Pantry/utility room help--I have design paralysis!

12 years ago

Hi everyone. We are renovating a home and I'm trying to figure out how to design the 7' x 9' space I have designated as a walk-in pantry. This pantry is behind the kitchen, and the door to the pantry will be on one of the 7' walls, so it's a basic small, rectangular room. Should be pretty easy to design (hah!)

Since we have 2 pull-out pantries in the kitchen, the pullout pantry will serve more general storage purposes rather than just food and related items. We don't have room on this back hall to have a separate coat closet, so we either need to build space for that in the garage or have some space in the pantry/utility room.

Specifically, what I'm trying to make sure I can store includes:
- Bulky appliances (KA mixer, food processor, waffle iron, blender, etc)
- storage for bulk items (paper towels, napkins, tissue, light bulbs, dog food, etcO
- oversized kitchen items (serving bowls, platters, vases, etc)
- extra wine glasses
- cleaning supplies (windex, others cleaners, rags, etc) plus vacuum, broom, mop, etc (assuming some sort of utility closet for these with a door that can shut them off from view
- Some food items
- medicines (normal cold and headache stuff, first aid, etc)
- landing zone for keys, wallet, purse, etc.
- oh yeah-- either hooks or something to hand coats

I'm struggling with how to best utilize the space, since it's not just a matter of having a lot of shelves built in, with maybe some counter space. I've looked at a gazillion pictures on Houzz and Pinterest.

Any ideas really appreciated! And if you've got one of these multipurpose rooms I'd love to hear your thoughts!!

Thanks in advance!!

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Comments (4)

musicgal
12 years ago
Make sure to install an electrical outlet in there to charge portable devices like electric wine openers, etc. Utilize all of your space up to the ceiling for paper towels and paper goods- things that will not hurt you if they come crashing down on your head. Pullouts on the underside of shelves for flat items like placemats and silpats. Step stool on casters that tucks under the lowest shelf. Bottom shelves deeper for rows of canned goods. Wine glasses hung upside down by stem in the least trafficked area, preferably a corner. Make shelves at elbow to shoulder height with lips curved up to hold appliances like blenders, mixers, coffee urns, vases. Heaviest and bulkiest things to carry should not be stored above shoulder level. That is a good place for cereal boxes, sugar, flour, oils, baking goods.
Hooks on the inside of the door. Key/phone crash near light switch in its own seperate cubicle/box although I would not choose to use a pantry for a drop. But if you incorporate a drop zone there, think of using 36 inches width at waist height to put in a scratch resistant counter with shallow drawers for note paper, extra keys, gift cards, coupons, etc. Cork for messages in that area and anywhere you keep glassware.
Texas_Gem
12 years ago
Since it is a utility room as well, where is your washer and dryer going? On the other 7' wall?
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Anne Harris
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks for the ideas musicalgal! Some very good tips!

Texas_Gem-- we will have a w/d in the master bedroom upstairs for our primary use (this is currently a vacation home and will ultimately be where we move when the kids are gone). There is currently a w/d in the garage. We are planning to redo the garage and put in better storage, etc. and keep a w/d there for guest to use (guest bedrooms are downstairs) or when we have dirty stuff from the first floor (towels from cleaning the cars, nasty clothes when DH comes in from working outside). (We'll make it a nice area)
magsnj
12 years ago
Since this is a room that it sounds like you're going to be spending some time in, I really hope you're including a window. I know it doesn't seem important, and everyone focuses on maximizing storage, but for me, I want to like the room I'm in. My window is high in my pantry, but it was extremely important for me to keep it. It's nicer to feel like you're in a room, and not a closet.