How to Build a Pantry With Sliding Shelves

Pantries are a traditional way to store dry foods and other kitchen supplies. A pantry can be something as simple as a freestanding cabinet. Many country homes feature this style of pantry and it is favored over a built-in cabinet because of its rustic appeal. You can make your own pantry as a do-it-yourself woodworking project. Maintain the rustic appeal of the pantry while adding a bit of modern convenience to it by installing sliding shelves. The sliding shelves will allow you to easily access your dry goods without having to dig through to the back of the pantry.

2 boards, full 1-by-16-inch, 24 inches long
2 boards, full 1-by-16-inch, 58 inches long
Hammer
Square head nails
1/2-inch plywood panel, 24-by-60-inch
Trim head wood screws
Screw gun
3 pairs of cabinet shelf slides, with screws
Tape measure
3 boards, full 1-by-16-inch, 21 inches long
Shellac
Natural-bristle paintbrush
Checked curtain, 24-by-60-inch
Tension curtain rod

Instructions

- 1
  Place the 1-by-16-by-24-inch boards parallel to each other on a work surface with the 1-by-24-inch sides resting flat. Orient the boards horizontally lengthwise and space them 60 inches apart from the outside edges. These are the top and bottom boards for the pantry.
- 2
  Insert one 1-by-16-by-58-inch board between each end of the top and bottom boards to form a rectangular assembly. These are the side boards for the pantry. The 1-by-58-inch sides should be flush against the work surface.
- 3
  Hammer square head nails through the top and bottom boards into the ends of the side boards every 2 inches.
- 4
  Lay the 1/2-by-24-by-60-inch plywood panel over the assembly, making sure that the edges of the plywood are flush with the outside edges of the assembly. Screw the plywood panel to the assembly by driving trim head wood screws through the plywood into the edges of the assembly every 4 to 6 inches using a screw gun. This is the back of the pantry.
- 5
  Stand the pantry assembly upright so that the front opening is facing you. Position the pairs of cabinet shelf slides on the inside of the side boards at 18, 36 and 54 inches up from the bottom of the pantry assembly. Drive the screws that were included with the cabinet shelf slides through the mounting holes into the sides of the pantry using a screw gun.
- 6
  Lay one 1-by-16-by-21-inch board over each pair of slides. These are the shelf boards. Drive the screws that were included with the slides through the mounting holes into the bottom of the shelf boards using a screw gun.
- 7
  Apply two even coats of shellac over the entire pantry assembly using a natural-bristle paintbrush. Allow the first coat to dry for 24 hours before applying the second coat. Wait 48 hours after applying the second coat before handling the pantry.
- 8
  Slide the curtain onto the tension curtain rod. Insert the tension curtain rod between the sides of the pantry just underneath the top board. This will provide country-inspired enclosure for the pantry.

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