Our Best Pantry Renovation Ideas

Make a Butler's Pantry

Butler's pantry in blue — Lindsey King Photography

Pantry renovations expand well beyond just providing a space for excess food—these areas are also ideal for storing excess serveware and drinkware. "Try a butler's pantry in an open hallway adjacent to other rooms to create a functional transitional space for cocktail glasses, a bar sink, ice maker, and libation storage," says Kerrie Kelly, creative director of Kerrie Kelly Design Lab.

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Use Your Pantry to Prepare for Entertaining

Pantry for entertaining, storage for glasses — Brian Kellogg Photography

Have an open floor plan? Consider adding an entertaining pantry, which will serve as your new go-to area for dinner preparation. "Polish silver, stage place settings, and store larger serving dishes and family heirlooms right off the kitchen for an organized elegance that is functional, too," says Kelly.

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Add a Pantry Under Your Stairs

Closet-style pantry, under stairs — TiAmo Images

A walk-in closet style pantry under the stairs may be just the right amount of space for small appliances and dry goods. "Keeping kitchen countertops free from appliance clutter will go a long way in making meal prep faster and easier," says Kelly. "Decanting pantry staples such as sugar, flour, and rice into see-though containers helps preserve freshness and allows one to see when staples are running low."

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Create an Accent Door

Pantry in kitchen with glass door — Michael Alan Kaskel

Keep your pantry hidden without sacrificing aesthetics by replacing a normal wood door with a ribbed glass one. "Create an accent door for your pantry with textured glass," says Rebekah Zaveloff, co-founder and principal designer of KitchenLab Interiors. "It masks what is beyond in the pantry but keeps the overall feel light."

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Make a Coffee Station

Shelves holding plates and bowls in kitchen — Michael Alan Kaskel

Your pantry doesn't have to feel closed off, as evidenced by this bright design with open shelving. "This home has a coffee bar so guests can see everything and feel comfortable helping themselves in the morning," says Zaveloff.

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Add Storage for Cookware

Walk-in pantry inside kitchen — Michael Alan Kaskel

Pantries aren't just for storing food—you can also make room in them for cookware and serving platters. This pantry renovation pulls double duty as a space for excess food and cooking supplies. "It can be designed as a place for everything kitchen centric and overflow storage like back stock, appliances that are not used daily, and oversized serving pieces," says Zaveloff.

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Opt for Mesh-Front Drawers

pantry organization with mesh drawers — Courtesy of KitchenLab Interiors

If you frequently store produce in your pantry—think potatoes, onions, and other items that don't require refrigeration—consider mesh-front cabinets, which allow for air circulation within drawers. Zaveloff says the design feature also gives you at-a-glance visibility of glass insets while hiding clutter.

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Create a Workspace

pantry organization work space desk in white kitchen — Courtesy of KitchenLab Interiors

You might be able to further justify adding a walk-in pantry to your home if you're able to get even more mileage out of this space. One great way to do just that is to incorporate desk space for working in peace. Zaveloff designed this walk-in pantry with a desk placed next to a sunny window.

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Consider Bold Design Elements

pantry organization open shelves blue cabinets — Courtesy of KitchenLab Interiors

Walking into a pantry that's just as stylish as the rest of your home adds joy to your daily routine. Zaveloff chose dark cabinets and patterned tiles that made this functional space a stand out. The open shelving on top is ideal for everyday items while cabinets at the bottom provide more storage.

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Add Slide-Out Baskets

pantry organization with pull out fruit drawers — Adam Kane Macchia

Rather than leaving fruits and vegetables exposed on a dining room table or kitchen island, consider adding pull-out bins to your pantry for these items. Not only will mesh baskets keep your produce fresher longer, but it also frees up counter space. Place the basket towards the bottom of the pantry for grab-and-go ease, as seen in this pantry design by Sarah Robertson, founder and principal of Studio Dearborn.

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Implement Pocket Doors

pantry organization pocket door — Courtesy of KitchenLab Interiors

The sweep of a door can limit your kitchen configuration, especially if you run the risk of the door hitting a counter or cabinet (as is sometimes the case in small kitchens). Zaveloff freed up floor space by opting for a pocket door for this recessed pantry.

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Create a Wine Station

pantry organization wine station — Jamie Cobel/Rill Architects

If you don't have the layout for a separate walk-in pantry, consider other overlooked spaces in your home that could be repurposed as a storage area. This under-stair setup by Case Design is outfitted with everything a wine aficionado would love: a wine refrigerator and a wine dispenser.

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Add Platter Shelves

pantry organization white kitchen with open shelving — Courtesy of Rill Architects

Open shelving is ideal for frequently-accessed items—including platters and serving bowls, as seen in this pantry by Rill Architects. Turn a cabinet into ideally-sized cubbies for platters simply by removing the doors and positioning shelves to the right height.

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Make Room for Cleaning Supplies

pantry organization broom closet and drawers in blue kitchen — Adam Kane Macchia

Brooms and mops often get stashed in coat closets or end up leaning against a wall. Create a cubby in your pantry design to house cleaning supplies so they have a home—but are still out of the way.

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Opt for Glass-Front Cabinets

pantry organization white kitchen with glass front cabinets — Courtesy of KitchenLab Interiors

If you don't have a china cabinet to display your unique serving pieces, the problem of where to store these infrequently-used items remains. This design by Zaveloff provides a convenient home for serving bowls, platters, teapots, and other party helpers. Glass-front cabinets let you see everything at a glance while protecting items from dust.

Updated by

Madeline Buiano