I have to admit it: my old pantry was embarrassing.
Not only was it ugly, it wasn’t even doing the job a pantry is supposed to do. We were storing much of our food in the regular kitchen cabinets, where I couldn’t easily see what we had. I’d find myself buying another bag of flour, box of something, or pantry staple only to discover there was already one hiding in the back of a cabinet.
Meanwhile, our actual walk-in pantry had somehow become more of a catch-all utility closet.
And because the trash can was in there, guests occasionally had to see it.
That may have been the final straw. 😂
It was time for a pantry remodel.
Before: Lots of Space, Not Much Food Storage
The frustrating thing was that the room itself actually had plenty of potential. I just wasn’t using it well.
The existing shelving didn’t provide nearly enough storage for the way I wanted to use the space, and the pantry had gradually accumulated everything from small appliances to cleaning supplies and pet items.
My goal was pretty simple:
I wanted our pantry to become an actual pantry.
I wanted enough room to move food out of my kitchen cabinets, I wanted to be able to see what I had at a glance, and I wanted the room to look nice enough that I didn’t cringe when someone opened the door.
I did a great deal of research online before deciding exactly how I wanted the new pantry to function.
Then I designed the shelving layout myself.
The original shelves were completely removed and new shelving was built to take advantage of the walls around the room. CB Restoration helped with the installation, but I determined the shelving placement and organization based on what I actually needed to store.
I also did all of the painting myself—walls, ceiling AND shelves. (Yes, it was a project!)
I used Behr Silver Ash, which gave me the soft, clean neutral backdrop I wanted without feeling stark.
One of the best things about starting from scratch was being able to think beyond simply adding “more shelves.” I could decide what needed to be easily accessible, what could go higher, where larger containers should live, and how to use some of the awkward areas that often go to waste in a pantry.
Making Everything Visible
This was probably my biggest priority.
I wanted to see my food.
I was already using a few small glass jars for bulk items like beans and lentils that I buy at Whole Foods, so I expanded that idea throughout the pantry.
Now flours, sugars, oats, grains, seeds, beans, lentils and other staples are stored in clear glass containers with labels.
Besides looking pretty, this is incredibly practical.
I can open the pantry door and immediately see what I’m running low on—and what I definitely don’t need to buy again.
No more discovering three packages of the same staple hiding in different kitchen cabinets!
The Little Details That Make a Big Difference
Some of my favorite parts of this remodel aren’t necessarily the prettiest ones. They’re the things that make the pantry easier to use every day.
Slide Out Storage
I LOVE the slide-out drawers on the bottom shelves.
They make it possible to use that lower storage without having to get down on the floor and dig through everything in the back.
I use them for things like canned goods and other pantry items that would otherwise be easy to lose track of.
Vertical Cutting Board & Cookie Sheet Storage
This might be one of the simplest ideas in the whole pantry, but it’s one of my favorites.
Instead of stacking cutting boards, cookie sheets and baking pans on top of one another, I store them vertically.
They’re easy to see, easy to grab and—most importantly—I don’t have to pull five other things out to get the one I want.
Baskets for the Not-So-Pretty Stuff
Not everything needs to be poured into a beautiful glass jar.
Woven baskets give packaged foods a home while keeping the shelves from looking cluttered. I also used woven baskets on the pantry door for things like wraps and baggies.
I love the warmth the baskets add against all of the glass and the Silver Ash shelving.
Lazy Susans for Bottles and Condiments
For bottles, sauces and other smaller items, lazy Susans make it much easier to use the full depth of the shelf.
Instead of moving six bottles to find the one hiding in the back, I can just give it a spin.
Such a simple thing, but it works.
And Yes, Those Are TV Trays
One of the things I really wanted with this pantry was for it to work for our life—not just look good in pictures.
Those folding tables tucked beside the trash can are our TV trays.
We use them, so I wanted them somewhere convenient where we could grab them easily. That little space turned out to be the perfect spot.
I think that’s an important part of organizing any space: design it for the way you actually live.
The Finished Pantry
The finished pantry gives me exactly what I was missing before: food storage I can actually see and use. Everything has a place, and nearly every inch of the room is finally working for us.
My Pantry Organization Favorites
These are some of the products I used in the finished pantry and would choose again.
Glass Storage Jars
I use different sizes throughout the pantry for flour, sugar, oats, grains, beans, lentils, seeds and other bulk staples. Being able to see what’s inside is probably the single biggest improvement I’ve made to the way I store food.
Woven Storage Baskets
I use woven baskets for packaged foods and smaller items that can quickly make an open shelf look cluttered.
Pantry Labels
The labels make it easy to identify everything while giving all of those mismatched jars and containers a more cohesive look.
Pantry Rug
This was definitely a “pretty” addition rather than an organizational necessity, but I love how much the rug changed the feel of the room. It makes the pantry feel like an extension of the kitchen instead of a utility closet.
Lazy Susans
One of the easiest pantry upgrades! I use these for bottles and smaller items so I can reach what’s in the back without pulling everything off the shelf.
Wooden Slide-Out Bins
These are one of my favorite functional additions. They let me take advantage of lower shelf space while still being able to see and reach everything inside.
Was It Worth It?
Absolutely.
This project gave me more usable food storage without adding a single square foot to my kitchen.
But my favorite part isn’t that my pantry looks prettier—although it certainly does!
It’s opening the door and being able to see what I have.
Everything has a place. Grocery shopping is easier. I’m not constantly buying duplicates. My kitchen cabinets aren’t trying to do the pantry’s job anymore.
And when a guest needs to throw something in the trash?
I no longer have to cringe when they open the pantry door.
I’d call that a successful remodel.
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