Hello friends!
Organizing a small pantry space can be quite a challenge. Does your pantry feel organized and easy to use? We knew that ours could use some work. I believe with a little creativity, we can make a wonderfully functional pantry space in a small area. Today, I want to give you my top 5 ideas for organizing a small pantry space. I will show you how these ideas transformed our pantry.
Small Pantry Organization Video
In today's visit, we will:
- Assess the pantry we have and make a plan.
- Shop Marketplace, thrift stores, and antique shops to find pieces to organize with.
- Add a fresh coat of paint and DIY projects to brighten the space.
- Set up our "new" pantry!
BEFORE...
Here is our pantry/laundry room/tool storage area. This space is multi-functional, with the "pantry" being the tall, shallow cabinet you see on the left. All storage beyond the pantry and deep freezer is for Matt's tool storage since we don't have a garage. Nestled between the freezer and the dryer on the right is the appliance cabinet. These two cabinets are the current sum total of our "pantry".
My first goal is to expand our pantry area with a free-standing (unfitted) cabinet on the left. I've been scouring Marketplace for a narrow (antique if possible) cabinet. Rather than having cabinets built (which is expensive), an unfitted piece gives me the freedom to reconfigure a room, and the piece can go with us to another home if we move.
This rather rickety appliance cabinet came with the house and was probably built by the original owners in the 60's. The "top" is a sawn-down interior door, which makes me smile! As this is a budget makeover (and the cabinet exactly fits this space), we're going to accept the challenge to make it look as good as possible! I'm also dreaming of a cozy old-world-style food storage nook (with more lighting) on top of this cabinet to maximize our storage space. This will make this area feel more homey.
Tip #1: Make the best use of your existing shelving.
This tall "canned goods" cabinet is perfectly shelved for canned goods and provides lots of great storage. The inside needs reorganizing and a fresh coat of paint! Here is where I'd like to introduce the vintage green color we've used elsewhere in the house. Plus the hardware needs updating...
Before & after! Much better already! We already had these copper handles on hand; they just needed some polishing up!
In reorganizing this tall cabinet, I condensed our canned goods onto the same shelves to keep like things and like shapes together. Small items were corralled into a tidy basket, as well as "messy" items like plastic shopping bags we will reuse. In the picnic-style basket, I created a "kit" for cookie baking with cookie cutters, food dye, and sprinkles ~ very handy! On the very bottom shelf, you see the long, narrow basket. These are great for packets or tins of things.
For decor on top of the cabinet, I used my grandmother's old wall phone and a ($3) thrifted split oak basket with faux autumn florals.
Tip #2 hunt for unfitted cabinets on the marketplace or in antique stores.
As you can see, I've found a lovely antique oak cabinet as a wonderful pantry extension. I love what this piece adds to our pantry! The cabinet fit the space perfectly, and what I couldn't see when examining the pictures online is that it has gorgeous wavy amber glass ~ so beautiful!
The cabinet was $50, much cheaper than having custom cabinets built, and a very fair price for an antique oak cabinet. It has just the homey touch I was hoping for!
Another benefit of free-standing pieces like this is that they can be rearranged, unlike built-in cabinetry. Also, if you move to another home, you can take it with you!
If you are searching for these online, try typing in: "old cabinet", "bookshelves", or even "hutch". Many times, the seller doesn't know/care what they have. When looking at a piece in person, check that the piece seems sturdy. Food storage can add a lot of weight. Also, I try all the doors/drawers to see if they work well.
For decor on top of the antique oak cabinet, I used my grandmother's ceramic rooster and hen ~ these were in her kitchen for as long as I can remember.
The colors work so perfectly here, and it's a joy to use things that have special meaning!
Tip #3 Use Floating Shelves on open walls
Fun story on these floating shelves! Matt found these tossed in the dumpster on a job site several years ago. He brought them home, added the shaker pegs for me, and we painted them green.
A benefit of shelves like these (besides being able to customize the color) is that they can be placed to make previously awkward spaces useful. They provide a shelf to store items and pegs for hanging things like ironing, hats, jackets, aprons, etc. I have decided to use ours for drying herbs we grew in the garden.
Tip #4: Use wall baskets in nooks and small areas
One of my favorite ways to make good use of vertical storage is to use wall baskets. They fit in small areas where even a floating shelf might not fit.
These baskets are flat on one side and have a handle at the back, making them perfect for storing all manner of pantry items. The thrift store is a great place to look for wall baskets, although they are fairly rare. I've found some pretty wall baskets on Amazon if you're interested.
Tip #5 Use hanging baskets for storage
Hanging baskets are another efficient and attractive way to organize your pantry. They can be hung from the bottom of a cabinet or from the ceiling. This frees up your counter space. Not only does a hanging basket provide more storage, but it also helps free up floor or counter space. Here is a similar hanging basket I've found for you.
Our Small Pantry: Final reveal
BEFORE & AFTER
I'm pleased with how everything came together, especially since I wasn't quite sure how the individual pieces would look as a whole.
Do you have ideas that have worked well in your small pantry?
Bonus tip! Increase your lighting to make the small space easier to use
By adding more lighting to your smaller spaces, you'll not only be able to see what you're doing better, but the space will appear larger ~ and more welcoming! For decor on top of this appliance cabinet, I've added an antique block print table runner from India (found at a local antique store for $5!) as an interesting backdrop.
Then, for more lighting, I discovered an Art Deco-style stained glass lamp at the thrift store for $10. This lamp adds such style and cozy ambiance!
There's an ironstone bowl full of eggs, a wall basket with garlic cloves, and the antique Dutch canister is holding seed stalks from the Thai basil Matt grew in his garden this year. This is my favorite spot in the pantry ~ now this space feels like part of the house!
Friend, I appreciate you coming along and hope you enjoyed this pantry organization/makeover and especially that you found some fresh ideas for using in your own pantry! Until next time, take care,
Warmly,
Rachel
