Create an Organized Pantry Out of a Coat Closet
When it comes to adding storage in the kitchen, sometimes it's helpful to think outside the box. Or even outside the kitchen. Here's how we turned a useless cluttered coat closet into an organized pantry.
Do you have a cluttered coat closet that looks like this? Or worse? And do you wish you had more storage space in your kitchen? This trick will help you solve both those problems!
We used a Closetmaid shelving system from Lowe's made up of four vertical supports and four shelves on the bottom for heavier items, and two supports and one shelf on the top, where we store lighter items.
First, measure and mark where the vertical supports should go. We located ours on studs, but you can also use anchors if your studs aren't in the right place. Screw the vertical supports onto the wall.
Pop the shelf brackets in place on the vertical supports.
Cut the shelves to the width you need inside the closet, using a hacksaw or bolt clippers. (Or bring your measurements with you to the store when you buy them, and have an associate cut them to size for you.) Then simply slide the shelves onto the brackets and snap them into place by catching them on the hook at the back of the bracket.
Be sure to use brackets and supports on the outside edges of the shelves if you are storing heavy items, so they don't sag under the weight on the edges. Also, consider putting the shelves at different heights to accommodate different sized items.
Stock your shelves! I used cardboard cases from when I bought canned vegetables by the case to organize and corral my cans and jars. You could use all sorts of fancy containers, but these were cheap (free!) and they work great.
Add some handy details to keep you organized, like chalkboard vinyl for grocery lists...
...A cute chalk holder made from decorative duck tape...
...An apron hanging from a command hook, so it's close by when you start cooking...
...A clipboard for keeping track of loose papers and odds and ends...
...And for a final fun detail, I used some jute twine and a mini-whisk I found in my junk drawer to upgrade my light's pull switch.
Ahhh, much better. And way more useful!
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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3 of 179 comments
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I love this idea. But my coat closet is in the hallway by the front door.
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Lol. Me too
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This is exactly what I need. I just moved into a small apartment with little to none cabinet space. I need a pantry desperately! I’m going to make my hall closet into a pantry that I can remove when ever I decide to move. Thank you so much for your idea 💡.
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