15 Reach-In and Walk-In Pantry Ideas

Tucked Away

Keep food storage hidden and your kitchen looking sleek by putting the pantry behind closed doors. Tall panel-style cabinet doors open to reveal a pantry and a refrigerator, keeping food in one central spot. The pantry's deep shelves are perfect for storing dry, canned, and jarred goods, while adjacent open shelving puts pretty cookbooks and serving pieces on display.

• Find a New Look for Your Kitchen

Slim Supply

Turn a small stretch of a wall into a hardworking breakfast station. Use cabinet doors to help it blend into the kitchen. Open shelves keep creamers, coffee beans, cereals, mugs, and juice pitchers within reach. A small countertop near electrical outlets is the perfect spot to house a coffeepot and toaster. Heavy-duty pullout drawers at the bottom can hold muffin mixes, cereal boxes, and heavy canned goods.

Barnwood Beauty

Who says pantry doors should blend in with their surroundings? A reclaimed barn door breaks up an expanse of matching cabinetry, adding character and a touch of playfulness to an otherwise utilitarian space. In addition, installing a cabinet above the door is a great way to capture additional storage space.

• Pretty Pantry Design Ideas

Why Use Open Shelving?

See why open shelving is the key to a super-tidy kitchen pantry.

Restaurant-Style Pantry

No one knows food storage better than restaurants, so why not follow their lead when it comes to walk-in pantry ideas? A swinging door makes for easy in-out access, while frosted glass hides storage from guests. Wire racks from a restaurant supply store are an affordable and stylish place to house foodstuffs and cookware.

Easy Access

A tall pullout pantry installed in the heart of the kitchen makes it easy to store groceries where meals are prepared. This easy-access pantry matches the other cabinetry for a cohesive look. Although narrow, it slides out to reveal long shelves that pack plenty of storage in a small space.

Now You See It, Now You Don't

Small pantries have a tendency to feel dark and cramped. A frosted glass door is a stylish walk-in pantry idea that lets in light without putting your storage on display. White shelving and an interior fixture also boost brightness.

Clever Adjustments

Incorporating a floor-to-ceiling, double-door pantry into the cabinetry is a great solution when the kitchen layout doesn't allow for a walk-in closet pantry. Adjustable shelving makes it easy to customize the storage for taller boxes, bottles, and canned goods. For additional storage, the on-the-door shelving doubles the space for small goods.

Bright and Efficient

In a small kitchen, removing the pantry door allows for easier access and keeps the room bright and airy. Adding labels to the shelves and storage containers keeps the tight quarters organized. Another great use of space is installing various horizontal, vertical, and square shelves, as well as sliding spice racks and storage bins.

Butler's Pantry

A butler's pantry at the end of a small hallway off the kitchen is the perfect place to store linens, serving pieces, and other infrequently used items. Make it easy to quickly spot what you need. Remove the doors from the upper cabinets, install a narrow countertop, and use open-air pullout shelves in the lower cabinets.

• Plan the Perfect Butler's Pantry

Hidden Assets

Hide a walk-in pantry built behind the kitchen walls by installing an upper cabinet with cabinet-look doors below. This fool-the-eye solution provides extra storage in the bulkhead and a seamless look in the kitchen. When a pantry lacks windows, it's crucial to add ample overhead lighting.

Slide It Out

Convert a cabinet into a pantry by installing slide-out shelves. Keep the small space organized by labeling each shelf and using colorful baskets and bins to corral small items. These simple solutions help family members quickly find what they want, return items to their correct spots, and avoid messy spills from open packaging.

All the Right Angles

A corner pantry with an angled door maximizes storage space in the kitchen. Skip expensive custom cabinetry in favor of basic shelving installed in an L-shape configuration. Use lazy Susan platforms to capture the corners and labeled plastic tubs under the shelves to store paper goods.

To-the-Ceiling Storage

Make the most of a small pantry by outfitting the three walls with floor-to-ceiling shelving. Choose deeper, taller shelves for the back wall and short, narrow ledges on each side for cans, bottles, and other pint-size products. Reeded-glass doors hide the pantry's contents but keep the kitchen airy. Installing a pendant light inside the closet makes it easy to grab and go, especially for a late-night snack.

Stow Bulk Items

Kitchen pantries aren't limited to storing food. A clever kitchen pantry idea is to create a separate area for cleaning products and other household needs when space allows. For this catchall storage, it's best to install deep, tall shelves that allow plenty of room for items like paper towels, detergent bottles, and linen-filled baskets.