Pantry Organising Tips

… and why you simply must include a pantry in your kitchen remodel!

If you have space, you simply MUST have the luxury of a walk-in kitchen pantry. Even a pantry cupboard of the non-walk-in kind is preferable to not having one at all. So if you are about to embark on a kitchen remodel, be sure to make space for the ultimate kitchen storage solution.

A kitchen pantry (especially one large enough to be able to walk into) is no longer an outdated kitchen phenomenon. In post-war housing builds, the kitchen pantry fell out of favour. This probably happened for a few reasons. The convenience of local supermarkets, along with the rise of fitted kitchen cabinetry, and the smaller size of the homes being built, all contributed to the demise of old-fashioned pantry storage.

In recent years, open plan living and open shelving has kept pantries at bay. But, with open-plan living taking a knock back, (broken-plan is the new buzzword and is redefining spaces again), pantries, as well as separate dining areas, are making a comeback.

Why pantries are making a comeback

The desire for open-plan living is waning. Families want their privacy back. In recent years contemporary kitchens have cut back on storage space more than ever before to achieve a sleeker more minimalist look. With less storage space, and more gadgets, it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep the sleek and minimalist kitchen in an uncluttered state. We are accumulating more kitchen items to go in potentially less space. Do the maths and you’ll see why the pantry is calling as a sensible solution.

In grand country homes walk-in pantries have never really lost their appeal. Swedish-style chilled larders are now faddishly being added to luxury homes. But in modest kitchens too, the pantry is making a comeback.

Pantry design tips

Well-thought out storage is the key to a great pantry. If you are thinking of re-instating a pantry in your home, consulting a kitchen designer, such as The Brighton Kitchen Company, could be well worth the investment when it comes to your kitchen remodel.

Here are some tips to help you with your pantry design:

• Make sure your pantry is sized correctly. Include shelving spaces big enough for large kitchen items and sturdy enough for heavier items, such as your collection of cook books.
• You’ll want to arrange items in your pantry in groups. Think about the foods you keep and use, and plan out spaces for each group. Plan logically so you can easily find everything you need:
• Cans of beans, soups, tomatoes
• Bottles of oils and vinegars
• Jars of pickles and sauces
• Jars of spices
• Grains such as rice, quinoa and pasta
• Flours
• Boxes of cereals
• Items should be stored according to use.
• Factor in pull-out drawers or trays for deep shelving, otherwise you’ll forget about items at the back.
• Think about the location of your pantry in relation to the food prep area in your kitchen. Ideally it should be within a few steps of the area where you prepare your meals. A well-designed pantry put in the wrong place spoils the joy.
• Be sure to have a countertop landing zone next to your pantry. You’ll need a space to plonk your food shopping bags before you unload. The space is also handy when you are pulling out multiple items to use at one time.
• Locate your refrigerator near to your pantry.
• Don’t forget to install adequate lighting.

Keeping your pantry tidy

There is nothing more satisfying than organising your new pantry and seeing everything in perfect order. Roll forward a few weeks and it’s easy for unwiped spills and poor organisation to turn your pantry into a cluttered mess. Follow this 3-step plan and you’ll have a beautifully clean and well-organised pantry all year round.

1. The weekly wipe and declutter – check for any out-of-date food stuffs, give shelves a quick wipe, and put back anything that hasn’t made it into the right place.
2. The monthly declutter and regroup – get rid of any items you’ve purchased on a whim and know you won’t use. Re-group and re-order your cupboard where necessary. If you’ve suddenly had a fad for baking and that shelf is looking squeezed, swap things around.
3. The seasonal clean, declutter, re-group and re-think storage solutions – give your pantry a good clean (that means taking everything off of shelves and giving them a good wipe down). This gives you the perfect opportunity to declutter, re-group and change any storage solutions that aren’t working too well.

*This is a collaborative post.