| Deer Skye Quilt and Home Design

Just because your kitchen is small doesn’t mean you have to pass on storage and style. You can have both. You just have to zero in on where your kitchen work zones are, consider your kitchen space in those areas, and place your pantry within a few steps of those. Maximizing your space is key.

Survey your kitchen work zones. (Previously called your kitchen work triangle.) Where is there potential space for a pantry?
Once you take a look at your kitchen work zones, fridge, range, sink, dishwasher, serving food areas, decide where to place your pantry. You want to maximize your space the best you can by putting it in your kitchen area where it would give you the most space and be the most convenient for you.You may even have to use more than one area for a pantry.
Think outside the box when creating a pantry area.
Add a small kitchen cart or small kitchen island on wheels for a pantry.
Open shelves.
Corner pantry.
Pull outs.
Under the counter cabinet doors.
Add a magnetic knife bar to the wall.
Store some items on top of counter.
Put spices in their own zone.
Add over the door organizers and decorative hooks to kitchen wall or pantry area.
Designate a cabinet as a pantry.
Stack furniture pieces (safely of course.)
Hang pots and pans above your kitchen work zones.

Scrutinize Your Work Zones

Every kitchen is unique and different. One thing they all have in common though are the work zones. Small kitchens are no different. Where do you stand the most to prepare, cook, bake, and serve your food from? Take a look at the area around your fridge, range, dishwasher, and sink. Which area has the most room to put a main pantry? A pantry can be as small or as big as you want it. Location and organization will determine how useful it is to you.

Make A Plan For Your Pantry

I know, I know. You hear it all the time. “Make a plan.” But it really pays off to do this in your kitchen. Make the most out of the space which means you maximize the space you have that has the most potential by your work zones to create your pantry. If you are working with an existing kitchen then you may be limited in your options for a panty but not to worry. You can still create a useful pantry.

To do this you need to consider your work zones. Work zones are sometimes referred to as the kitchen work triangle. However over time, kitchens have become more open concept and the triangle has been stretched a bit. So it makes more sense to call the main areas of your kitchen where you clean food, prepare it, cook it, bake it and serve it then clean it all up work zones.

If you are doing a new build, then you can figure out a place for your pantry before you build your home which is a smart thing to do. Even if you are going to have a small kitchen. You can determine a pantry space that will work for you. It might even mean that you use more than one place for a pantry. It just needs to be within a short walking distance of your kitchen work space.

Think Outside The Box For Pantry Design

You can easily designate a special area for a pantry. However in a small kitchen, space is at a premium so you may need to think outside the box when it comes to pantry placement. Especially if you are working with an existing kitchen. I have a few useful tips to help you figure out where the best place is to put your pantry.

Add A Cart Or A Small Island On Wheels

A small kitchen cart or a small kitchen island carefully organized with kitchen essentials can be a pantry on wheels. If there is no place in your kitchen to install a pantry or kitchen cabinets are full to the brim. Get really creative with this and stock your cart or your small island well. Your main pantry could be in the dining room, in a closet, or under the stairs but keep your cart or island well stocked with what you need to cook or bake with. Then each time you use something from your pantry on wheels, replace it right away. Store your cart at night out of the way. Then each morning bring your cart back in and place it where you need it to be.

Open Shelves

I love open shelves! My husband not so much. We are trying to remodel our kitchen but it has been hard agreeing on a kitchen plan that includes at least one open shelf. I know open shelves look great in magazines but I think I got this! Open shelves not only provide function but they add a homey feel to your kitchen. If you install more than one shelf on the same wall, it can be very useful. It’s a great way to provide much needed kitchen storage storing food and spices you need at the ready. Using matching containers to organize can elevate the look too.

The key is to carefully organize them. With a little decor know how and orderly display of the things you will use you can merge those two ideas together. The last thing you need is for your shelves to look cluttered! Keep it simple and lovely. Come on! You can do that! If you aren’t sure how to add some tasteful decor, search kitchens online or in magazines to find a picture of a way

Corner Pantry

We are considering installing a corner pantry with shelves in our kitchen remodel. Trust me when I say my kitchen is small. Don’t get me wrong I love my home. This old house is over 50 years old but so full of character and charm. No doubt about it though the kitchen is terribly small! So placing a pantry is tricky in this old place. My only reservation is if we place a pantry in the corner, we will take out some valuable countertop space and I’m not convinced I want to do that.

It would sure add a lot of storage space to this teeny kitchen of mine though. So this is something to consider in your own kitchen. Do you need more space for kitchen storage space than counter top space or the other way around? Definitely consider it and see if it will work in your small kitchen. If you can, place it near one of your work zones. In my kitchen, it would be near all of my work zones.

Cabinet Pantry Pull Out Organizer

My husband remodeled his mother’s kitchen several years ago and it looked amazing going from dark kitchen cabinets spruced up to knotty alder cabinets everywhere. He designed several pantry pull outs side by side for her pantry.

Pull outs are really helpful as a pantry. Check next to your fridge and see if you could possibly put a tall skinny pullout there. Or perhaps you could turn a couple of cabinets into pull outs that would give you more storage space. They are convenient and functional. You will again have to organize carefully so that they can work the best for your storage in your kitchen space.

Pantry Under The Countertop

Cabinets that are close to your work zone can serve as a pantry if that is your best option. Install drawers that you can pull out individually. Stack them on top of each other. These are so smart and make a great pantry when placed where it is convenient for you to get to quickly. My husband actually made t for his mother’s cabinets. Again organization is key!

Magnetic Knife Bar

A knife bar not only saves room in a drawer but also on the countertop. Your kitchen backsplash becomes very useful when using a magnetic knife bar. Place it where you do most of your meal prep. Then you will always have your knives ready to go when you are! No searching endlessly in a drawer for just the right knife. They are all out where you can see them and easily grab what you need.

Countertop Storage

In addition to your pantry have. a few things on your countertop. You can display them in fancy or useful containers if you like but there are a few things that are permissable to have on your countertop to use. These include salt, pepper, and cooking oil. If you like display them on a porcelain plate or decorative tray. You could also store a bread or cutting board on your countertop or by your stove.

Spice It Up

Spices need a place of their own since they will take up a lot of room. You can put them on the over the door of a corner pantry or cabinet door close to your kitchen work zones. Build a spice rack or have a countertop lazy susan to put your spices on. There are a lot of options for this. Create a space for your spices where you can see each spice and they won’t take up precious storage room that you need for other storables.

Pantry Storage Accessories

Add over the cabinet door storage accessories or useful and decorative hooks. These items are self explanatory There are a lot of places in your kitchen where you could use these useful things. You will know best where they will help you the most. There are many options including simple command strips that can help make your pantry even more streamlined especially in a small kitchen.

Cabinet Pantry

If you have a cabinet you can use as a pantry consider its location. Is it near your kitchen work zones? Can you access it easily during your meal prep? How big is it? Do you need to get other cabinet organizers to maximize the space? All of these questions should be carefully answered when using a cabinet as your main pantry. This could be the answer you are looking for. Also think about using some baskets to help organize your cabinet. Just because your pantry is behind closed door doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be nice to look at once you open the door.

Stack Furniture For Extra Storage

This may sound like an unusual option but it is possible to get more storage bang for your buck so to speak. When choosing cabinets if you are remodeling or building a brand new kitchen, stack cabinets on top of each other. This is cost effective and adds more storage and style.

If you have a dresser in your kitchen you could possibly put stacked open shelving on top of that dresser. Even a short bookcase could add some more storage space on top of a kitchen desk or table placed against the wall. Remember I suggested you think outside the box. Even crates can be stacked in a decorative but useful way if it adds more useable storage.

Pots and Pans Hanging From The Ceiling

You have probably already thought of this option. When you place your pantry in your small kitchen, don’t forget about your pots and pans. If you don’t have room to store them by your cooking and baking area, you could always consider hanging them overhead. Just make sure you have room to place them high enough you won’t walk into them.

The right rack for your pans hung in just the prime place would also add some decor to your kitchen. It would also free up space in a cabinet for other things you need to store. Maybe consider hanging them over your countertop.

You might consider making one yourself. A hanging pot rack that is. You can make a small wooden ladder style and add cup hooks to it. Stain or paint it and then hang it to the ceiling. There are also plenty of styles to purchase if you prefer to buy one.

Where Should A Pantry Be Placed In A Small Kitchen?