Stumped for small pantry ideas? Fear not: You can transform your small pantry into a space that’s equal parts practical and design-forward. Devin Shaffer, lead interior designer at Decorilla in San Francisco, acknowledges that kitchen pantry spaces can be some of the most challenging projects for interior designers to work on—mainly because storage and function come first, and style, second. That said, Shaffer doesn’t despair upon tackling these areas, which have the power to host the most clever and creative design in the home. “It’s amazing what’s possible,” Shaffer says. “Even the tiniest pantry can be functional and gorgeous when you strategically design it.” She adds that elements like sliding drawers, over-the-door racks, harmonious color palettes, and natural materials will be game changers. (Once you try pull-out drawers, you’ll be a convert for good.)
Home organizing expert Amanda Wiss emphasizes the importance of using vertical space over depth to organize a small pantry. Wiss, founder and CEO of home organizing company Urban Clarity and the Brooklyn-based home staging company Urban Staging, knows that “you want to be able to see all your items easily, [and] not go digging for a package of snacks in the back.” Wiss looks to risers, stackable containers, additional shelves, and baskets as some of the organizational heroes to make use of every bit of vertical storage space—including the door.
Read on for 12 small pantry ideas to make the most of that awkward nook, tight closet, or even a few shelves and an undercounter cabinet.
