How to Build a Pantry Between Two Walls

Measure the location's length, width and height. You'll need this information to design shelves, walking paths and determine any lighting needs for the area.

Hire an electrician to address wiring, light switches and outlet requirements. The space may already have an overhead light, but it may need to be placed on a separate switch from the rest of the room. You may also want to have an outlet or two installed.

Locate all the studs in the walls. You need to tap shelves into the studs so that they are sturdy enough to hold heavy pantry items. A stud finder uses sound waves to find the solid studs behind drywall. Mark the studs with a pencil.

Mark shelf locations with a pencil. Design the shelves based on your needs within the pantry. You may have several tall shelves, extending 18 inches from the base to the next shelf, or you may have many shorter shelves designed for canned goods. Assume you have four shelves on the back wall extending 5 feet wide and four shelves on the right wall extending the depth of the pantry, which is 7 feet. All shelves are spaced equally, and the left is reserved for walking.

Measure and cut the shelf planks. Use at least 1-inch-thick planks; choice of wood is up to you. The shelf planks should meet at the far right corner. Use a miter saw to cut the back planks at a 45-degree angle extending from the front left to the back right. The right wall planks should be cut at a matching 45-degree angle from the front right to the back left.

Install shelving brackets on the wall studs. The 4-foot shelves should have at least two brackets per shelf. The 7-foot shelves should have at least three brackets. Brackets vary, but most contain either two or four screws. Hold the bracket up to the wall in position, mark the screw holes and drill the points. Secure the brackets with 3-inch mounting screws.

Set the shelves on the brackets. Some brackets have shelving screw mounts to secure the shelf in place to the bracket. Mark these spots with a pencil, remove the shelf and drill the marked holes 1/4-inch deep. Place the shelf back in position and secure with 1/2-inch screws. Use a level to make sure everything is even. Repeat for all shelves.

Frame the door wall. Measure and cut three 2-by-4 studs the width of the doorway. Create the top plate using two of the cut studs tied together with a nail gun from both the top and bottom. Measure and cut upright studs to fit between the double top plate and the third 2-by-4 that is the bottom plate. Tap these uprights in between the top and bottom plates, starting at the ends and working inward every 18 inches. Do not place an upright stud where the door will swing open and shut. Use a nail gun to secure them in place from the outside of the frame.

Measure and cut the bottom plate, where the door will be hung. Place an upright stud on each side of the doorway. The door header and door jams attach to these uprights. Cut the header from a 1-by-12 plank to stretch from the two uprights. Cut two 2-by-4 studs to extend from the bottom plate to the header, bracing it up and becoming the door jams. Secure the jams to the uprights and the header to the door jams with a nail gun, then secure the entire wall to surrounding wall studs, floor and ceiling joists.

Hang the door. Measure and mark where the door hinges will sit in the door jam. Drill the marked holes 1/8 inch deep and secure the hinges with 1-inch screws. Have an assistant hold the door in place as you mark the hinges on the door side. Drill the required hinge holes and then mount the door. Set a level on the door to make sure it is hung straight.

Finish the exterior walls. Measure and cut drywall to fit the frame. Install the drywall with a nail gun and finishing nails. Paint the pantry to match the surrounding decor.