Pantry Organization Help!!

7 years ago

I am currently building a new home which will have a 10'x12' pantry. I wanted to build a large pantry so I have one place for all my pantry food, small appliances, entertaining dishes, etc. I am struggling on how to organize the pantry. My builder has recommended counters, counter tops and upper cabinets. That would work for my dishes, but I feel my non-perishable food would get lost plus this could be costly. Basic shelves would work for food, paper towels, etc but wouldn't work for my dishes (the dust). I am thinking about just using stainless steel shelves until I determine how to properly organize. Maybe "live" in the space a year before building it out.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Featured Answer

Bette P

7 years ago

I would want some counter, but I’d want a fair sized section of shallow shelves that are not overhead, more knee to shoulder height. Do you want your small appliances sitting on the counter to be used in place or stored on a shelf? Do you want to store baking pans and cookie sheets, muffin tins etc? I’d want vertical storage with dividers. Consider shelves with glass doors for your closed storage for dishes.
Personally, I’d love to have a broom closet and step stool stored and hanging storage for tablecloths, most designers don’t like tablecloths, I happen to use them. I need some room for plant pots and flower vases, patio dishes, first aid kit.
Consider the shape and size of items you are storing, and the comfortable height you require. I crave light, my go to work spot is the counter under the window in my kitchen, will there be a window?

Start an ideabook of saved photos, search pantry room and pantry.

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Comments (9)

PRO
Anthony Perez
7 years ago
considering the size of the pantry I would try to incorporate a service sink, an under-counter beverage refrigerator in addition to plenty of drawers for storage, a dishwasher,counter and open shelving
rantontoo
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
I like the idea of lower cabs and counters on one side or in an L shape and with shelves. With a counter and outlets, you could keep often used counter appliances ready to use. Consider using large dish drawers for dish storage if you have place settings....works great.
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K R
7 years ago
Ooh I like Anthony’s rendering. That would be amazing for storage and keeping your appliances in there too!
Buehl
7 years ago
Some ideas:

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/pantry-photos-pics-of-pantries-dsvw-vd~2401919
J Williams
7 years ago
I think your “pantry” will be as big my entire kitchen. Unless you are running a business or have a lot of people to feed, you can probably get more than your run of the mill pantry items in there. I’ve seen interesting designs which have a hidden functional kitchen and an outer “for presentation” kitchen.
J Williams
7 years ago
I have also found more shallow shelves great for canned and jarred goods, as it allows you to do an immediate inventory, and there’s less of a chance of something getting shoved into a dark back corner. One thing that can help is to measure the sort of things you will always use, then make sure you’ve got the right type of storage. Cookbooks, appliances, tools, types of food you cook etc. I’ve got vases and brooms in my pantry also, along with shopping bags, cooler bags, extra tableware, cookie cutters, emergency candles and sometimes even gardening seeds because my pantry is always cool along with gardening hats for lack of a better place to put them lol.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
7 years ago
Why not pullout pantries on one side for all the food and then the other with upper cabinets and lots of counter for the other stuff I would also advise a DW installed there or the trips to replenish the dish ware will be a huge PITA I am not a fan of huge walk in pantries I much prefer a narrow butlers pantry between the kitchen and DRfor dishes, glassware and a DW and pull out pantries for foos stuffs that i need access to all the time installed in the actual kitchen.
mom2sulu
7 years ago
Another suggestion if you do put in this size of a pantry--something I wish I had--a small ice maker for entertaining. We never have enough ice!