7 Ways to Create Open Pantry Space
Use these strategies to give the cook in your kitchen easy access to supplies
In my opinion, one of the most contentious kitchen design ideas in recent years has to be open shelving. Some people love the way open shelves break up the wall and showcase pottery, art or a nice set of dishes. Others detest the extra dusting, and the potential for clutter, that open shelves involve.
Given this hot debate, the idea of a fully open pantry — yes, you read that right — may not appeal to everyone. Yet an open pantry can work really well for cooks who like to have ingredients and small appliances at arm’s length yet still appreciate a stylish kitchen. Here are seven examples of pantries that are fully open, mess-free and actually look good. Perhaps you’ll be inspired to add one in your next remodel; it may be as simple as just removing a door.
Given this hot debate, the idea of a fully open pantry — yes, you read that right — may not appeal to everyone. Yet an open pantry can work really well for cooks who like to have ingredients and small appliances at arm’s length yet still appreciate a stylish kitchen. Here are seven examples of pantries that are fully open, mess-free and actually look good. Perhaps you’ll be inspired to add one in your next remodel; it may be as simple as just removing a door.
2. Make better use of a corner. Corners can be a difficult part of kitchens to use efficiently, as cabinetry placed here rarely makes items easily accessible. Placing an open pantry in this tricky spot can be a great way to keep items more available.
Here’s a closer look at the pantry. You can see that there is enough room for the chef to step onto the floor in front of the shelving and reach for an item, making this corner a lot more accessible than it would be with traditional corner cabinetry.
Foolproof Storage Solutions for Corner Kitchen Cabinets
Foolproof Storage Solutions for Corner Kitchen Cabinets
3. Capture the potential of a nearby nook. This open pantry stands in a nook that is just off — but still open to — the kitchen, and next to the home’s back door. The main kitchen cabinetry starts just to the right of the back door pictured here, as this floor plan shows.
This off-the-main-path solution is a way to create an open pantry that doesn’t become a notable visual element of the main kitchen. Homeowners and their guests can see the pantry from most parts of the kitchen, but it still has some visual separation from the rest of the room. This would work well for a family that wants an easy-to-access pantry that doesn’t become a design element.
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This off-the-main-path solution is a way to create an open pantry that doesn’t become a notable visual element of the main kitchen. Homeowners and their guests can see the pantry from most parts of the kitchen, but it still has some visual separation from the rest of the room. This would work well for a family that wants an easy-to-access pantry that doesn’t become a design element.
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4. Place it near the prep sink. This open pantry stands in the corner of an L-shaped kitchen, right next to the second sink. If you are fortunate enough to have two sinks in your kitchen, you may use one for prepping food, and nearby would be a natural place to keep ingredients. This open pantry is above a counter holding a standing mixer, making it a good location for baking supplies. This type of open pantry could work well as part of a dedicated baking station.
The Case for 2 Kitchen Sinks
The Case for 2 Kitchen Sinks
5. Drop the door. If your home already has a pantry — or if you plan to include one in an upcoming remodel or new build project — you might consider leaving off the door. The pantry shown in this photo is like a traditional, closed-off pantry that has a door, but the lack of door technically makes it an open pantry.
The cabinetry within it lacks cabinet doors, making it easier to find things. A motion sensor controls the overhead light, so when your hands are full, you don’t have to worry about flicking it off on your way out. A countertop makes a convenient workstation in the pantry or, alternatively, a place to keep appliances you’d rather not display on kitchen counters. This pantry is about 5 feet by 8½ feet, which also happens to be a common bathroom size.
6. Add freestanding shelves to an available wall. This version of an open pantry is like the first kitchen in this story, since it adds shelving to an open wall. However, this open pantry is actually much simpler, bearing just five shelves with uniform heights. Although this pantry’s shelving is built-in, you could create a similar feature in your own home with a sturdy freestanding shelving unit that fits the dimensions of your available space.
This example, though perhaps styled for a photo shoot, also demonstrates the power of containers and baskets to make a pantry look organized and feel peaceful. Because the jars on the shelves match in shape and fill up the available shelf space, they could keep items corralled over the long term, even when cameras aren’t in sight.
This example, though perhaps styled for a photo shoot, also demonstrates the power of containers and baskets to make a pantry look organized and feel peaceful. Because the jars on the shelves match in shape and fill up the available shelf space, they could keep items corralled over the long term, even when cameras aren’t in sight.
7. Use floating shelves. At what point do simple floating shelves end and an open pantry begin? I’d say that based on its function, this example qualifies as an open pantry. Four large floating shelves are used here for a collection of food canisters and oft-used items, giving it a definite open pantry vibe. If building in a pantry isn’t for you, this is another way to test out the look without having to commit fully.
More
Kitchen Confidential: Walk-In Pantries vs. Cabinet Pantries
Why I Combined Open Shelves and Cabinets in My Kitchen Remodel
The Best Things to Store on Open Kitchen Shelves
Browse pantry and cabinet organizers
More
Kitchen Confidential: Walk-In Pantries vs. Cabinet Pantries
Why I Combined Open Shelves and Cabinets in My Kitchen Remodel
The Best Things to Store on Open Kitchen Shelves
Browse pantry and cabinet organizers
See more of this home