Designing Your Kitchen Pantry

As we conclude our look at designing the ultimate kitchen, down to every detail, we certainly can’t leave out that element you’ll find yourself using several times a day: the pantry.

Pantry Styles

There are lot of factors that go into the design of this ultimate dinner-prep storage space, not the least of which is where it should be located. Now, if you’re doing a remodel, then the options here are somewhat limited. You may be able to redo a closet space that already exists, or turn pre-existing cabinets into a more functional pantry space. You could also put in an additional wardrobe sized cabinet built to suit your pantry needs.

Basically, it comes down to three designs: reach-in, pull-out or walk-in. Reach-in pantries are the most common, often used in a small closet or built in cabinets spaces. The pull-out option isn’t always convenient, but works great when space is limited. And, of course, walk-in pantries are every cook’s storage dream.

If you’re building a kitchen from scratch, or doing a full scale, gut-all-the-way-down-to-the-studs remodel, you have a lot more options on space and style. Consider the following types of pantries to fit your storage needs:

• Slide out cabinets with floor to ceiling storage racks and shelves, when your overall square footage is limited
• Turning the rarely-used dining space into an enclosed, room-sized pantry
• A walk-in pantry that allows for enough space to turn around and view everything
• Built in cabinets that aren’t deep but provide plenty of shelving for ample storage
• Utilizing a lazy-susan style cabinet for added storage in smaller spaces

Check out these images of awesome pantry ideas for more brainstorming options on your own space.

The Essential Storage Rules

Regardless of the type of pantry you want and the amount of storage you have, you should keep these “golden rules of storage” in mind as you plan:

• The Food Prep Zone – Your pantry, whatever the size or shape, should be located as close to the food prep and/or cooking zones as possible, in order to make your cooking time function efficiently
• Determine What You’re Storing – Before designing your pantry, figure out exactly what you’ll be storing there and plan the height and depth of shelves and drawers based upon what you’ll have in the pantry (whether it’s canned goods, extra appliances or cookbooks)
• Avoid Layers – Design the pantry so that items can be stored in a single layer, with nothing behind or beneath. The goal is being able to see everything at a glance, so you can find what you need and inventory is done quickly
• Store Front to Back – Put the things you use the most in the front of the pantry, and the things you use less often toward the back, or at the furthest point from the opening, that way you’re not having to constantly dig for what you need.

Don’t Forget

There are a couple of things you may not think of when it comes to your pantry design, but will later wish you had. Consider locating the pantry near a landing zone – countertop space next to (or inside a walk-in pantry) where you can put bags of groceries as you unload them into the pantry or where you can put several items as you take them out of the pantry for food prep.

Also, discuss with HA Construction the best lighting options for the style of pantry you’ll be utilizing, whether it’s a reach-in or a walk-in. Walk-ins, of course, typically have their own light switch for overhead lighting, but you might also want to consider under cabinet lighting for the shelves. That may also come in handy for a reach-in or pull-out option, depending on the design.