Are you looking for some pantry ideas or inspiration? You've come to the right place. Check out this articel to see the list of ideas we have put together for you.
When I first began my search for a home, one of my top priorities was a walk-in pantry. As someone who loves to cook, garden, preserve food, raise livestock, stockpile staple ingredients, and of course, cook- having a large pantry was important to me.
When I wasn’t browsing homes for sale, I was looking everywhere I could for walk in pantry ideas. I checked Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, Reddit, and Twitter, and even started asking my homesteading friends how they set theirs up. Here are some of the best kitchen pantry ideas I found.
Utility Room Walk-In Pantry Ideas
Almost right away, I realized that many modern houses don’t have large pantries. But most have utility rooms and laundry rooms adjacent to the kitchen, which was good enough for me.
Laundry Room Pantry
This gorgeous laundry room / walk in pantry combo was created by an amateur, but wow does it look fantastic. Simple shelving, ikea butcher block countertops, upgraded lighting, and elegant tile flooring elevated this space and made it beautifully functional.
What I love about this small walk-in kitchen pantry is how tall the shelving system is. Leaving enough space between shelves allows room for tall bottles, boxes, small appliances, and larger decanting containers. The shelves are also wide, which believe me, comes in very handy after you’ve built up a healthy stockpile. The woman who built this pantry said that she is shorter, so the step stool is a helpful necessity.
Storage Over The Washer and Dryer
There is a ton of valuable real estate hanging out over your washer and dryer set (if they are non-stackable). You’ll need a step ladder to access this space, but wow it is so worth it.
Since washers and dryers need to sit just off the wall to accommodate their plugins, water hoses, and dryer lint vent, extra-wide shelving just makes sense. Something that I really appreciate about this set up is the use of baskets and storage boxes. If you don’t want to spend a lot of time off the ground searching for items, use boxes like this and label them accordingly. It makes life much simpler and looks great.
A word to the wise- make sure that your washer’s door can still stay open (without being held open) even with the shelving above it. If your shelves are too wide, the washer door will not stay open, and that will become a huge hassle every time you do laundry.
Stylish and Colorful Pantry and Laundry Room Hybrid
Wow! Where to even begin? I love this space. The extra tall ceiling, those blue cabinets and doors, the matching blue shelving, the matching washer and dryer set, the marble countertops and backsplash, the gold lighting fixture, the eclectic wallpaper, and that vibrant red mixer, I am simply in love.
I like the idea of keeping a designated coffee station in the walk in pantry, rather than the kitchen. It’s something most of us do every day, but it takes up a considerable amount of space. Moving your coffee set up to the pantry is just brilliant. I also enjoy the cookbooks on display here. You’ll see them regularly, but they won’t be cluttering up your kitchen.
Another touch that is thoughtful is the drawers, cabinets, and use of solid doors. You can keep your more aesthetically pleasing and frequently used items out on display while keeping the messier cooking necessities tucked out of sight. I think I could live in this pantry!
Walk In Pantry with Small Appliance Storage Spaces
Tall Shelves and Built In Countertops
Something I didn’t expect as I entered adulthood was how many small appliances I would be gifted, especially after I married. Many of them were surprisingly useful too, and I had to find a place for them in my home. You will thank yourself for making space for them as they accumulate and make cooking, canning, and preserving more accessible.
If you decant your ingredients, having a large countertop, funnels, and scoops will make the process quick and easy. Learn from my mistakes! Labeling is not unnecessary or purely aesthetic. After a while, it’s difficult to tell the difference between sugar, powdered sugar, flour, and dry milk once they’re in similar containers, especially at first glance.
Something I love about this pantry is the large windows on the left side. This person gets to have a black and moody pantry without sacrificing any gorgeous natural lighting.
I like seeing curtain-style storage under those black countertops too. They add a unique texture, and it’s much easier to toss a curtain in the washer than to carefully hand wash, rinse, and dry a cabinet.
White Shelves and Wicker Baskets
I adore this pantry space. White paint and natural wood and natural wicker is such a beautiful combination that looks simple, but not drained of color.
On the left side, there are several hanging individual containers up top and wicker baskets below. This pantry also has a lot of under-shelf storage space that isn’t yet being used.
On the right, there are even more baskets and boxes, especially at the top of the shelves.
One of the best pieces of advice I got while planning my pantry was to use lots of boxes and baskets. For one, it makes the space look cohesive and less cluttered, but beyond that, it adds a layer of organization, and it makes it much easier to access items placed on higher shelves. While I appreciate a good step stool, I would much rather stand on my tip toes and carefully pull a box or basket down to leisurely sift through while standing on the floor.
I like the lazy Susan filled with glass liquid dispensers. It’s so easy to accidently clank delicate bottles together and knock over or break something, so having a lazy Susan allows you to reach the bottles in the back without risking those in the front.
All of the shelves are deep and wide, something I love. Because of this, I would place my kitchen appliances at chest-to-eye level, so it’s easy to pull down and use them. If you’re regularly swapping out appliances, it’s nice to not have to open any doors or bend down to access them. Smart setup!
Floor to Ceiling Shelves with Fantastic Countertops
This large walk-in kitchen pantry is moody and brings me so much joy.
I’m not sure if those wooden slat boxes sitting on casters are holding root vegetables or something else, but they look so good in this space. Right above them, there are two long shelves intended just for kitchen appliances, serving dishes, and cooking supplies.
Above that, there is yet another butcher block counter, with even taller kitchen appliances such as a mixer, a draft beer machine, and an industrial food processor. I love the rope lighting that is attached to the bottom of the shelf right above the counter. Good lighting makes all the difference, and this space is functional all hours of the day thanks to these lights.
The shelves above the counter are filled with glass jars of pasta, flour, spices, and even more oversized pots and pans.
Floor to Ceiling Cabinets and Shelves
This space is so elegant and cohesive, wow, wow, wow. I think this is one of my all-time favorite walk in pantries.
First, those classic large black and white tiles are what dreams are made of, and the long-vein marble countertops that effortlessly blend into a backsplash are just as unforgettable.
I believe this is more of a butler’s pantry rather than a plain pantry because there is a built in sink and stacking ovens.
This modern walk-in pantry is a nice blend of open shelving and closed cabinetry.
You can tell that a lot of time and effort went into the containers used on the shelves too. Each shelf has matching containers, but no two shelves have the same type of containers used. Still, everything still coordinates well.
This walk-in pantry doubles as a food storage space and an outright work of art.
A Dramatic Butler’s Pantry
Oh my gosh, I cannot get over how stunning this space is. I love the arched ceiling, and whatever material is used to adorn it. The black cabinets, aged brass drawer pulls, dark countertops, and dark hardwood floors flow so perfectly into that grand white kitchen. I also have to mention that this walk-in pantry dimensions is huge, bigger than many people’s entire kitchens. What an excellent place for food prep and additional storage space.
This pantry offers floor-to-ceiling cabinets, long quartz countertops, glass cupboard doors, electrical outlets, lower shelves, and even a coffee-making station on the back wall in the corner. I love the pendant lights, and how almost every inch of these walls is functional and useful.
The countertops lend lots of extra space for food prep, food supplies, and small appliances.
I just know that this gorgeous butler’s pantry really keeps the main kitchen organized and clean. What a brilliant setup.
If it weren’t for knowing who designed and built this giant butler’s pantry, then I wouldn’t believe that this is a pantry and not a full kitchen.
I can’t tell if that large oval window or the old-fashioned farmhouse sink is the star of this show, I love them equally.
My eyes can’t help but wander over to admire the navy drawers, cabinets, and glass cabinet doors. I also appreciate that countertop space, and additional storage that runs all the way up to the ceiling.
The design of this pantry is thoughtful and very functional. Even if the cupboards were bursting with supplies, they will still look clean, cohesive, and organized thanks to the overall smart design of this dedicated space.
I especially love those wooden floors and that runner rug. They compliment the countertops, without being too perfectly matched nor clashing.
Walk in Pantry Doors
A Frosted Glass Pantry Door
This door was a do-it-yourself project that was purchased as unfinished and not pre-hung. The homeowner drilled holes for the hinges and lock, installed the hinges and doorknob, stained the wood, frosted the glass with Rustoleum frosted glass spray, and then attached the Pantry sign as a sticker. I think it looks professionally made!
Sliding Doors
This small yet thoughtfully designed walk in pantry has a sliding door to conceal it.
Since the pantry is attached to the kitchen, it’s not practical to have a wide door swinging into your cooking space, and it’s also not wise to make it swing into the smaller pantry area.
Built-In Cabinet Doors
This walk-in pantry is cleverly disguised by two large cabinetry doors.
There is a small L-shaped countertop, thoughtful lighting, shelving, convenient baskets, and such a beautifully cohesive look in the pantry and the kitchen itself.
Also, the pantry placement is pretty brilliant, its in the kitchen, right between the stove and refrigerator. It’s close by, convenient, but not in the way at all. I love how well the blue cabinets and stainless steel appliances blend together.
Narrow French Doors
This pantry is accessed by two narrow french doors that are four-sixths glass. I like how light and airy the white kitchen and pantry look. The light colored wood of the doors almost perfectly matches the cutting boards, boxes, and wooden lids used within the pantry. It flows so easily.
Even when the doors are closed you can still see most of the pantry, but it still makes the space a little more separate and also more organized.
Now let’s talk walk-in kitchen pantry shelving. There are only three shelves that make up this storage space, but they are tall and functional. They make it easy to store a lot in a small space.
The bottom shelf acts as an extra wide white countertop, which makes it perfect for that lazy Susan and big countertop kitchen appliance.
Brilliant Walk In Pantry Details
Appliances at the Back
A little design trick that everyone should know about is to place your big, shiny, and heavy items at the back of the pantry, so they are what you see first when you open the door. These appliances will almost always look neat and orderly, so you want them to make the first impression. It’s okay to have a bit of chaos on the sides, because the back wall grounds it all.
There’s a lot going on food-wise, but none of it is overwhelming or chaotic thanks to the simple muted color scheme and thoughtful placement.
I like the brown-grey color scheme here. It’s not something that I see a lot, but enjoy looking at.
Store Most of Your Food in Clear Containers
Glass containers are not just for purely aesthetic reasons. Sure they create a cohesive look, but they also make it easier to keep track of how much of an ingredient you have left, they store in tighter spaces than their original packaging, and they can make measuring easier.
If you store your ingredients in canning jars, you can quickly measure out food based on the marked lines on the sides and backs of the jars.
Another perk of using glass jars is that they make it easier for you to remember what you have, so you won’t forget or oversee those key ingredients.
A Wall Mounted Canned Goods Rack
If you don’t plan to keep a large stockpile of canned goods, this rack is a smart solution to easily see the foods you have available and quickly access what you want. It also helps keep your foods in automatic rotation.
Make sure you mount this on studs and not just into drywall because it will end up being surprisingly heavy. You do not want that crashing in the middle of the night!
A Countertop Canned Goods Organizer
If you intend to keep a larger supply of canned goods, this organizer is a great way to keep those cans in rotation and used up before their expiration date.
You can set this on the floor, a shelf, or a countertop, but make sure that the shelf or counter can support all the weight.
I would also suggest placing the rack where you want it before filling it with your canned goods. You don’t want to scratch anything while moving it.
Use a Color Scheme
One of the more underrated parts of the pantry and kitchen design is the color scheme. If you can make a uniform look at the base of your pantry, it’s okay if things get a little unruly or disorganized. A cohesive overall design will make messes a little more forgiving.
I love how this homeowner made functional items look decorative, like that beautiful tricolor pitcher and the gorgeous glassware sitting above it. These small little details make a huge difference and keep the space feeling neat and polished.
I’m a sucker for a narrow countertop, especially that glassy white marble look.
Even though this room is moody and black, it still looks well-lit and easy to see in. I appreciate the wicker elements in the baskets. It’s a great contrast to the black wooden shelves and cabinetry.
Most of the lower cabinets are covered too, so they can hide any colorful or messy looking packaging that most food is packaged within.
I spy a dishwasher on the bottom right side, close to the door. I love the idea of having a dishwasher here because it give you more space in the kitchen, and keeps the noise levels to a minimum.
Store Items in Places That Match Your Needs
First of all, I adore that white subway tile paired with open shelving. Second of all, it’s okay to bend the rules to match your style and your unique needs.
This person has her plastic containers, soft bins, bagged foods, and plastic boxes lower on her shelves. Breakables, such as glass jars, cups, dishes, glassware, her mixer, and coffee maker (which can get messy in little hands) are up higher. If you have small children, it’s okay to move your items around to suit your family best.
Yes, the those big pots and pans that are way up high are heavy; while it isn’t ideal to have them up high, it will at least keep little ones from pulling it off the shelves onto themselves.
Conversely, if you have back pain or limited mobility, it’s totally okay to keep your heavy items within reach, or out permanently on a pantry counter.
If you’re a taller person, put your most used items up high, and your least commonly used ones down low.
Your space exists to serve you, not the other way around. I think it’s easy to forget this.
What suggestions do you have for walk in pantries? Do you have a favorite one?