A pantry is undoubtedly one of the most important parts of a kitchen. It allows you to stay organized and plan while you cook your favorite meals. But if you are short of space, pantry shelving ideas are the best solution.
Pantry is one of the most difficult spaces to organize.
Where to place everything? What about the dry groceries, the wet ones? Cabinets or no cabinets? What if I forget something at the back, and it keeps rotting?
These are just a few questions that arise when you think of organizing your pantry.
If you want to create a pantry from scratch or renovate an old one, you are in the right place!
Here you will find a list of pantry shelving ideas, that can be applied to pantries of all kinds.
But first, we need to look at the basics and see what we have in hand.
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Decide Your Pantry
Before you start the project pantry, you must know the types of pantries there can be and what the purpose of each is.
Walk-in Pantry
It is a large room dedicated to storing pantry items. It is often lined with cabinets, cupboards, and shelves.
A walk-in pantry is usually found in larger houses and mansions. It is large enough to store extra groceries and even electric appliances.
Butler’s Pantry
Though not very common these days, a butler’s pantry used to be a room between the kitchen and the dining room.
It was used to hold and warm the food before serving, give final touches, and store some of the pantry items that you’d need on the go.
Freestanding Pantry
This is a standalone piece of furniture or rack that is used to store pantry items.
It can be a cupboard with proper shelves and cabinets, often placed near the kitchen.
Pullout Pantry
This is the one for people with narrow spaces.
A pullout pantry allows you to install hidden shelves in a deep corner of your house. These shelves are intricately placed on rollers so that they can be pulled out like drawers.
Corner Pantry
A corner pantry can be a space inside your kitchen where you’d like to store away grocery items.
It can be a cabinet with see-through windows or a simple corner rack that holds jars and containers.
Hidden Pantry
Quite self-explanatory in its name, a hidden pantry is a space inside a kitchen that goes seamlessly with the kitchen design and is not visible to everyone.
It is usually found behind a hidden door or a cabinet.
Also read,
Genius small kitchen organization ideas.
Now that you are aware of the types of pantries, you can decide which suits you best.
You must take into consideration the space you have, the budget you can spend, and the time frame in which you need a pantry.
Once you have decided on the type of pantry you want, it is much easier for you to decide on the shelving.
You know the space you have, the kind of things you want to store, and how frequently you want to rotate the arrangement.
Let’s get straight down to business and see the types of shelves you can use for your pantry.
Also read,
Small apartment storage ideas.
Clever Pantry Shelving Hacks
Let’s see what pantry shelving ideas you can use to organize your pantry.
Adjustable Shelves
You cannot be rigid when it comes to organizing.
You need to have an adjustable system so that you can arrange and rearrange at will.
A farmhouse-style pantry shelving is just what you need.
The shelve boards can go up and down the notches as often as you like.
You can place tall jars and big baskets over them. You can also place electric appliances on lower shelves for better holding.
Just make sure that the material you use for making these shelves is strong enough to hold sufficient weight.
Pantry Cabinet
If you don’t have a big space for a dedicated pantry, you can always build a large cabinet and call it a pantry.
All you have to do is have a couple of deep drawers, shelves, and some railings on the doors to hold the items.
This functional cupboard cum pantry is easy to maintain and can store a good amount of grocery items for a small family.
Doorless Pantry
One modern and elegant way of showing off your pantry is to have everything on display.
This requires a smart-looking shelf set that is painted with the theme of the kitchen. But since everything is on display, you need to have beautiful storage jars and wicker baskets.
You can also add your drinks collection to this display for an added color.
Also read:
Vertical Shelving
Not much space for bulky shelves?
No problem! Vertical shelves are here to save the day.
You can transform a narrow corner of your house into a smart open pantry by installing vertical shelves.
You can take these shelves up to the ceiling if you like, and they will look incredible.
What’s more exciting is that you can do this in multiple corners around the kitchen so that you can have a storage space for everything.
Window Shelves
Don’t be shy of building shelves in front of a pantry window or placing a wire rack.
The airy and sunny shelves ensure good lighting as well as the much-needed air for your grocery items.
You can place your fancy dinnerware on display for added beauty.
Pull out Shelves
Narrow pullout shelves are so trendy these days.
People renovating their kitchens are sure to add a couple of pullout cabinets to the woodwork.
You can build a pullout pantry along a deep corner if you are short on space.
It utilizes every inch of the space and can hold pretty much every supply for daily use.
Dividers and Sliders
You don’t always have to build something new to stay organized.
Sometimes, thinking creatively makes your older space work just fine.
You can organize the drawers and cabinets by using ready-made dividers. This way, you can place multiple items in a tidy way.
Lazy Susans
Lazy susans are a savior when it comes to organizing a kitchen.
You can place these rotating trays on the island and use them for coffee and tea condiments.
You can also place these in your actual pantry and group them together like items. You’ll just have to rotate and pick your desired thing without creating a clutter.
Smart Pantry Shelving Ideas
Here are some great pantry shelving ideas for you to try for your pantry organization.
Minimalist Pantry Shelving
If you want to have a minimalist pantry, focus on simplicity and functionality.
Stick to a single tone. Go for a neutral color or white.
Invest in floating shelves, monochromatic jars and baskets to organize stuff.
To improve functionality, focus on keeping heavy items on lower shelves, label your jars, and avoid crowding.
Rustic Pantry Shelving
Opting for rustic pantry shelving is a great way to add character to your kitchen.
Choose reclaimed wooden shelves with natural texture and imperfections. Use natural tone wooden stain to enhance wooden character.
To organize use vintage tins, mason jars and wicker baskets. Add some wooden crates, metal tins and chalk labels for an old-fashioned look.
Farmhouse Pantry Shelving
If you desire to have a farmhouse style pantry you should install wooden shelves, sturdy metal brackets, or wooden corbels.
For storage you can opt for mason jars, wicker baskets, and wooden crates.
You should also consider incorporating neutral tones and green plants. You can also consider styling dried flowers and wreaths.
Vintage Pantry Shelving
Vintage styled pantry is a great way to bring in nostalgic vibes.
Vintage inspired pantry can be created with wooden shelves, antique brackets and glass front cabinets.
For organization opt for vintage containers, jars, wicker baskets and wooden crates.
Adding vintage labels to jars will also add to the vibe.
Modern Pantry Shelving
For a modern pantry shelving idea, you should use sleek floating shelves. Display glass jars, spices and dishware as a part of decor.
You can go for wooden shelves and metal brackets for a more contemporary look. Add under shelves LED strip for better lighting.
Labelling the jars give a very organized look.
Boho Pantry Shelving
Boho pantry is always fun to create.
To create a boho inspired pantry shelving, start with selecting the right shelving material.
Wooden shelves are the best for it. Add some wicker and rattan baskets to it.
To add more texture and life to it, you can mix and match different materials. You can add glass jars and wooden baskets.
To add some character, go for macrame plant hangers, macrame wall hangings and terracotta pots.
Industrial Pantry Shelving
For industrial vibe you can use wooden shelves with steel brackets. You can also use wire mesh shelves with metal frames.
Suspended wooden planks with rope can also give a good modern and industrial feel.
Also read,
Brilliant Pantry Shelving Ideas
Following are some more brilliant and unique pantry shelving ideas and hacks for your inspiration.
Understairs Pantry Shelving
Kitchen Pantry Shelving Ideas
Small Pantry Shelving Ideas
Narrow Pantry Shelving Ideas
Tiny Corner Pantry Shelving
Wrapping Up
Adding shelves in a pantry is great way to increase the storage space and keep your stuff organized.
First thing that you should do before you start working on your pantry is to decide what kind of pantry do you want depending on the available space. It can be a walk-in pantry, butler’s pantry, free standing pantry, corner pantry etc.
Then if you want to increase the storage space you can go for vertical shelves, adjustable shelves, pull-out shelves etc.
You can customize it and incorporate different designs and changes to get a desired look. You can create a modern or a boho pantry for yourself or even go for a farmhouse style pantry.
It totally depends on what you like and what options are available to you.
I would love to hear your thoughts about pantry shelving. Feel free to share your ideas in the comments.
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I am Sidra, a home decor enthusiast who loves transforming spaces with creative ideas, practical organization tips, and DIY home decor crafts. On this blog, I share inspiring home decor ideas and organizing tips to help my readers make their homes beautiful and functional. Join the journey to create a stylish, organized, and personalized living space!