What are you going to store in your pantry? Small appliances, food products? Is there light in the closet?

A mix of roll out drawers, open and adjustable shelving would allow more flexibility.

Currently, there is no light in the closet, but that could be easily added. Please excuse the crudely drawn, not-to-scale image showing where the closet is. Because it faces into the dining room, I am tempted to use it to store dishes and glasses, but I don't have need for that much storage for dish ware.

Right now my counters are cluttered with things like measuring cups, spices, oils, containers of rice, cracker boxes, etc, because I lack shelf space for those things. I use my shelves right now for cookbooks and small appliances.

So, to answer your question -- it's all open for suggestion. Mostly, I just want clear counters!

I would do a mixture of shelves for small appliances & roll out shelves for other items. You can also add shelves to your door for your baking supplies like sugar, flour, oil, baking soda, etc. Those shelves can be less than 6 in deep.

What sort of shelving system do people recommend? Do you think that the plastic-coated grid systems are good, or do you prefer wooden (or some other sort of shelving)? For those of you that recommend drawers, are there some prefab ones that you would recommend?

I like the ELFA stuff at Container Store. The grids allow air movement, which can be nice in a pantry. They also allow you to see up into them, helpful for higher shelves and shorter people!

Teresa, what did you decide? I am getting ready to do the same thing to a coat closet next to our kitchen. My dilemma was trying to figure out what to do with the brooms/mops...since making shelves/pull out drawers would take up the entire inside of the closet. Hope it all turned out well!

Many years ago, a previous owner converted the back hallway closet in my house into a pantry space. Ours is done with wood shelves which I prefer over wire shelving. I don't mind the shelving but I really dislike the awkward support brackets.

My best tip is install a shelving unit on the inside of the door. I have two mounted on mine - I first bought a half height unit and found it so handy that I bought a second unit for the bottom half of the door. I recommend buying the full height unit from the start!

Another idea is to add a couple shorter shelving sections. I have added additional shelves along the side wall from the door frame to the wall (about 4" deep) and also a single short shelf at the back about 4 inches high and 3 1/2 inches deep (made from a piece of 1x4). It's great for keeping little things like cans of tomato paste or gelatin boxes from getting lost

My only advice is that the more broken up the shelving is into little compartments, drawers and the like, the less overall space you're going to have. if you were to put in wood shelves, you could put baskets and bins on them to hold smaller items that would go in drawers and cubby holes.

I haven't quite tackled it yet. :( I have to pack up the books in my daughter's room (she got married and moved out) and then move the contents of the closet into her bookshelves. THEN I can do the closet. So far, I definitely plan the following:
1. A light of some kind
2. A hanger on the back of the door (full length) on which I will put all my spices, oils, etc.

I am leaning more toward wood shelving vs. Elfa. I like Linda's idea of adding a few shorter shelves. I'm considering something like this: http://www.rockler.com/wooden-pantry-organizers-swing-shelves

Perfect! I am adding one of those auto switches to the
plan.

Don't forget that your door offers wonderful storage opportunities as well, either with a wooden or an Elfa-style system