Are you looking for ideas to add charm and custom touches to your walk in pantry? If so, i’ve got you covered!! Having just completed my own DIY pantry makeover, I know all the thought and planning that goes into it. I spent months scrolling Pinterest and Instagram for pantry inspiration and in this post i’ll be sharing the ones that stood out to me the most 🙂
Pantries are actually one of my favorite spaces to design! I think that’s because 1. I love food and cooking and 2. a pantry is the perfect place to make bold design choices and add some character to your home.
Source: Tidbits & Company
Glass Jars are KEY
But seriously… everything looks better in jar! This is such a great way to elevate your walk in pantry if you have open shelving. It’s also just nice to have easy access to your dry goods! It really doesn’t even have to be anything fancy. You could use mason jars or find some at the thrift store!
This is one of my absolute favorite walk-in pantries. Johannainteriors is the Queen of layering colors, patterns, and textures to create an Old World charm feel all throughout her home. Doesn’t this pantry look like it belongs in a countryside cottage?! Between the checkered floors, the stone archway, and the vintage plates… I can’t even choose a favorite detail. To see more views of this incredibly well-designed pantry (which I highly recommend because there is SO much more to see), check out this video!
Don’t Forget the Decor
Trust me when I say that your walk in pantry can be both pretty and functional. Lisa at Farmhouse on Boone is proving that with her Victorian farmhouse pantry!
First of all, can we talk about the fact that this pantry has been around since the 1860s?! That is SO cool. What stood out the most to me in this pantry, aside from the perfect muted green she used, was the art and the pot rack! Never underestimate the power of art and some vintage copper!
Use Curtains to Hide Shelving
Honestly, I love any excuse to incorporate curtains into a design! Gimmie ALL the texture and pattern. But also, curtains are a great budget-friendly way to hide small appliances or any unsightly food items… especially if built-in cabinetry isn’t in the budget!
Cami at Tidbits & Company has the most charming English Country butler’s pantry complete with her own DIY cabinet curtains! The gingham print is so classic. There are so many details to admire in this pantry, so be sure to check out her blog posts!
Go Bold with Wallpaper
Small spaces—like a pantry 😉—are the perfect place to go bold with pattern and color!
That’s exactly what Sam at One Smith did in her DIY pantry and no wonder so many people love it! She chose such a beautiful print and I love how she tied it all together by pulling colors from the wallpaper to use throughout the space. To see more of the views and details of her corner pantry, check out this reel!
Make Custom Shelving
This one is for my fellow DIYers 😉 If you want a high-end look on a budget, consider making custom built-ins for your walk in pantry like my friend Karla at The Fisher House. You have to see this pantry before and after, which also includes open shelves on the left-hand side!
Would you believe that everything in this walk in pantry is DIY? The lower cabinets, the concrete countertop, and the arched shelves… it’s truly so impressive! Custom shelving allows you to create a pantry design that caters specifically to you, ensuring you have the most valuable storage space for your kitchen essentials.
Incorporate a Drink Station
One fun way to elevate your pantry is by adding a drink station. Most commonly you’ll see a coffee bar or a wine fridge, but I really love the approach Chelsi at LaineandLayne took with her pantry. She included their Berkey water filter (which by the way is gorgeous!) into their corner pantry and I just love this idea!
You have to see all the details of this corner pantry! They really made the most of this small space, even including a hanging spice rack to the left of the water filter. In addition to the functionality, this pantry has a timeless design with so many beautiful textures😍
Add Window Treatments
If you’re one of the lucky ones who has a walk in pantry with a window, take advantage of the opportunity to add some statement window treatments! I just adore the striped swooping roman shades in this moody pantry.
This one of the most beautiful butler’s pantries i’ve ever seen. The rich wall color in combination with the soft pleated skirt create this romantic, cozy feel. The brass and wood tones add warmth and texture. It’s truly a dream pantry by Amanda at Home at the Rectory. Amanda’s home is actually a location house for shoots… SO cool. To see more views of this butler’s pantry, and her charming picturesque home, check out her website here: The Suffolk Rectory.
Get Creative with an Under the Stairs Pantry
Narrow walk in pantries can be tricky to design, especially when you’re working with space underneath stairs, but Ali @theflippinwilsons made the most of their available space.
The first step in her pantry makeover was adding a wall at the end of the room where it was most slanted and not very functional. What’s cool is that she didn’t let that extra storage space go to waste- she cut into the drywall and has the opening hidden behind the cabinet. Since this is such a narrow pantry, she actually cut the depth off of some kitchen cabinets to fit the space. Such a great idea!! Click here to see more on this impressive DIY pantry.
Antique Doors for the Win
Mixing old and new is a key component of any well-designed space, including pantries! Fariha at Pennies For a Fortune is currently in the midst of a walk in pantry makeover and I’m so invested.
Even though her pantry is still in progress, I had to share it here because I’m completely in LOVE with these antique doors she found. They didn’t fit perfect so she had to make some adjustments but wow. They’re stunning and already add so much character and charm to this pantry. Don’t overlook your pantry door if you have one!
Fariha was not a fan of the deep shelves in her corner pantry so she’s already gotten to work replacing the shelves and has big plans for this space. Click here to follow along with her series!
Set the Mood with Lighting
Lighting is another key component in interior design and you can see how it makes the biggest impact in this moody, modern pantry by Liz at Within the Grove!
Soft under-shelf lights can enhance your pantry by giving it a luxury, high end feel! It’s also very practical, making all of your pantry items visible especially at night. If you decide to go moody with your pantry paint color, this feature is especially important!
For more details on this beautiful pantry makeover (you really should see the before!), you can watch the process here. Liz has also since added some sleek DIY custom glass doors and they’re SO good!
Transition from Pantry to Butler’s Pantry
What the heck is the difference between a pantry and a butler’s pantry? It has everything to do with function.
A standard pantry is meant for food storage, while a butler’s pantry also ties in a food prep area. It’s almost like an extension of your kitchen! Countertops are a must in a butler’s pantry, but sometimes you’ll even see a sink, a wine fridge, or a coffee station! Talk about GOALS.
The evolution of our butler’s pantry
We have this little nook off of our kitchen that was originally a breakfast area with just a little table.
The previous owners turned this breakfast nook into more of a butler’s pantry by adding a butcher block countertop and shelving… so genius! They also did an entire kitchen renovation which included replacing the flooring with these adorable mosaic hex tiles. It’s kind of hard to believe that this is the same space! But it is, I SWEAR!
We loved the concept, but not the aesthetic, so we recently gave this space a big makeover, adding some color and charm to the space! Click here for all the details on this pantry makeover.
We might not have a wine fridge or sink, but we did manage to add a little coffee bar and we couldn’t love it more!! 🙂
In this case, we already had a butler’s pantry, but if you don’t, you could absolutely make one by adding a countertop! And as far as i’m concerned, you don’t need a large pantry to make it a butler’s pantry. We did this in our previous home and our tiny 3ft x 3ft closet pantry provided ample space to do so!
Okay so maybe it’s more of a mini bulter’s pantry but it counts!!! It’s one of my favorite projects to this day! Click here for the details on our small pantry makeover!
Pantry Organization Ideas
While we’re here I figured i’d also share some helpful tips for making the most of your walk-in pantry space:
- Incorporate lazy Susans to maximize corner space!
- Hang pots, pans, and other items from pegboard (I LOVE this example!!)
- Use over the door organizers for smaller items or ziplocs
- Trays and bowls are great for keeping your counter space clutter-free!
- Utilize hooks, shaker pegs, or rail systems for hanging your pantry items
- Ditch the cereal boxes and get dispensers or containers instead 🙂
- Store small items you may not use as often in baskets
- Label your containers to keep everything cohesive
- Wall hung spice racks save so much space! (Check out my DIY pantry door spice rack)
If you’ve made it this far, you’re awesome! Thank you for being here! Leave a comment and let me know which pantry is your favorite 🙂
Elisha
