9 Brilliant Ways to Organize a Kitchen Without a Pantry
If there’s one thing on my house wish list — well, aside from a personal backyard shed with air conditioning and a fully stocked wine fridge — is a pantry. When you’re living in a modestly sized home — or harder, an apartment, which I’ve done for many years — a kitchen pantry, nevermind a walk-in one, is an enviable luxury.
But creating more storage space even in the smallest of kitchens is possible — with some creativity, imagination, and ingenious storage products. Here are some of the best ideas and inspo for adding more functional space in your kitchen without a pantry.
Install open shelving.
A popular trend in kitchen organization, open shelving is a way to create storage that can be both functional and design-forward. Add floating shelves to open wall space or even take the doors off cabinets to create an open-shelf look. Just know that open shelving does mean things are on display — no doors to hide mismatched bowls or your kid’s collection of plastic sippy cups — so you need to edit down what you have. Show off similar items, like this East London home does, or stick to a color palette to create a decluttered, more cohesive look.
Use bookshelves.
Create your own “cabinet” by adding a bookshelf to your kitchen. Bonus points for repurposing an old bookcase. It may seem like an unconventional piece of furniture for your kitchen, but a bookshelf can quickly add storage space that you may not otherwise have. Bookshelves come in all sizes, too, including ones that fit under a kitchen island, the way this couple did in their Los Angeles home. And shelves are typically adjustable, so you can change shelf heights to accommodate small items like canned goods and tall items like cereal boxes and pasta containers.
OXO Good Grips 5-Piece POP Container Set
Amazon
$47.95 (was $54.95)
Organize with clear, labeled containers.
Airtight or glass containers not only keep your dry foods, spices and baking supplies dry, fresh, and bug-free, they also look modern and cute. Clear containers, like these OXO POP ones, maximize space in cabinets and on shelves, while letting you see how much of whatever you’re storing you have left. Make sure to label them, too!
Hodedah Kitchen Island
Amazon
$84.25
Get a movable kitchen island.
Rolling carts and trolleys give you an instant kitchen island, adding counter and storage space to your kitchen. These carts come in all shapes and sizes, too, with features specific to your kitchen needs. This one, for example, has a spice rack, towel rack, and drawer. You can use a rolling cart as a mobile pantry, an extended prep space, or even a bar cart. And since they’re on wheels, you can move them out of the way if you need more space.
Set up an IKEA Pax wardrobe.
Got an open wall? Get instant storage by setting up an IKEA Pax wardrobe in your kitchen. Freestanding storage cabinets like this one add storage space without the limitations of built-in cabinetry. Plus, this wardrobe comes in various sizes — so you can find one that fits your kitchen space — and boasts adjustable shelving, drawers, baskets, and pull-out trays. Even large kitchens could benefit from the additional storage space, which can be used to hide small appliances or pantry items to instantly declutter your kitchen.
SKÅDIS Pegboard
IKEA
$59.99
Buy Now
Hang a pegboard.
Pegboards aren’t just for garages. Julia Child famously used a pegboard in her kitchen to hang everything from copper pots to whisks. Plus, they’re inexpensive, flexible, and easy to install.
The Original Macrame Fruit And Veggie Hammock
Etsy
$28.90
Buy Now
Try hanging baskets.
Counter space is often what small kitchens lack, so you don’t want to clutter them with bins and baskets. Instead, use tiered hanging baskets to keep your fruits, potatoes, and onions off the counters. If you want something a little more boho, try this macramé fruit hammock.
Create a pantry drawer.
The more organized your drawers, the more stuff you can stash in them — and not on your countertops. Create a pantry drawer like this professional organizer did in her Staten Island rental.
SimpleHouseware Crystal Clear Over the Door Hanging Pantry
Amazon
$14.87
Try an over-the-door hanging organizer.
There are so many ways to use an over-the-door hanging organizer — from shoes to school supplies to your kid’s toys — so why not use them in the kitchen? These clear hanging organizers hang without hardware and can store a variety of pantry items, from bags of dry beans to spices, and keep them out of sight. It’s a great option for renters, too.
Further Reading
I Just Discovered the Smartest Way to Store Paper Towels in Your Kitchen (It’s a Game-Changer!)
Everything You’ve Ever Wanted To Know About Article’s DTC Furniture
