Storage Goals: What to Do if Your Kitchen Doesn't Have a Pantry
If your kitchen doesn't have a designated pantry, here are five solutions that work – for renters and owners alike
Amy Revell
12 August 2019
Houzz Australia Contributor. Declutter Coach and Founder at The Art of Decluttering. I'm based in the leafy suburbs of Melbourne, Australia and work with women to help them create the beautiful homes they've always dreamed of. As an author, speaker and podcaster, I love all things decluttering and embrace the freedom that minimalism brings.
Houzz Australia Contributor. Declutter Coach and Founder at The Art of Decluttering.... More
Do you gaze enviously at kitchens with abundant storage or have you seen a friend’s walk-in pantry and felt a pang of jealousy? Don’t be that person! Here’s how to get your pantry-less kitchen sorted.
Not all kitchens are made equal and not all pantries play at the same level. When I began Simply Organised, I never dreamt of the array of pantries I would encounter as I travelled the country, helping people declutter and organise their homes. Some homes have no pantry at all; others have butler’s pantries the size of a small apartment.
Homes without pantries present unique organising challenges. I’ve lived in two different places without pantries and have organised dozens for my clients. So if you’re stuck on where to keep the cereal and tea bags, here are five ideas that could work in your space.
Find professional organisers and home storage designers near you on Houzz to customise storage to your needs
Find professional organisers and home storage designers near you on Houzz to customise storage to your needs
1. Overhead cabinets
If you own your home and can add storage to a small space, consider going ‘up’ and taking advantage of the vertical space in your kitchen. Instead of trying to create more bench space or storage on floor-level, invest in some wall-mounted, overhead shelves or cupboards. Lots of homes are built without any overhead cabinets, but if you’re short on pantry space, these are a simple solution.
If you own your home and can add storage to a small space, consider going ‘up’ and taking advantage of the vertical space in your kitchen. Instead of trying to create more bench space or storage on floor-level, invest in some wall-mounted, overhead shelves or cupboards. Lots of homes are built without any overhead cabinets, but if you’re short on pantry space, these are a simple solution.
If you opt to install overhead shelves or cabinets in lieu of a pantry to store your food, I suggest you use containers rather than loose packets.
Clear containers that have a similar depth to your cabinetry will mean you can easily see and grab the food you need without having to dig around. Keep the items you use regularly on the lower shelves and other less-frequently used items higher up.
Do These 7 Things to Get an Organised Kitchen Pantry
Clear containers that have a similar depth to your cabinetry will mean you can easily see and grab the food you need without having to dig around. Keep the items you use regularly on the lower shelves and other less-frequently used items higher up.
Do These 7 Things to Get an Organised Kitchen Pantry
2. Bookshelves
If your kitchen has open space but no dedicated pantry, bookshelves can be a great temporary solution. Bookshelves are especially useful if you’re renting, as you can repurpose them when you move out.
If your kitchen has open space but no dedicated pantry, bookshelves can be a great temporary solution. Bookshelves are especially useful if you’re renting, as you can repurpose them when you move out.
I find people are a bit scared of open pantry storage, but if it’s well-organised it can look great. Like overhead cabinets, utilise food storage containers for all your dry goods, so items look neat and stay fresh without a door to protect your food from air and dust.
One of the great aspects of using bookshelves is that you can usually adjust the shelf heights to accommodate small items, such as cans, and tall items, such as cereal boxes.
One of the great aspects of using bookshelves is that you can usually adjust the shelf heights to accommodate small items, such as cans, and tall items, such as cereal boxes.
3. Feature containers
Some homes have very limited pantry space, but an abundance of bench space. If this sounds familiar, you’ve probably ended up with pantry items stored on the kitchen bench. But if you use your bench space as storage, how do you stop it from looking messy and disorganised? Again, food can look great in matching glass jars displayed on the bench.
Some homes have very limited pantry space, but an abundance of bench space. If this sounds familiar, you’ve probably ended up with pantry items stored on the kitchen bench. But if you use your bench space as storage, how do you stop it from looking messy and disorganised? Again, food can look great in matching glass jars displayed on the bench.
Just by picking containers that are lovely to look at, you can make a feature as well as create functional storage space. Some of the older vintage jars are cute and come in sets that can add colour and retro style to your kitchen.
Expert Eye: The Pros and Cons of 5 Different Pantry Systems
Expert Eye: The Pros and Cons of 5 Different Pantry Systems
4. Trolley
Another option, which is great for renters, is to use a rolling trolley in the kitchen to store food items. Trolleys come in many sizes and designs, and are great because you can move them around your space depending on what you’re doing in the kitchen at the time.
You might store fruit on one level and tins or jars on another. Trolleys are so versatile and if you have a little nook in your kitchen but limited pantry space, this option could be for you.
Another option, which is great for renters, is to use a rolling trolley in the kitchen to store food items. Trolleys come in many sizes and designs, and are great because you can move them around your space depending on what you’re doing in the kitchen at the time.
You might store fruit on one level and tins or jars on another. Trolleys are so versatile and if you have a little nook in your kitchen but limited pantry space, this option could be for you.
5. Drawers
If you don’t have a pantry but do have a kitchen with lots of drawers, you may wonder how to use them to store food in a way that’s easy to see the contents.
If you don’t have a pantry but do have a kitchen with lots of drawers, you may wonder how to use them to store food in a way that’s easy to see the contents.
Recently I helped a client set up her pantry using drawers because her kitchen didn’t have a pantry. We used containers with clear lids so she could see the contents of each one without taking them out of the drawers. We also labelled the lids so it was easy to find what she needed.
Cupboards or Drawers: Which Work Best in the Kitchen?
Cupboards or Drawers: Which Work Best in the Kitchen?
It can be frustrating to live in a house without a pantry but there is usually a solution if you think creatively about it. Whether you hire a professional to install a permanent solution, or repurpose a piece of furniture from a different room, these five ideas are inexpensive and should make your kitchen an easier place to prepare meals in.
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Need more advice on revamping your kitchen? Don’t miss this Renovating Timeline: When to Choose Kitchen Fixtures and Finishes
Do you have any other ideas to add? Tell us in the Comments below, save your favourite images, like this story and join the conversation.
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Need more advice on revamping your kitchen? Don’t miss this Renovating Timeline: When to Choose Kitchen Fixtures and Finishes
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Without meaning to sound rude, how on earth do you bend over to get stuff out of those bottom cupboards. I love your panty, don't get me wrong, but I just looked at it and thought how would you get into those bottom cupboards. We turned our island bench into a pantry with all drawers behind cupboard doors and it is so easy for us to find stuff. We are older so the thought of having to do gymnastics just to access a cupboard is beyond both of us. :)
mary17155, As I explained in my earlier comment we have snazzy shelves that pull out and do away with the need to resort to gymnastics to get things out of the cupboards. The kitchen was carefully designed with aging in place in mind. Access is easy, even for those less able bodied. We put some cupboards in as we needed somewhere to store larger kitchen items that are not used often, such as the preserving pan, and this made good use of the corners in the room. The cupboards under the sink store cleaning products and have divisions for storing trays and chopping boards upright. The unit at the end of the island contains pull out rubbish and recycling bins. There are plenty of drawers elsewhere in the kitchen.
Ah, now I see what you mean. I was looking at the view into your walk in pantry from the other direction, and it didn't look wide enough to open the cupboard doors. Thank God we all figured out better pantry layouts than what has been the standard for years. You waste so much food in them, as you always grab stuff at the front of the shelves. I really like yours because you can see everything.