A well-equipped, organized, and attractive pantry is a kitchen storage must-have and is an essential part of organizing any home! Your pantry can be hidden, built-in, butler's style, freestanding, or a combination that perfectly suits your home and needs. No matter the size and style, kitchen storage solutions should optimize your cooking area layout by consolidating everything from fresh produce, utensils, appliances, dinnerware, spice containers, and a lot more in one handy location. Check out our top tips for organizing your kitchen to make cooking and cleaning much more enjoyable!
The essentials for a pantry that will boost your kitchen organization style? It should be easy to access and arrange, low-maintenance to keep clean, and appealing to tidy up after you're done cooking!
If your kitchen is a cluttered mess and your existing pantry isn’t cutting it, there are so many ways to go about prettying it up. The options for improving the functionality and efficiency in your home have never been so vast and varied — shelves, bins, racks, and more!
Check out some of the creative pantry storage ideas that will make your life easier and keep your kitchen space spick and span.
Kitchen storage pantry design considerations
With a myriad of pantry organization ideas to suit any lifestyle, careful planning is necessary to design a space that performs efficiently for you.
Who would have guessed that this door right below the top cabinet leads way into a butler’s pantry? Perfectly executed by Studio McGee, the door color and design matches the rest of the kitchen cabinetry, resulting in a look that feels consistent and balanced. For contrast, the designer opts for a different style and color of cabinetry in the pantry, and yet maintains a uniform flow by sticking to the same wood flooring between the two rooms.
Whether you’re looking to declutter or pursuing a minimalist kitchen design, these key elements will help Before beginning the design process, keep these in mind to ensure that your kitchen is both highly functional and aesthetically pleasing:
4 Pantry Design Elements to Max out Kitchen Organization
- How much storage space are you working with?
- What items will you store in the pantry? (preserved food, fresh produce, small appliances, containers etc.)
- What are your preferred storage and shelving designs? (wire, full solid wall shelving, open shelving, rolling ladder, rotating shelving, space-conscious cabinets, etc.)
- What is the most crucial part of your pantry design? (functionality, adjustability, aesthetics, etc.)
Pantry storage essentials
For a home with limited storage or a spacious butler’s pantry, a streamlined space is key for productivity. Be sure to keep everything in order by adding as much dedicated storage as possible. As you start to do so, consider these functional yet stylish pantry essentials to help keep your food fresh for longer, containers clearly labeled, and everyday staples within easy reach for your next meal.
This walk-in butler’s pantry designed by Clark & Co is light and airy thanks to the white and warm wood palette. Meanwhile the floating shelves keep things neat and organized, and a checkerboard floor with Thassos and Carrara marble tiles make this pantry feel lovely and luxe. This white and gray patterned kitchen floor trend is a gorgeous way to blend traditional home design with a fresh touch!
Large or small, accessibility is the main ingredient for a well-functioning kitchen pantry. Deep base cabinets underneath the countertop can hold more goodies but can also be a hassle when trying to find or retrieve items from the back. Pull-out cabinets that slide out make life a lot easier by providing ample storage space as well as easy and quick access to pots or jars deep in the cabinets.
If you have standard cabinets in your pantry space but dread the effort that’s needed to access those hard-to-reach places between two adjoining rows of base cabinets, then blind corner shelves that roll-out (also known as magic or lazy sally shelves) to bring light or heavy items to you are a must-have! Once installed, there’s absolutely no need to crouch down and exert yourself to reach way back just for your pots and pans (and their lids!). These are key to maximizing storage space in a small kitchen!
It’s often a challenge to find the perfect place for over-sized cooking and serving utensils like spatulas, tongs, or stirring spoons. A utensil organizer — which is a thin, storage drawer that slides out to effectively display your tools — offers enough space to store your day-to-day cooking utensils. A clever pull-out organizer forgoes the hassle of searching through a big pile of junk in a drawer and can be incorporated into a small space to make efficient use of every inch of your pantry drawers.
If you happen to have a butler’s pantry, even if it’s a small space within your kitchen, adding a statement-making barn door is a charming twist to the ordinary door. Offering a rustic and edgy farmhouse aesthetic, the sliding barn door gives you easy access to groceries, serving ware and any countertop appliances you may not wish to have in your main kitchen — and if things should ever get cluttered, it conceals the mess when guests come over.
Is your pantry space on the smaller side? Worry not! This lovely space by styled by Kasey shows just how every inch matters. The addition of a farmhouse-style sliding barn door keeps cooking clutter hidden while lending a charming touch to the kitchen.
If you don’t have space for a walk-in or butler’s pantry, a hutch or breakfront can be converted into a kitchen storage masterpiece! The pantry cabinet or larder has all the envy-inducing storage and organization solutions for the kitchen. It houses drawers, sliders and shelves for every item; while additional countertops add much-needed prep space, for a timeless look that isn't short of elegance or functionality!
A small hutch may be all you need to get your kitchen organizing on track. This cleverly designed kitchen storage solution by Lewis & Weldon Custom Kitchens features a combination of cupboards and counter space for a coffee bar — the addition of glass-front doors put cabinet interiors on display to ensure a neatly organized setting.
The power of a good container system can turn a messy and cluttered kitchen pantry into an organizer’s dream. One trick to an organized yet aesthetically pleasing space is having similar storage containers to create a cohesive look. Dive into the fun of organizing your kitchen storage by selecting your preferred jars or snap-tight containers, and designing a labeling system that will spark joy!
The finish you opt for: white, metal, neutral, or even clear containers, will depend on the overall style and vibe you’re going for. Flat dry-good containers with an airtight seal are perfect for storing everything from sprinkles to seasonings, and they stack easily so you can organize without worrying about taking up too much room.
Looking for a clean, sleek look? Opt for storage containers with a consistent design. We especially love how this Ice Cold Penny Round White Glass Bianco Carrara Tile backsplash enhances the all-white and natural wood décor scheme in this walk-in pantry, resulting in a look that’s both modern and timeless.
To set yourself up for success, use simple easy-to-read labels on everything so you know exactly what’s what. To create a uniform look, keep the label design consistent.
You can design and print your own dry good container labels, or find a source for customizable labels like this Etsy scoop!
While the kitchen pantry is the last room that your visitors will get to see, there’s no reason why it shouldn’t reflect your own style! Make your storage and utility space feel special and delightful by bringing in some quirky décor elements. These personal touches can help make it truly your own:
- dedicate a specific spot to display meaningful collections: cookbooks, ornaments, vintage letters, postcards or art, or framed keepsakes, just to name a few.
- create an indoor cutting garden for fresh herbs at your fingertips.
- display inventive industrial-style clipboards.
- add a chalkboard paint wall that creates a contrast and allows for fun messages!
Inspiring pantry wall and floor tiles
You've chosen your pantry essentials to keep things organized, but there's one more vital element that can up the functionality and beauty of your organizational design scheme. Wall and floor tiles can protect and personalize the look and feel of your home.
From timeless and elegant mosaics to herringbone and geometric patterns, stunning tile surfaces are sure to inspire and accentuate your overall aesthetics. Our Recycled Glass Herringbone Mosaic in Blue Wood Color is a clear example of how a striking backsplash can add so much interest and dimension.
Pantry backsplash design ideas
Having a pretty background visible can jazz up your space and motivate you to keep things in order! Firstly, tiles are a durable option that’s easy to clean and maintain, which is key for a tucked away area that can accumulate dust and other surface coatings. A light wipe down will keep your tiled pantry walls clean, while paint or wallpaper can discolor or build up residue over time. Choosing a color or pattern that complements the rest of your kitchen space creates a uniform and cohesive finish.
White and bright tiles with subtle texture can add visual interest and dimension. Far from boring, white subway tiles are the holy grail of any design scheme and will make your pantry space look more spacious than it is.
These Glacier Pure White Glass Subway Tiles are bright and chic, and available in both frosted and polished finishes to add a glass gleam to your walls, bounce natural light to amplify your space, and pair perfectly with any cabinet paint or interior style!
With the right design cues, a bold and vibrant backsplash color can brighten up even the smallest of spaces. Whether compact or large, a butler’s pantry is the perfect spot to showcase an artful tile application that accents your décor scheme. Ideally, you may want to opt for a colorway that will pick out the tones of your kitchen cabinets to marry the two rooms together.
If you were looking for ways to switch things up, tiles laid in a stylish and classic chevron pattern offer tons of room for creativity. From chevron mosaics that are easy to lay in place or a hand-laid design with glass or marble subway tiles, you can choose a color and material that beautifully complements warm wood storage cabinets or mounted shelves, as well as edgy brass hardware.
If you don’t have the luxury of space for a walk-in pantry, make use of an unused nook to create a visual center of interest. Here, this built-in pantry gives an illusion that it’s a separate space, and yet blends in effortlessly with the rest of the room’s architectural features. Our Herringbone Pearl White Thassos Marble and Shell Tile teams beautifully with the grey-toned cabinetry and open shelving.
If your kitchen pantry is on the small side or enjoys very little natural light, mirrored tiles are the perfect option for a backsplash. They not only make the wall surface easier to clean, but also make the room feel much deeper and more spacious too, while communicating the right style statement. Furthermore, mirrored tiles will maximize what light there is in the space, ultimately creating a dynamic and elegant finish.
Adding Beveled Antique Mirror Glass Tile under your cabinets or behind your shelving will amplify the feeling of space even in a small storage space.
If you're a sucker for over-the-top designs, tiling right up to the ceiling will protect all surfaces and elevate the visual appeal of your pantry instantly. Bright hues are sure to create a striking focal point in an all-white or neutral setting — while muted shades lend a casual and understated finish.
Give your pantry space a modern and sleek spin with large format wall tiles. In a soothing neutral design, they create a timeless backdrop for dark wood or colored storage cabinetry, and in bright hues, they can bring the wall alive without altering the color scheme of your kitchen pantry.
It doesn't matter what your design aesthetic is, one thing for sure: penny tiles are a timeless and eye-catching addition to virtually any walk-in pantry. Beloved for their versatility, the tiny circles look crisp and effortlessly merge into an intriguing textured surface when viewed from further away. What’s more, they can be subtle enough to act as a blank canvas, bring a contemporary feel or lend a punch of statement color.
These Cream Penny Recycled Glass Mosaic Tiles add a patterned backsplash to this farmstand pantry design with wire baskets and jar containers for dry goods. Not only are they perfect for this country chic kitchen, but they’re low-maintenance and easy to clean!
In deep green, navy, charcoal or jet black, a dark backsplash can round out a moody pantry space or bring a touch of drama and sophistication. Create contrast and add extra depth by pairing moody hues with light storage cabinetry.
Pantry tile flooring
Hard wearing, easy to clean and aesthetically handsome, tiles are important whether you are designing a new pantry or giving an existing one a fresh update. From porcelain to natural marble, there’s an enormous choice of tiles suitable for any budget, lifestyle, and design scheme.
This walk-in pantry design by Michelle Berwick has an effortless flow with the transitional kitchen design, thanks to the plank flooring that seamlessly leads from the living space into the storage area.
When picking floor tiles for your butler’s pantry, there are two ways to go about it:
- choose the same floor material, color, and style to the adjoining kitchen for a uniform and seamless look,
- or opt for a different color, pattern, and style to create contrast.
The right material, color and design can set the tone for the rest of your pantry space — however, they will need to live in harmony with the rest of the rooms’ features to create a cohesive finish. Think about how your flooring will tie the room together as well as what vibe you are going for. Whether you want a wood-look floor tile that has the beauty of hardwood with none of the drawbacks, or a decorative pattern to liven up your space, these flooring ideas can pair with any interior style!
For example, white flooring tiles will immediately brighten up your space and team beautifully with just about any cabinetry and shelving style, while a striking geometric pattern can exude a rustic or cutting-edge look that complements neutral or light-toned wood fixtures. With proper planning, you can create a kitchen storage pantry that feels seamless and stylish!
