How To Solve Your Kitchen Pantry Storage Problem
Not everyone’s kitchen has a pantry. If you are one of them, no worries! Here’s the perfect solution. We loved our townhouse the minute we saw it. Everything about it was a perfect fit for our needs. I was so caught up in my passion for the house that I negated to notice there wasn’t a kitchen pantry!
I figured I would come up with a solution once I moved in, and I did! Depending on your situation and the amount of room you have available, I hope my solutions can work for you too. Even though my kitchen is a pretty good size and has plenty of cabinets, because we own so much “stuff” we didn’t have enough room for storing items like bread, fruits, veggies, canned items and other sundries.
First, you need to make an assessment of how much room you have either in your kitchen or your dining room. If you have room for a piece of furniture, make sure you measure first to be sure you can fit it there properly. I knew I didn’t have enough space in my kitchen for a pantry, but I knew I had some space in my dining room for one. I shifted my breakfront a bit to make room for a piece I had my eye on and the dimensions were perfect for the area.
I spotted this over at Raymour and Flanigan and new it would work. Turns out, while this worked perfectly for storing items like bread, fruits, vegetables, etc. It was just the beginning of what we needed. What about canned foods, pasta, and dozens of other products that normally get stowed away in our pantry? Keep reading, I’ll show you that solution next!
I use pretty baskets to store the produce, bread, and veggies. This really piece turned out to be perfect for all the fresh foods we need to grab every day. It’s made a tremendous difference in accessing the foods we need to get at quickly and make sure it stays fresh too. I especially love the drawers. When you are looking for a pantry like this one, be sure to check the amount of hidden space it gives you too.
Overall, it turned out to be a decorative and functional piece of furniture that we love and use daily. But that piece was just the beginning of the final pantry storage solution for us. I accessed the rest of the open space and knew there was nothing more that could be done in the kitchen or dining area so I moved into the garage. Yep! Turns out the garage space, which is just off the kitchen, was the perfect space to add a pantry.
If you saw my post on how to Transform Your Garage With Designer Cabinets, the pantry was a part of that design framework. The transformation was astounding and so functional too. The pantry cabinets turned out to work great and we use them daily too.
We have a second fridge in the garage too and if you can do the same, you’ll be amazed at how useful it is. The pantry sits directly next to it and access to it is easy peasy!
Everything we need is stored here – canned foods, pasta, condiments – you name it, it’s in there. Again, I use baskets to organize what’s in there. Everything is easy to find and very organized too!
Everything stays fresh and clean too. The cabinets are such excellent quality and keep all of our foods safe and protected.
Since I bake a lot, I knew I wanted to have a cabinet specifically for my baking products. This worked out great as well. Now, I know exactly where all of my baking items are. We also have a cabinet for the extra pots, pans, bakeware, and anything that’s too large to fit in the kitchen cabinets. Never underestimate the power of what adding additional storage units can do for your home. It’s truly transforming.
I hope this post provided you with some ideas on how to tackle the problem of not having kitchen pantry storage space in your home. I know it worked out perfectly for us and I hope it does for you too! If you have any questions or comments please be sure to leave them in the comment section below. I’d be more than happy to answer them.
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I adore this post and admire your solutions of an additional refrigerator and storage cabinets in the garage and the cute storage cabinet in the dining room are great ideas for sure for homes that don’t have a way to add a pantry. You make stoarage look good.
Thanks Sue. It’s something how creative you get when you don’t have many options.
Quite frankly my first thought was: I can’t do this– – But then I remembered spring break is coming, I have no camps planned, I have a child who loves to help organize, and I can do this :-)
First, I have to clean the garage. That’s first. Half my garage is full of crap I intend to donate or do something else with. THEN I still might not have room for that 2nd fridge that I want. But maybe. I have cabinets in the garage right now and they are pretty full. I use industrial shelves for canned goods, etc. Love that.
Great ideas! Why does it seem that no matter how much storage space you have it still isn’t enough? I try to clean out my cabinets on a regular basis and that helps get rid of old or unused products.
I made my laundry room into a pantry and moved the laundry into a pocket-door accessed niche in my master bedroom’s bath en suite. Creativity can solve almost every challenge!
I always admire people who can organize like this. Believe me, I have tried. In every room. I just cannot keep it up. It looks fabulous!
Wow wow wow would love to have the extra storage /pantry in the garage. Love that you use a piece of furniture for a pantry what a great re-purpose.
I adder cabinet kitchen and a buffet cabinet in my dining room. I have a detached garage so I keep open shelves in my basement for canned and paper goods. I need that extra fridge.
I’m lusting over those garage cabinets! But then I would need a garage to put them in . . . Get ideas, thanks for sharing!
We have a second kitchen downstairs with a second freezer and cabinets where I store misc. appliances. BUT, as we have no pantry in the main kitchen, you have just inspired me to create one in the downstairs kitchen. Why the heck did I not consider that before? Thank you!
Such great ideas – which I hope to steal! We totally need to get organized.
Thanks Lois, I can’t tell you how much we love it. Have a great weekend my dear!
Hi Lisa, I’m glad you got inspired by the post. I can’t tell you how useful it is to have extra pantry space. Let me know if what you decide to do. I’d love to see it in one of your posts soon! Have a wonderful weekend!
Hi Kimberly, The cabinets are really a life saver for sure. You can put them in a basement too. Thanks so much for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend!
Hi Doreen, Oh yes, that fridge is amazing because we use it for bottle water, meats, frozen foods…you name it’s in there. Thanks so much for stopping by, and I hope you have an amazing weekend!
Extra pantry space is a Godsend for sure. glad you enjoyed the post xo
Hi Tam, thanks much for your kind words. Having all that extra pantry space is truly a Godsend. Have a wonderful weekend!
Hi Nancy, Oh wow, what a great idea. You must have loads of pantry space now. Yes, creativity can and does solve so much. thanks much and have a great weekend!
Hi Helene, You are so right. The more room you have for stuff the faster it gets filled up. lol. Yes, cleaning stuff out is a huge help. Thanks so much for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend!
Hi Carol, You will love that 2nd fridge. I can’t tell you how much of a Godsend it is. I bet you would love those cabinets too. If you do get them, be sure to let me know. I’d love to see the transformation. Have a wonderful weekend dear!
Hi Carla, I would love to see what you guys did. I love organizing. It’s such an amazing feeling after it’s done. Have a wonderful weekend!
Great storage ideas. Love the garage use of space for a kitchen extension Carolann …very sassy!
Thanks Patti. It’s made such a huge difference for sure!
I like your idea. I wanted to make my bar into a pantry, but it never happened.
Janice
Hi Carolann,
The kitchen in your photo looks really modern. Mine looks more old-fashioned. I have a pantry. Now that the kids are at college, ours works fine for us.
Janice Thanks for bringing your recipe to Blogger’s Pit Stop,
Janice, Pit Stop Crew
Sorry Carolann,
I mean your post.
Janice
You were lucky to have a pantry! I really missed having one that’s why I had to be creative about it. Thanks much for stopping by Janice. Always great hearing from you! xo
no problem hun :)
I find spring is such a great motivator for me to get some projects started. That sounds like it would have been an awesome idea!