Asked on Sep 28, 2017

Adding Extra Pantry Storage to a Kitchen

I have a small rectangular (almost galley) kitchen. The kitchen has a small amount of cabinetry and no pantry! I added a china cabinet to my kitchen to store extra dishes, etc. But now I could use storage space for the snacks my kids like to eat and baking essentials like sugar and flour.

Currently I keep about three canisters on the kitchen table to hold my kids' snacks. I would love to have a clear table again!

There is space on either side of the china cabinet -- one side ends at the refrigerator (which has white cabinets above), with the far end meeting perpendicularly with a window. I was wondering if I should perhaps add open shelves for the canisters, or if I should get a contractor to add a closet (maybe with sliding barn doors) on one side or both sides of the china cabinet.

My kitchen is open on one end (the part that is in the foreground of the photo) to my home's family room.

Would love suggestions!
The photo above shows the area behind my kitchen table -- should I add open shelving, or perhaps hire a contractor to build some sort of pantry -- maybe with cute glass doors or a sliding barn door?
I recently painted my kitchen cabinets white -- they are to the left of the fridge.
  14 answers
  • Lyn15291588 Lyn15291588 on Sep 28, 2017

    I would add an entire wall of lower cabinets to that wall. You would have to relocate the hutch. It would give you more storage and counters.

  • Karen Krysowaty Karen Krysowaty on Sep 28, 2017

    I would remove the hutch and then put cabinets on the bottom and open shelves above for the dishes and glasses.

  • V Smith V Smith on Sep 28, 2017

    I think I would leave the long wall as it is. The hutch looks good there and a house needs to have some blank spaces, it also provides a nice area for color or art. The short wall that is opposite the hutch appears to have a cart-like piece against the wall. That is where I would make the change. I would add a 12 - 14" deep piece there. One that is tall and attached to the wall with 2 doors and no center frame piece. It could be assembled from kitchen cabinets and should match the height of your kitchen cabinets, perhaps in 2 sections - one short over one tall. That could serve as your snacks and cereal cabinet and also store some of the less used items. It would also keep your family from invading the business end of the kitchen when they want snacks. I would not do any kind of sliding barn doors you don't have the space they require. Also I would avoid glass doors on a pantry, seldom are things as tidy as stacked dishes.

  • If we go with your idea, where are the barn doors sliding to? There is no space? I like the idea, but seems impractical here.


    I would relocate the hutch, build bar height cabinets (deep enough to be useful but not so it impedes on the dining area), with a beautiful countertop to coordinate with your existing kitchen and staggered shelves with decorative brackets above.

  • Tonya Tonya on Sep 28, 2017

    Yes I'd add uppers and lower. That whole area could be storage. And to save cost they have the cabinets already made Just paint them yourself. Maybe try open cabinets on bottom so you can store shoes etc.

  • Chubby58 Chubby58 on Sep 28, 2017

    Have you ever thought of possibly adding a set of cabinets to be a divider between your kitchen and den area. Same counter top as your kitchen, bar height with cabinets on both sides. That would give you plenty of storage space., and allow you to keep the pretty hutch where it is.

  • 27524803 27524803 on Sep 28, 2017

    There are a number of options for this room..

    1. Put some base cabinets along the wall where the hutch is, they can be large drawers or cupboards (if you need less depth, so there is more room for the table, use upper cabinets which are only 12 inches deep. The upper space could be cabinets with glass doors, open shelving, or open space for artwork

    2. You could also put cabinets under the windows to make a bench (or have a bench built with access thru the top). Turn the table 180 degrees. and put a 24 inch pantry cabinet (with roll out shelf features) like the one from IKEA

    ... Just as a way to try things out use the IKEA kitchen planning application and try out different options (just save as "Smith kitchen 1" etc. It will let you print out a 360 view of what the space would look like

    Or... you can draw it out on graph paper... cut cabinet sizes on card stock or colored paper and fit it around until you like what you see

  • Penny Taylor Penny Taylor on Sep 28, 2017

    Have you thought about adding stacked upper cabinets on each side of the hutch? They are only 12" deep and if you bought four that are 36" wide and stacked two on each side of the hutch (giving a size of 36" wide by 84" high on each side). You could have some trim added to the top to make it look like it is matching the hutch...should give you a lot of storage without taking too much space out of the room. I would stain them to match the hutch or paint it all one color. Hope this gives you something to consider.

  • Vicky Davis Vicky Davis on Sep 30, 2017

    Putting something in the foreground corner is a good idea. You might even find a 'corner hutch' that matches your original one. But even a corner shelf unit, say floor to ??. Hutch height? Curtain rod height?


    A corner unit would give you room for the snack containers and ?? maybe move cookbooks/mixing bowls to that spot and free up room for flour/sugar jars in the kitchen itself?


    Having it in the corner would also keep it more out of the way, and not as visible. Then the hutch can be free to be more decorative, because it is. The table can be cleared off like you want, and leave a clear view of the hutch.

  • Julie Medved Julie Medved on Oct 07, 2017

    Your newly painted kitchen looks stunning. I would continue it to the end and also paint your dining suite white as well. Your cushions in your favourite colour. Do a double door pantry in the centre. Maybe you could paint your hutch white and display your best glassware in the living room.

  • Sharon Sharon on Oct 07, 2017

    You can also buy bookcases with lower doors to hide some stuff or get Ikea Hemnes cabinets.... http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50371729/#/30371730

    Liatorp glass front cabinet... http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S19028754/

  • Lauren of Mom Home Guide Lauren of Mom Home Guide on Oct 08, 2017

    Love the cabinets!

  • Liz Liz on Nov 14, 2017

    I like Sharon's idea. Make sure the book cases are the same height as the hutch, use molding if necessary, and the same wood tone. Cover the inside back with wallpaper or fabric, it won't matter if wood grain is different.