12 Small Pantry Ideas to Make the Most Out of Tight Spaces
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Stumped for small pantry ideas? Fear not: You can transform your small pantry into a space that’s equal parts practical and design-forward. 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. “It’s amazing what’s possible,” Shaffer says. “Even the tiniest pantry can be functional and gorgeous when you strategically design it.” He adds that elements like sliding drawers, over-the-door racks, harmonious color palettes, and natural materials will be game changers. (Once you try pull-out drawers, you’ll be a convert for good.)
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, [and] not go digging for a package of snacks in the back.” Wiss looks to risers, stackable containers, additional shelves, and baskets as some of the organizational heroes to make use of every bit of vertical storage space—including the door.
Read on for 12 small pantry ideas to make the most of that awkward nook, tight closet, or even a few shelves and an undercounter cabinet.
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Photo: Courtesy of TileCloud1/12Craft an airy atmosphere
Small space storage ideas can still deliver big on pizzazz. “In a small pantry, using the vertical space effectively can create a sense of openness,” says Floss Kelly, interior designer and cofounder at TileCloud. “This project features high ceilings, allowing natural light to flood in through skylights, accentuating the textures of the backsplash subway tiles.” The backsplash “adds a gorgeous touch that isn’t just beautiful and practical, but also enhances the sense of space and light by being laid vertically,” Kelly continues, noting that this small pantry’s design approach not only maximizes storage but also makes the food area feel “more spacious and welcoming.”
Photo: Michael Clifford2/12Go 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. Morrison adds that the space’s ample drawers and compact pantry storage are complemented by inviting open shelves. This prep station and pantry closet combo offers a creative solution for odd-size spaces on the main floor of a home, per Morrison: “Adding glass doors is a clever, luxe touch for widening narrow hallways or breezeways.”
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Photo: Stacy Zarin Goldberg3/12Or 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. The pantry ended up being smaller than anticipated as a result, so the TriVistaUSA designers worked to ensure that the pantry would be effective even with its smaller footprint, reviewing everything from cereal box heights to appliance outlets. “The pantry entrance was masked by doors that match the kitchen cabinetry we used so that the design looks like upper and lower cabinets,” says Sauri, pointing out that there’s no latch on the door; instead, it opens using regular cabinet handles. No detail was overlooked in completing the design, including a light switch inside the cabinet door where recessed lights illuminate stored items for ease of access. The shelves were painted with trim to match the rest of the project.
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Photo: Courtesy of TileCloud4/12…Or 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.” We also love this small room’s neutral color palette for an extra dose of zen when going about daily chores.
Photo: Julie Soefer5/12Try 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.” Feel free to embrace bold hues in your pantry space, too, for a pop of unexpected color in a walk-in pantry space. Here, “juxtaposing colorways of blue and merlot are a continuation of the kitchen’s design story,” Johnston says. “If your pantry has a window, this is a beautiful opportunity to introduce a striking pendant lamp and Roman shade with textured or patterned drapery for extra punch.”
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Photo: Courtesy of TileCloud6/12Open 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. As illustrated in this small kitchen’s makeshift pantry area, “not only is functionality increased, but the open timber shelves also add a striking decorative element,” Kelly adds.
Photo: Decorilla7/12Slide 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 [with clear lids],” Shaffer says, explaining that pullout 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. Lazy Susans work well for easy access to food items too. “You can also add labels to the containers to make them more stylish,” notes Shaffer, who recommends buying a range of different container sizes, all crafted from high-quality materials. Pro-tip: During the pantry makeover process, be sure to organize products by how frequently you use them, Shaffer says.
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Photo: Lance Gerber8/12Create 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. “Instead of sifting through kitchen cabinets in search of bowls, platters, and plates, this pantry conveniently compartmentalizes all dishware and hosting accessories within one central area,” Morrison says, noting that this pantry storage solution and coffee brewing area are accessed through the kitchen yet cleanly tucked away.
Photo: Decorilla9/12Opt 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. “This will make it so much easier to choose the right over-the-door storage rack according to size and weight.” Shaffer adds that you should take efforts to balance the weight evenly across the door. Bottom line: Employ this pantry cabinet design approach and “you’ll transform unused space into a practical storage area, helping you expand storage capacity without cluttering shelves,” Shaffer says.
Photo: Decorilla10/12Calming 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. “Then, I add natural accents and colors—for example, wood and ceramic for containers and other decorative elements give warmth and natural elegance.” If you’re looking to expand your color selection, you can also add more vibrant hues, like matte lemon, Perracotta, or laurel green, all of which are great at “balancing neutral tones with warm accents.”
Photo: Urban Clarity11/12Decant 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, as illustrated in this project for one of her clients. All the dry goods have been decanted into acrylic bins with removable DIY labels for easy access. “You can start with things like rice, pasta, oats, quinoa, and other grains, and work your way up from there,” she continues, adding that doing so helps you see when you’re running low on essentials and that sealed jars or containers will extend the life of your dry goods by keeping air out.
Photo: Urban Clarity12/12Reach for risers
As evidenced by this setup belonging to Wiss’s client, “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. Risers make the most of the depth of your pantry shelf without letting you forget the items in the back. “While it might feel like you’re wasting space, you’re getting valuable time back by making all of your items easy to see and reach,” she says.
