12 Small Pantry Ideas to Maximize Your Kitchen Space
Are you struggling to find small pantry ideas that can transform your tiny kitchen storage space into a functional and stylish area? Look no further. With the right design elements and organizational strategies, even the smallest pantry can become a haven for food storage and preparation.
The Challenges of Small Pantry Design
Devin Shaffer, lead interior designer at Decorilla in San Francisco, acknowledges that kitchen pantry spaces can be some of the most challenging projects for interior designers to work on. Mainly because storage and function come first, and style, second. That said, Shaffer doesn’t despair upon tackling these areas, which have the power to host the most clever and creative design in the home.
Tips for Maximizing Small Pantry Space
Home organizing expert Amanda Wiss emphasizes the importance of using vertical space over depth to organize a small pantry. Wiss, founder and CEO of home organizing company Urban Clarity and the Brooklyn-based home staging company Urban Staging, knows that you want to be able to see all your items easily, not go digging for a package of snacks in the back.
Here are 12 small pantry ideas to make the most of that awkward nook, tight closet, or even a few shelves and an under-counter cabinet:
1. Craft an Airy Atmosphere
In a small pantry, using the vertical space effectively can create a sense of openness, says Floss Kelly, interior designer and co-founder at TileCloud. This project features high ceilings, allowing natural light to flood in through skylights, accentuating the textures of the backsplash subway tiles.
2. Go for a Grand Entrance with Glass Doors
This pantry is anything but tucked away, says Denise Morrison, founder and principal designer of Morrison Interiors in Costa Mesa, California. Here, steel and glass doors welcome in natural light while the white backsplash and cabinetry add a bright aesthetic to the long, narrow space.
3. Try Sleek and Discreet Double Doors
Michael Sauri, co-owner and president of TriVistaUSA Design Build in Arlington, Virginia, shares that this pantry closet area was built as intended. However, it was constrained by an air duct that was required for HVAC, which was larger than it was originally expected to be.
4. Ditch the Door Altogether
In lieu of a proper pantry door, the arched doorway here creates an inviting atmosphere as you enter, Kelly says. Light-toned cabinetry and tiles ensure the space doesn’t feel overwhelming, while open timber shelves and brushed brass tapware add warmth and serve as focal points.
5. Try Elegant Containers for an Apothecary Style
Although this pantry is on the larger side, Benjamin Johnston, partner and creative director of Benjamin Johnston Design in Houston, stresses that this design and concept can be easily applied to a small space. For food and storage, glass jars and wicker baskets lend a whimsical, apothecary-like touch to open shelving and are an easy way to add visual interest if you’re short on space.
6. Open Up Your Shelving
You can use a nook in your kitchen to create a pantry shelve situation, with cabinets underneath providing additional storage space. Incorporating open timber shelves in a small pantry offers additional storage space and the opportunity to showcase beautiful ceramic kitchenware and natural elements like plants, Kelly says.
7. Slide Some Drawers In
When it comes to small pantries, a great way to keep everything organized is installing sliding drawers and clear stackable storage containers, Shaffer says. Pull-out drawers make things a breeze to grab from the back of the pantry while being able to see what’s inside each canister and maximizing vertical space.
8. Create a Cozy Coffee Station
Food storage with a side of Joe? Don’t mind if we do. In this clutter-free storage solution that houses everything from baking supplies to coffee victuals, open shelving maximizes wall space for storage while carving out a caffeination station beneath.
9. Opt for Over-the-Door Racks
Shaffer recommends that those in search of small pantry organization ideas try using over-the-door racks to maximize storage space. Always have a clear idea of what kind of products or items you want to store here, he suggests.
10. Calming Colors
In some of Shaffer’s latest pantries, more tranquil hues have been go-tos. For the base color for walls and shelves, I often opt for a muted culinary-inspired color – soft sage being a personal favorite, creating a neutral and calming backdrop, Shaffer says.
11. Decant Pantry Items
Decluttering a compact pantry space also means dealing with the visual clutter of varied packaging. Wiss advises decanting dry goods that come in inconvenient, non-resealable, or visually busy packaging into uniform jars or canisters.
12. Reach for Risers
Using risers for smaller goods, like spices, can keep you from losing, spilling, or forgetting items in a smaller pantry space. Plus, you won’t have to lift every jar to read the labels when you use this organization technique.
Some key elements that make these small pantry ideas successful include:
- Using vertical space effectively
- Incorporating sliding drawers and clear storage containers
- Utilizing over-the-door racks
- Selecting calming colors for the pantry
- Decanting pantry items into uniform containers
- Employing risers for smaller goods
By incorporating these elements, you can transform your small pantry into a functional and stylish space that makes the most of the available storage. Whether you’re working with a tiny closet or a few shelves, these small pantry ideas will help you create a haven for food storage and preparation.
In conclusion, designing a small pantry requires creativity and a focus on functionality. By using the right design elements and organizational strategies, you can create a space that is both beautiful and functional. With these 12 small pantry ideas, you’ll be well on your way to maximizing your kitchen storage space and creating a culinary haven that you’ll love for years to come.
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What are the challenges of designing a small pantry?
*_Storage and function come first, and style comes second, making it a challenging project for interior designers._*
How can I maximize my small pantry space?
*_Use vertical space effectively, incorporate sliding drawers and clear storage containers, utilize over-the-door racks, select calming colors, decant pantry items, and employ risers for smaller goods._*
What are some popular design elements for small pantries?
*_High ceilings, natural light, glass doors, open shelving, and elegant containers such as glass jars and wicker baskets._*
How can I create a sense of openness in a small pantry?
*_Use vertical space effectively, incorporate high ceilings, and use light-toned cabinetry and tiles._*
What are some creative ways to use a small pantry space?
*_Create a coffee station, use over-the-door racks, and incorporate open timber shelves to showcase beautiful ceramic kitchenware and natural elements like plants._*
How can I keep my small pantry organized?
*_Use sliding drawers and clear stackable storage containers, decant pantry items into uniform jars or canisters, and employ risers for smaller goods._*
What colors are suitable for a small pantry?
*_Calming colors such as soft sage, muted culinary-inspired colors, and light-toned cabinetry and tiles._*
How can I add visual interest to my small pantry?
*_Use elegant containers such as glass jars and wicker baskets, incorporate open timber shelves, and showcase beautiful ceramic kitchenware and natural elements like plants._*
What are the key elements that make small pantry ideas successful?
*_Using vertical space effectively, incorporating sliding drawers and clear storage containers, utilizing over-the-door racks, selecting calming colors, decanting pantry items, and employing risers for smaller goods._*
How can I transform my small pantry into a functional and stylish space?
*_Incorporate the key elements that make small pantry ideas successful, and use the right design elements and organizational strategies to create a space that is both beautiful and functional._*