The design of pantry cupboards is often disregarded. Usually used for storage, it can quickly become clogged with spices, dried pasta, over-purchased products, and other tiny kitchen appliances. But what if we told you that even the tiniest pantry could be functional, user-friendly, and attractive all at the same time?
Have you ever read an article about organizing your pantry on the internet? They all assume we have huge walk-in pantries and infinite storage, which makes the advise difficult to implement to our cramped London kitchens. However, as we approach lockdown 3.0, we're in in need of new activities, and our kitchen cabinets are the next to be remodeled. So we enlisted the help of our dearest friend, Hazie (our office manager and Steph's mother). Hazie's kitchen serves as a backdrop for our picture shoots, and her pantry cupboards are a nice, orderly haven... She also categorizes her clothing into seasons, such as 'winter jumpers' and'summer jumpers.' Goals in life. Herbs and spices are a necessary annoyance as well. A magnetic spice rack that you can attach to the back of a cabinet door can help you make the most of a little area. It's neater, easier to use, and you won't have to buy cinnamon for the third time because it's been hiding.
A magnetic strip for knives can be used in the same way. It's easy to get to and won't clutter up your counters or drawers!
Tins are a pantry's worst enemy. They're circular (which is inconvenient) and can't be decanted. We find that storing them in a pull-out drawer and writing the contents of each tin on the lid is the most practical method (time for that sharpie to shine again).
If you don't have a lot of pull-out drawers, don't stack tins more than two deep in your cabinets; otherwise, the goods at the rear will get lost in the void). To keep everything visible, use shelf risers instead. But let's get back to the kitchen... Cookery (especially something new like plant-based cooking) becomes easier, faster, and more efficient when your cupboards are well organized. It also aids in the reduction of food waste and the avoidance of expired products in the back of the pantry cupboards.
There are numerous amazing pantry cupboards to mimic for a well-designed area, ranging from space-conscious cabinets to creative walk-in solutions. We consulted with five interior designers to obtain their top ideas on the most important pantry design regulations. A successful pantry is all about efficient storage, and luxury is achieved via thoughtful space utilization. 'We usually advocate layered pull-out drawers because they allow you to utilise the entire drawer depth while still having simple access to the contents,' says Lena Cottray, Senior Designer at Rigby&Rigby.
This is especially crucial when working with smaller places. Vertical pull-outs are another great technique to make use of unused space in a cabinetry run.
'For best organization, make sure the pantry cupboards you construct is flexible, and consider integrating an interchangeable labeling system,' she adds. Second pantry design rule: pantry shelf depth. This may appear to be a little point, but it is critical to do right if you want your storage to be truly functional and the objects on the shelves to be easily accessible. Pantry shelves should be 16 to 20 inches deep, according to experts. If you have a small pantry, though, shelves the depth of one tin – four to five inches – will suffice. Keep in mind that too deep shelves will necessitate frequent restacking to keep articles from becoming obsolete.
Unless, of course, you have space - perhaps on the back of the door – to store a foldaway step ladder to make rarely used goods easier to get, the higher shelves will benefit from being shallower. Third pantry design rule: create zones in the pantry for different types of things throughout the design stage.
This will influence the storage and shelf depth you choose, and it's a little but important design aspect to consider early on. To free up drawer and shelf space around the walls, you could need a deep shelf just for cereal packets, or shallow, high-up shelves just for seldom-used or seasonal products, or a door-hung spice rack for pantry cupboards.
Colour-coding these areas can make it even easier to locate goods fast.
'Colour and category coordination are the best ways to design your pantry,' Ella Jade adds. 'To make the most aesthetically designed pantry, arrange your shelves using parallel lines and organize by colour, category, and height.' In the never-ending need for storage space, pantry cupboards, like laundry rooms, frequently play double duty. Obviously, your pantry should have a mix of cupboards, drawers, and counter space, but even a tiny pantry with counter space will make it easy to put your shopping bags down and pack everything away into its assigned position. The fifth pantry rule is that pantry doors should never be disregarded as a source of vital information.
Start with the door if you're confused where to begin when constructing or upgrading a pantry. You'll want to hide the inevitable clutter in your walk-in pantry cupboards, whether it's little or enormous. Consider the function of the pantry door when deciding which one to buy. Perhaps you'd want to use your doors as additional storage or as chalkboards on which family members can write sweet notes or grocery lists. The one and only exception? When you have a small kitchen and want to save room by installing a sliding barn door.
'A pantry door, especially if it holds your dishwasher, can act as a visual and aural barrier for your secondary storage area. 'We've had a number of requests for glazed pantry doors from clients who want to make the room feel like it's not completely separate from the kitchen,' explains Jennifer Jarvis, Senior Designer at Helen Green Design.
See also: Understairs pantry cupboards ideas - fantasy larder cabinets for beneath a stairwell
'Steel framed doors with internal glazing are a terrific way to make a design statement while keeping showcasing the pantry's internal joinery's attention to detail and design. For tiny rooms, a standalone pantry cabinet is ideal. They function well as breakfast stations, and the inside of the doors can be used for additional storage that is conveniently accessible when the doors are opened.'