Need Some Creative Ideas for Making a Pantry in a Small Kitchen

Shelf Help

• Make an area of empty and unused wall space serve a functional purpose as a mini-pantry by putting up shelving. A few shelves can help out a lot with storing overflow food items from cupboards and cabinets. Shelves can be installed easily and quickly, and they're available in several styles and colors to match the décor of any kitchen. Also, corner shelving units allow you to make good use of out-of-the-way corner space.

Racked Up

• Purchase a multi-shelf rack to use as a pantry. You can find these racks in neighborhood retail stores such as Target and Wal-Mart, in plastic, metal or wood, starting at very low prices. Shelf racks can be placed wherever works best: beside the window, behind a door, in a corner. And they also have the added benefit of being easily moved around, so you can temporarily relocate this portable pantry when you have company or when you need to use the space.

Space Aid

• Make the most of underutilized available areas in the small kitchen in conjunction with the pantry to increase room for storing. One such area is right overhead. Instead of storing large and bulky pots and pans in the pantry, where they take up much-needed food-storage space, store them on a ceiling rack. Hang hooks on the wall for hanging coffee mugs instead of keeping them in cabinets. In addition, use every square inch in the pantry by storing food upward with stacking baskets and shelves. These items enable you to get two and sometimes three shelves out of one.

Well Furnished

• Make the furniture serve double duty: not only function but also pantry. If you have a plain kitchen island, replace it with one that has shelves and drawers where you can place food. If the microwave sits on a stand, use a little kitchen cart with plenty of storage instead. Replace the kitchen table with one that has drawers or a bottom shelf or a storage-compartment built into the base.