15 Smart Ideas From Beautifully Organised Pantries
See cabinetry and lighting set-ups that can help keep your food and supplies in good order
Whether you have a whole room or just some dedicated drawers, the pantry is the workhorse of the kitchen. It helps you when you need to get dinner (or breakfast or lunch) on the table and keeps ingredients fresh and cool. But like all hardworking spaces, it can get a little (or a lot) disorganised.
These beautifully organised spaces are all on the large size, but you can gather inspiration for smaller set-ups, and pick and choose from 15 takeaway tips to get your pantry in shape.
These beautifully organised spaces are all on the large size, but you can gather inspiration for smaller set-ups, and pick and choose from 15 takeaway tips to get your pantry in shape.
2. Wine storage
A good wine rack that can hold a full stock of bottles is a must for oenophiles. The custom wine shelves shown here have a geometric design that makes a striking presentation.
Outfit your existing pantry shelves with a wine rack – even one that holds just a few bottles – to keep favourite tipples close at hand.
A good wine rack that can hold a full stock of bottles is a must for oenophiles. The custom wine shelves shown here have a geometric design that makes a striking presentation.
Outfit your existing pantry shelves with a wine rack – even one that holds just a few bottles – to keep favourite tipples close at hand.
3. Labelled drawers
Deep pantry drawers hold a lot of goods, but they can also quickly become a mess. Keep yours in order with drawer dividers and reusable blackboard labels so you know exactly what goes where.
Renovating your kitchen? Find a designer near you, browse images of their work and read reviews from previous clients
Deep pantry drawers hold a lot of goods, but they can also quickly become a mess. Keep yours in order with drawer dividers and reusable blackboard labels so you know exactly what goes where.
Renovating your kitchen? Find a designer near you, browse images of their work and read reviews from previous clients
4. Command centre
Need to save school notices and stash incoming post, but don’t want paperwork cluttering up your kitchen benchtop? Carve out space along one wall in a walk-in pantry for a neat command centre with a bulletin board, mail slots and hooks for keys.
You don’t need a walk-in pantry to make this work – just hang similar pieces on the back of the pantry door.
Need to save school notices and stash incoming post, but don’t want paperwork cluttering up your kitchen benchtop? Carve out space along one wall in a walk-in pantry for a neat command centre with a bulletin board, mail slots and hooks for keys.
You don’t need a walk-in pantry to make this work – just hang similar pieces on the back of the pantry door.
5. Easy-scoop jars
Sweet jars with wide, angled openings make smart containers for dry goods that need to be scooped or measured. Use the jars for grains, loose tea, flour, snack foods, and yes, sweets.
To make them even more useful, include a metal scoop in an appropriate measurement inside the jar.
Sweet jars with wide, angled openings make smart containers for dry goods that need to be scooped or measured. Use the jars for grains, loose tea, flour, snack foods, and yes, sweets.
To make them even more useful, include a metal scoop in an appropriate measurement inside the jar.
6. No-pantry pantry
No pantry? No problem. Repurpose a wall in or near your kitchen and deck it out with shelving.
In an open space, neatness is even more important, so go ahead and splurge on cute pantry containers, baskets or matching sets of clear storage jars to keep everything tidy. Bonus points for adding some signage and a pretty rug.
Browse more beautifully designed kitchens for inspiration
No pantry? No problem. Repurpose a wall in or near your kitchen and deck it out with shelving.
In an open space, neatness is even more important, so go ahead and splurge on cute pantry containers, baskets or matching sets of clear storage jars to keep everything tidy. Bonus points for adding some signage and a pretty rug.
Browse more beautifully designed kitchens for inspiration
7. Magnetic spice rack
Working out the best place to store spices is a common struggle. Keeping frequently used spices near your stove is handy, but since they tend to stay fresh for longer when stored in a cool, dry place, the pantry is a better choice for the bulk of your spice collection.
Save precious shelf space by installing a magnetic spice rack on the wall. Just be sure to label the lids so you can tell what’s what at a glance.
Working out the best place to store spices is a common struggle. Keeping frequently used spices near your stove is handy, but since they tend to stay fresh for longer when stored in a cool, dry place, the pantry is a better choice for the bulk of your spice collection.
Save precious shelf space by installing a magnetic spice rack on the wall. Just be sure to label the lids so you can tell what’s what at a glance.
8. Risers and containers
In a narrow pantry, shelf risers and storage containers are a big help in keeping your ingredients visible and easy to grab.
Use risers on deep shelves to elevate the back rows of cans and jars. Sort ingredients into broad categories (such as baking goods or breakfast food) and keep like with like inside open bins.
In a narrow pantry, shelf risers and storage containers are a big help in keeping your ingredients visible and easy to grab.
Use risers on deep shelves to elevate the back rows of cans and jars. Sort ingredients into broad categories (such as baking goods or breakfast food) and keep like with like inside open bins.
9. Library ladder
If your pantry is tall, make use of all that vertical space by fitting a rolling library ladder. This way, you can easily slide the ladder to just the right spot and step up to grab what you need.
If your pantry is tall, make use of all that vertical space by fitting a rolling library ladder. This way, you can easily slide the ladder to just the right spot and step up to grab what you need.
10. Pull-out drawers and baskets
Deep cabinets in the pantry are bound to become a cluttered mess. Install pull-out baskets, drawers and shelves and you’ll be able to easily reach what you need, even if it’s right at the back.
Deep cabinets in the pantry are bound to become a cluttered mess. Install pull-out baskets, drawers and shelves and you’ll be able to easily reach what you need, even if it’s right at the back.
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11. Turntables
Have a tricky corner space to work with? Turntables (aka lazy Susans) are a great way to make an awkward corner more useable.
If you don’t want to have turntable shelving installed, furnish your current shelves with a lazy Susan or two and twirl away.
Have a tricky corner space to work with? Turntables (aka lazy Susans) are a great way to make an awkward corner more useable.
If you don’t want to have turntable shelving installed, furnish your current shelves with a lazy Susan or two and twirl away.
12. Bold colour
If style is what your pantry is missing, nothing is more effective at boosting flair than paint. And since the pantry is typically a small, confined space, you can go wild with colour without fear of it overwhelming the area.
Choose a shade you’ve always wanted to try on your walls, but have been afraid to – bold red, lush aqua or perhaps a deep navy.
If style is what your pantry is missing, nothing is more effective at boosting flair than paint. And since the pantry is typically a small, confined space, you can go wild with colour without fear of it overwhelming the area.
Choose a shade you’ve always wanted to try on your walls, but have been afraid to – bold red, lush aqua or perhaps a deep navy.
13. Interior lighting
The simple joy of being able to actually see what you’re looking for cannot be overstated. If your pantry is lacking in the lighting department, remedy the situation by adding an overhead fixture or wall sconces.
Hiring an electrician is well worth the cost when it impacts your daily life for the better – and being able to easily find what you’re looking for while trying to get dinner on the table definitely counts!
The simple joy of being able to actually see what you’re looking for cannot be overstated. If your pantry is lacking in the lighting department, remedy the situation by adding an overhead fixture or wall sconces.
Hiring an electrician is well worth the cost when it impacts your daily life for the better – and being able to easily find what you’re looking for while trying to get dinner on the table definitely counts!
14. Cookbook shelf
Have a window in the pantry? Make it pull its weight by adding a shelf below to hold a stack of your favourite cookbooks. If you have recipe binders or food magazines, keep those filed away here too. Then, when you’re planning dinner, everything you need to reference will be in one spot.
Have a window in the pantry? Make it pull its weight by adding a shelf below to hold a stack of your favourite cookbooks. If you have recipe binders or food magazines, keep those filed away here too. Then, when you’re planning dinner, everything you need to reference will be in one spot.
15. Sliding barn door
Barn-style doors are as cool-looking and popular as ever, but that’s not the only reason you should consider putting one on your pantry. A traditional door swings wide, which can negatively impact flow in the kitchen. A barn door, on the other hand, slides sideways, making it especially well-suited to the pantry. Whether your kitchen is compact or spacious, a barn door could be a smart and stylish choice.
Barn-style doors are as cool-looking and popular as ever, but that’s not the only reason you should consider putting one on your pantry. A traditional door swings wide, which can negatively impact flow in the kitchen. A barn door, on the other hand, slides sideways, making it especially well-suited to the pantry. Whether your kitchen is compact or spacious, a barn door could be a smart and stylish choice.
Your turn
Which element tops your dream pantry wish list? Share your thoughts in the Comments below. And remember to like this story, save the images for inspiration and join the conversation.
More
Need more kitchen inspiration? Check out 10 Dos & Don’ts of Designing a Kitchen Island
Which element tops your dream pantry wish list? Share your thoughts in the Comments below. And remember to like this story, save the images for inspiration and join the conversation.
More
Need more kitchen inspiration? Check out 10 Dos & Don’ts of Designing a Kitchen Island
Expand your organising possibilities with back-of-door shelving designed to hold bottles and jars. To make the most of this prime pantry space, use it to store your most frequently reached-for spices and staple ingredients.
The best back-of-door shelves have guardrails (as seen here) so items don’t topple off every time you open and close the door.