Are you thinking of tackling your small pantry, but you’re not sure if it’s the right thing to do? That was my problem when I was staring at my own cluttered space.
As I always do when I’m struggling to make a decorating decision, I decided to compile a list of pictures. I found so many clever and stylish rooms that gave me tons of inspiration for creating a functional retreat.
1. Clever Cabinet Solutions for Limited Space
If you’re looking for small pantry ideas for your own home, there’s a good chance your pantry is basically just a cabinet. I get it! Floor-to-ceiling cabinets are a super popular choice. But there are so many creative designs out there to pick from.
Pull-out shelves are, hands down, the best thing you can do when you’re designing a pantry cabinet. It’s a total game-changer. If those aren’t in the cards, you can use removable bins to hold all your food. And don’t forget to make that cabinet door work for you by adding mounted spice racks or some other storage.
A lot of cabinet pantries just blend right in with the kitchen, hiding a ton of storage behind what looks like a simple door. You could also put in a custom sliding pantry next to your fridge or in another little kitchen nook.
Or, you could even give a new life to a freestanding china hutch or sideboard by turning it into a small pantry.
Most cabinets have really deep shelves and almost no light. Using risers is a great trick to keep all your cans and spice jars in sight, no matter how far back they are. You can also use in-cabinet puck lights to brighten up even the darkest corners of your pantry. It’s amazing what a difference it makes!
2. Smart Closet Conversions
You can totally turn any closet into a pantry, it doesn’t matter how big or small it is. You can keep your pantry design really simple or give the space some extra pop with a fun wallpaper or a coat of paint behind the shelves.
Go for adjustable shelves if you can. Trust me, there’s nothing more frustrating than trying to squeeze a tall bottle or a big mason jar into a space that’s just too short. With shelves you can move around, you can switch up your pantry storage whenever you need to.
Shelves aren’t your only choice, either. Adding a few drawers or cabinets inside your pantry closet will make the whole space much more useful. You can even install a little countertop inside to hold a microwave, coffee maker, or stand mixer. What a great idea!
If your closet pantry is big enough to step inside, you have to make sure the door swings out instead of in. Sliding doors are another great option because they won’t get in the way of things you have stored inside.
A spice rack mounted on the door is a little addition that will give you super easy access to all your baking stuff.
3. The Timeless Elegance of Wooden Designs
Let’s be real, there’s nothing wrong with wanting your kitchen pantry to be practical and pretty at the same time. Whether your kitchen has a cozy, rustic vibe or you’re more into modern decor, wood grain is one of those things that just works with any style.
Natural wood isn’t going to handle spills as well as a wire shelf, though. A smart move is to protect any shelves that might get wet with a waterproof liner. And of course, nothing beats a really good sealant applied to all the wood surfaces in your pantry.
A small pantry made completely out of wood can get pretty dark. A great way to fix this is to contrast the wood shelves with bright white walls behind them. You can also add multiple light sources, like under-shelf lighting or even some cute string lights.
If having a perfectly organized pantry is a big deal for you, don’t overlook what a professional carpenter or cabinet maker can do. With custom shelves, drawers, and cupboards, you’ll be blown away by how much you can actually fit into a tiny pantry.
4. Practical Basket Storage Solutions
To keep a consistent color scheme going in your kitchen pantry, you can use baskets to hide the original packaging of your favorite snacks. I love this idea! This is a big deal, especially if you have an open pantry space where everything is on display.
Baskets and wire shelving are a match made in heaven. Wire shelves are budget-friendly and a breeze to install. But, they’re not the greatest for storing small things. Baskets are perfect for those tricky items like chip bags, protein bars, and other foods that come in individual wrappers.
You can mount shallow baskets on your pantry door to hold spices, baking supplies, and canned goods. If you’re using baskets that are woven tightly and you can’t see through them, it’s a good idea to take a minute to add labels.
This will really streamline your whole pantry organization system.
5. Middle-of-the-Kitchen Pantry Concepts
Building a pantry that’s sort of next to your kitchen usually means you get more space and better features. But for a lot of people, the hassle of keeping pantry items in a whole other room just isn’t worth the extra square footage.
Try matching your main pantry door to the cabinets you already have for a really cohesive look. Or, you can go in the complete opposite direction and make your pantry a statement piece with an accent color and some cool hardware.
You can also decorate the inside wall of your pantry with a fresh coat of paint or some fun wallpaper.
Putting counter space in your built-in kitchen pantry idea is brilliant because it frees up other work surfaces in the rest of the room. This is the absolute perfect spot to stash things like a coffee maker, microwave, or blender that just don’t go with your kitchen’s decor.
If having easy access is your number one priority, you might want to think about an open-air pantry. You can mount floating shelves on a main kitchen wall to store all your canned food and dry goods. Just remember that you’ll need to keep things super organized to pull off this look!
6. Creative Shelving Concepts for Compact Pantries
Behind every great pantry door is a good set of shelves. I’m convinced! Even the tiniest pantry just wouldn’t be the same without them. Shelves are so versatile, they have multiple uses, and you can put them up almost anywhere.
Always be on the lookout for ways to get more usable space. Try attaching hooks or baskets to the bottom of your pantry shelves for some extra storage.
You can use this pantry organization idea anywhere in your kitchen, including as a supplement to the pantry you already have. Store your daily essentials on kitchen shelves that are easy to get to, and it’ll make your life just a little bit easier.
You can even upcycle an old bookshelf or hang some wall-mounted shelves for this project.
Above everything else, make the space work for you. If you need a step stool or a ladder to get to the highest shelves in your pantry, get one that matches your kitchen style.
It’s so much better to have everything you need right where you can grab it, instead of having to hunt down a stool every time you want a box of cereal.
7. Elevating Your Butler’s Pantry Space
Butler’s pantries bring more convenience, organization, and function than almost any other room in the house. You might think you need a ton of space to have a butler’s pantry. But there’s nothing stopping you from using these design ideas in your own small pantry makeover.
Besides cans and dry goods, butler’s pantries are often where countertop appliances live. This is the ideal spot to keep your coffee maker, electric kettle, or toaster.
Remember, you don’t need every single feature under the sun to call your food storage area a butler’s pantry. You might not have the room for a sink or a mini-fridge, but that doesn’t mean your pantry can’t do double duty.
A lot of homeowners combine their butler’s pantry with a laundry room or a linen closet to save as much space as they can.
An organized pantry is a breeze to keep up when every food item and appliance has its own designated spot. Kick off your pantry makeover by downsizing. Get rid of any cooking tools and small appliances you don’t use, along with any oversized storage containers.
8. Effective Organization Tips
Getting a small pantry organized is not an easy job. A lot of people find a detailed organization system really helpful. But hey, there’s also nothing wrong with just keeping dry goods in their original boxes if that system works for you. The most important thing is that your pantry fits your everyday life.
You can place big baskets on your pantry floor to hold produce or small kitchen gadgets. This will keep everything neat and also protect your pantry items from any dirt or moisture.
Store your beverage cans and bottles in dispensers that can be stacked. A lazy susan is a lifesaver for those awkward items like tall bottles or kitchen tools.
While you probably know where everything is in your kitchen pantry, adding labels can really help a big family stay on the same page. You can label your storage containers by what’s inside, by person, or even by recipe. Pantry labels are also a must for any container where you can’t easily see what’s inside.
9. Smart Storage Solutions for Compact Pantries
When you can easily see everything in your kitchen pantry, you’re much less likely to buy duplicates or let things expire. It just makes sense! Adding small shelf risers is a great way to lift up smaller items so you can see them.
Anywhere you’re storing food, you’re bound to have a spill or two. I know I do! Fabric totes might look pretty, but plastic baskets are way easier to wash and keep clean. You can even hang baskets from the bottom of shelves to make use of that empty space.
Get rid of all those clunky bags of flour and store your dry goods in uniform jars that you can stack. This is a double win because it’s convenient storage and it helps your pantry staples last longer. Just make sure to label your jars clearly so there’s never any confusion about what’s inside.
10. Charming Corner Small Pantry Ideas
Putting in a corner pantry is one of the smartest small pantry ideas that actually won’t feel so small once you’re using it. With a standalone or a built-in corner pantry, you get just as much storage as a “regular” one. But the best part is, it won’t take up any of your kitchen’s precious usable space.
You can easily turn a corner of your kitchen into an open pantry with some floating shelves. Or, if your kitchen cabinets could use an update, you can add a matching pantry in one corner. Just keep in mind that corner pantries can be as big or as small as your space allows.
If you’re ready for a complete pantry overhaul, you could build out a wall and a doorway in one corner. This trick also means you won’t have to expand into another room to finally get that walk-in pantry you’ve always wanted.
To make it easier to grab your pantry items, choose shelves that follow the angle of the wall joint behind them. A super deep shelf might look like it offers more storage. But you’ll get tired of blindly reaching for things pretty quickly.
