ingredients you need.'

'Think about the weight of the items you’re storing as well as height. Lighter racking is perfect for cereal and bread while sturdy oak shelving is a good option for holding the weight of jars and tins.'

And went it comes to aesthetics, you can't go wrong with storing everything in glass jars, looks lovely and is a practical option too. 

8. Always maximize vertical space

When space is tight in a pantry, making the most of vertical space is a must. Don't stop with your shelving until you have reached the ceiling and even make use of the ceiling too. As designer Katie Thomas advises, 'Don’t forget to utilize your vertical space. For example, you can hang pots and pans from the ceiling or add floor-to-ceiling storage which could be accessed by a chic step ladder. It is best to try and store any less used items nearer to the top, such as seasonal items like Christmas ingredients.'

Take home tip: before putting anything in your pantry, lay it all out in order of what you will reach for most and what you need to access the least, and then put it back in with that order in mind. 

9. Add a narrow pantry that's slimline and functional

If you have an awkward nook or alcove in your kitchen, turn that dead space into something really valuable, like a pantry. It doesn't have to be huge, just add in some alcove shelving, and if you have the floor space add doors, or if it makes more sense, opt for a sliding door so you really aren't taking up any room in the kitchen to add a pantry. 

'If you don’t have large areas to play with incorporate slimmer, tall pantry cupboards around the room.' says Tom Howley. Position narrower designs in key areas of your kitchen, for example, frequently used appliances and ingredients in main prep zones and dishware or glasses close to social spaces.'

10. Blend a pantry into your cabinetry

'If you have enough space, a walk-in larder is the ideal choice and will provide you with an abundance of valuable storage.' advises Alex Main. 'To ensure a cohesive design scheme, opt for a continuation of the same cabinetry and worktops into the larder as the rest of the kitchen.' 

This is the perfect approach if you want a seamless look, where your pantry essentially just looks like a kitchen cabinet from the outside. Then you open it up and voila, a storage space Nigella herself would be envious of. You could even add pocket doors so you have the option to have your storage open when you need easy access but then can hide away the clutter when you want.

11. Go bold with your pantry colors

Because pantries don't always have to be purely practical, they can add so much more than storage to your space. 'Personally, I think pantries can be not only functional but pretty too,' says Natalie Papier. 'And a great opportunity for a pop of color and art as we pop in and out of the pantry so often during the day.  Why not make it functional and fun?

If you are a bit wary of going really brave with your kitchen color ideas, a pantry is a perfect space to experiment with bolder hues – as can be seen in this joyful pink pantry. 

'Make a statement with your pantry by using bold colors on the walls. Instead of hiding it away, make a feature of the space and a loved part of your kitchen. Add glass doors so that the organized and stylish décor can be appreciated. It also makes it easier for you to see exactly what you have ‘in stock’.' advises designer Katie Thomas.

12. Add character with a vintage find

As this gorgeous rustic kitchen renovation designed by Lisa Staton demonstrates, sourcing a secondhand pantry cabinet can be such a lovely way to add character to a new kitchen. Bringing in those more natural textures and worn materials is what gives a kitchen personality.

'Rather than filling your walls with cupboards, it’s the pantry cupboard we love the most. So for a quick solution, we would always recommend a proper classic pantry cupboard, vintage or new they are perfect.' says Helen Parker deVOL's creative director. 

'If budget is tight, then have a hunt on eBay or at an antique fair, it may take a while to get the size you want but it’s worth the wait. Paint it inside and out in your favorite color, you can be a bit daring with a pantry, try something bright and bold. Source some beautiful old knobs or use the same as in your existing kitchen to give a link. Then attach some run-of-the-mill spice racks on the door, even cheap ones look better painted. Then spend some time finding old boxes, cutlery trays and baskets to put on the shelves and on the top of the cupboard, a satisfying way to create a whole new place to store things.'

13. No room for a walk in pantry? Add a breakfast pantry

'Smaller than a walk-in pantry, a breakfast pantry is a great place to hide all the everyday chaos.' explains Tom Howley. 'The doors bi-folding action gives neater, more usable access to the contents of the cupboards without blocking other cabinets. The space inside is expansive, often with work surface space for smaller appliances such as your kettle and toaster. It’s also a great place to store your cereals, crockery, tea, coffee and cookbooks.'

So you can add a breakfast pantry to any sized space, making it an amazing small kitchen storage idea as you don't have to sacrifice floor space it's simply part of your cabinetry. This is also a nice idea for freeing up surface space as you can store those often annoying items like you toaster and kettle within the cabinetry for a more clutter-free space.

14. Box off a corner to create a pantry

Glazing is proving to be a real winner when it comes to adding a pantry. To create this small but incredibly stylish pantry, a corner of the kitchen has been encased in this beautiful fluted glass. It's a really seamless addition, that adds to the kitchen  but doesn't take it over. The cabinetry matches that of the rest of the space and the countertop and marble backsplash just flow into the pantry space. The shelving is what really makes it feel pantry-like and adds the perfect storage space for the pantry essential – glass jars.

What we really like about this pantry idea is that is could be added to a current space without having to reconfigure another or add anything more than wall shelves. We can image this look glorious with Crittall windows too. 

How do you style a pantry?

Pantries can be such easy and enjoyable spaces to style as you have so much to work with. Rather than see you dried goods you mixing bowls as just that, see them as decor. Treat your pantry as you would any other shelving idea in your home and curate it where you can, rather than just pile in the stuff. 

'Why not decant dried goods into stylish containers? This is a great option if you have glass-fronted or open storage as it keeps everything looking beautiful as well as being easy to find. Storing items in containers allows you to throw out bulky packaging and free up some room. Stackable square containers are the most space-efficient.' suggests Charlie Smallbone. 

'To create a kitchen pantry that is both functional yet aesthetically pleasing, organize your foods into labeled, glass jars to create a uniform and elevated look that makes it easy to find what you are looking for. Then, incorporate plants and artwork to break up the rigidity of the containers, keeping it fresh and stylish.' says designer Katie Thomas. 

Where should pantry cabinets be placed?

This will ultimately come down to your kitchen layout, but pantries work best in corners where you can really make the most of dead space. But they can also work at the end of galley kitchens or built into a bank of cabinetry.