Where Should a Pantry be Placed in Kitchen?

Published: January 12, 2022

Updated: October 30, 2023

When you think of a pantry, you instantly picture a massive room with enormous supplies of stored food. In the earlier times, a pantry was an utmost necessity to be prepared for food shortages or emergencies. However, a pantry has become more of a personal choice in the modern kitchen – with built-in cabinetry and readily available food supplies. In any case, pantries offer the perfect solution for stocking groceries, linens, cleaning supplies – or those dishes you find hard to part with but don’t use either.

While most homeowners feel that a pantry is essential for convenient supplies storage, figuring out its placement in the kitchen can be challenging. Whether you are renovating an existing pantry or building anew, pantry placement requires planning and working out the specifics of your kitchen. You need to determine the right pantry size, pantry type preference, kitchen layout, storage needs, and, most importantly, available space.

So if you’re planning to introduce a pantry around your existing appliances – or build a walk-in pantry, read on to know how to pick the ideal pantry spot for your kitchen.

Before we delve into the nitty-gritty of the placement, here are a few things you need to think about in your pantry.

Photo: thechoatechateau

Space, Sight, and Height

These are some key attributes of great pantry planning.

• Available Space: Choosing from the three types of pantries – walk-in, pull-out, and reach-in starts with analyzing the available space for your pantry. A walk-in pantry offers the most storage space as it’s usually a small room or a closet created separately from the kitchen. Since it’s usually remote from the kitchen area, it might be inconvenient if you need to store frequently used items. However, if you need to stock large quantities of food and a small alcove near your kitchen door, a walk-in pantry might be your best option.

Alcove Style Walk-in Pantry

Photo: athomewithjenna

Pantry With Screen Doors

Photo: peacefulpinesfarm

Closet Style Pantry

Photo: citygirlmeetsfarmboy

Wall Shelves Pantry

Photo: fallons.homestead

Farmhouse-Style Walk-In Pantry

Photo: greybirchdesigns

If you have a smaller kitchen with no extra space for a walk-in pantry, opt for a pull-out pantry. It operates like a very large drawer, features a front door panel, and can be inserted like a cabinet in any available space in your kitchen. While building a pull-out pantry requires heavy-duty hardware and customized carpentry, it’s the ideal pantry solution for a kitchen that’s short on real estate.

Fresh and Joyful Pull-Out Pantry

Photo: bigfamilylittlefarmhouse

Vintage Chic Pull-Out Pantry

Photo: kira_turner

A reach-in pantry offers the highest convenience as it’s optimally designed to make use of vacant spaces in your kitchen. Flaunting multiple shelves on the inside as well as on the doors, it offers the ultimate storage convenience. A bat-wing pantry is the most classic reach-in pantry that allows you to stack items on the doors and the body. When wide open, it offers a panoramic view of all the items inside so you won’t miss a thing in your stocks. You can choose from deep or shallow shelves for your reach-in pantry depending on the available space in your kitchen.

Pastel-Hued Reach-In Pantry

Photo: bloom_jennybrooks

Classic Bat Wing Reach-in Pantry

Photo: cutertudor

• Reachability: A pantry has to be convenient and within your reach. When planning the right pantry spot, go for a handy location within your core activity area in the kitchen. This is usually around the kitchen stove, sink, refrigerator, or near the kitchen island. Once you have analyzed your primary work zone, scan for a vacant area that would suit your purpose. Get creative and don’t ignore those tiny corners, crevasses, or areas under the sink – any available space could potentially fit your pantry.

Cute and Handy Reach-In Pantry

Photo: cleanandscentsible

Cozy Pantry With See-Through Door

Photo: whiteblossomhome

• Optimum Height: While a huge, sophisticated, walk-in pantry maybe your pantry goal, we need to do best with the space we’ve got. Start with assessing the spaces within your reach and ensure the pantry shelves are at your eye level. A pantry that requires a ladder each time you need to pick an item may not be so ideal. So place your pantry in a spot that’s slightly higher than your height so that the stocks are visible and accessible.

Open Concept DIY Pantry

Photo: downshilohroad

Open Shelves Pantry With Arched Doorway

Photo: jane_athome

Should You Go for Open Shelves or Closed Doors?

Depending on your personal preference and kitchen aesthetics, you can go for open shelves or have a door for your pantry. Typically, walk-in and reach-in types of pantries come with a door but you can opt just for the shelves. Excellent for storing dry goods, linens, and platters, you can use your existing open shelves to create a DIY pantry. Not only are open shelves pantry space-efficient, but they also offer a canvas to display your prized goods.

Wall Shelves DIY Pantry

Photo: sandramorganliving

Portable Cart-Style Pantry

Photo: bigfamilylittlefarmhouse

Stylish and Sleek Built-In Pantry

Photo: moderntexashouse

If you do not want to expose your stashed supplies, it would be a good idea to invest in a stylish door and sign for your pantry. Besides highlighting your pantry area, they will also add a nostalgic touch to your kitchen’s look.

Walk-in Pantry With Distressed Doors and Sign

Photo: makinghomematter

Every kitchen has its own perfect pantry area, what may work for one might not work for another. To find your own sweet spot, strive for a balance of accessibility, aesthetics, and expenses.

Zakhar Ivanisov

Meet Zakhar Ivanisov, a Seattle-based entrepreneur and design enthusiast at the helm of Soul & Lane. With a heart full of passion, Zakhar blends his business acumen and a keen eye for aesthetics to create spaces that are as inviting as they are stylish. His venture into the world of home decor and organization reflects a unique fusion of entrepreneurial spirit and a genuine love for transforming living spaces.

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