If space were no object, I've no doubt that the walk in pantry ideas that fill my home inspiration board would become real. After all, who hasn't experienced the chaos of over-crammed kitchen cupboards, wishing they had more space to get rid of the clutter?
Meticulously organised and a joy to behold, in my mind's eye it would be filled with perfectly labelled jars and storage boxes, organised by food type and date. There'd be a worktop space, under-counter fridges and a general sense of being owned by someone who could whip up a culinary delight at the drop of a hat.
The reality? I'm not quite there yet, but that doesn't stop me scouring pantry ideas for the best walk in pantry ideas to save to my vision board – and share with you.
1. Make your walk in pantry entrance a feature in its own right
Even if what's behind the closed doors of your pantry is more practical, that doesn't mean you can't make the entrance into something special.
Beautiful arched wooden and glass doors create a real feature of this walk in pantry idea, and although it's compact inside, the doors give it a much greater impact. The double doors are also a practical way of not encroaching on the kitchen floorplan when opened. Perfect for small kitchen ideas where you only have limited space.
2. Or, use a hidden door to conceal your walk in pantry
If on the other hand you like to keep an element of surprise in your kitchen design, or have an open plan kitchen you want to look pristine, a hidden walk in pantry idea may be the right choice for you.
Here, the door to the pantry matches the floor to ceiling cabinets, so that when closed, there's no visual clues as to the extra space behind. And, with ample space, it's the true definition of what a walk in pantry idea looks like.
"A walk-in pantry is basically a designated storage area within a kitchen that is large enough for a person to enter and move around in," explains Charlie Smallbone, founder of Ledbury Studio.
"It is typically used to store non-perishable food items, small kitchen appliances, and other supplies, helping to keep the main kitchen area clutter free and organised. Walk-in pantries often feature shelves, drawers, and sometimes additional counter space, providing ample room for various storage needs."
Charlie Smallbone was the founder of bespoke furniture brand Smallbone of Devizes and has been pushing the boundaries of kitchen design for over 40 years. Charlie’s current venture, Ledbury Studio, was born of his desire to harness the beauty of natural materials while creating practical kitchens that exude style and elegance.
3. Create a corner walk in pantry with bespoke room dividers
If you've opted for a freestanding kitchen approach, it could be tempting to eschew the idea of a walk in pantry idea entirely, instead choosing to leave everything out in the open and on display.
However, the reality is there always comes a point when you wish you could just hide certain items away. That said, if building an entire walk in pantry with stud walls isn't an option, this idea gives you the perfect halfway solution.
Glass and metal partitions with a modular shelving system inside still provide a chance to be organised, without making the corner of the room too dark. For extra privacy, consider using fluted or reeded opaque glass to hide what's inside without blocking light.
This shelving unit could be a great starting point if you're building a freestanding pantry storage space.
4. Use an open entrance for better airflow
If you've gone to the expense of creating a walk in pantry idea, key to its success is good pantry ventilation. Once stocked with food, the last thing you want is for it to be wasted as you didn't consider how you could keep your pantry cool.
"Temperature management is an early consideration in pantry design," says Richard Davonport, founder of Davonport. "A pantry that traps heat will struggle to keep food fresher for longer, so ventilation and a cool larder zone built from stone or composite surfaces make a noticeable difference," he suggests.
An open entrance on this walk in pantry idea are ideal for ensuring natural air flows throughout the small, but perfectly formed space.
Richard Davonport is a luxury cabinetmaker and designer, and the founder and Managing Director of kitchen specialists, Davonport. The company designs and makes bespoke kitchens from its workshop in the heart of East Anglia.
5. Add a sink for practical purposes
If you don't have space for a separate kitchen and utility room, but can find a corner in which to create a small walk in pantry idea, adding a sink into your pantry design is a sensible decision.
Perfect for rinsing fresh produce, or offering somewhere to stack plates and dishes from food prep before you eat, it's a small but might addition to your kitchen, and one of the ways in which you can ensure the answer to 'does a pantry add value to your home', is yes, it does.
6. Keep an eye on family life with glass doors and windows
Although the allure of a pantry out of plain sight may be appealing, if a busy family life means it's simply not practical to shut yourself away while cooking food, why not consider creating a dedicated corner pantry room with glass doors and windows instead.
"Designed well, a walk-in pantry offers a dedicated and separate space for food, kitchen appliances and essentials, bringing order and efficiency to daily life," says Jessica Inglis, consumer & retail marketing manager for Second Nature, who created this walk in pantry idea with glass panelled doors.
"Whilst a pantry is traditionally used for additional produce, it can also be used for safely storing appliances and other miscellaneous items, such as scales and chopping boards," adds Jessica, making it a safe place for food prep away from the hustle and bustle of open plan kitchens, but still ensuring the space feels accessible and communal.
7. Mix and match with a different door to your cabinets
If on the other hand you prefer to take a more eclectic approach to your kitchen design, walk in pantry ideas can be the perfect opportunity to unleash your creativity.
"If you opt for a walk-in pantry, it can operate as a separate space so you can design it as you wish so it is personalised to you," says Alex Main, director of The Main Company who created this walk in pantry idea.
The arched wooden door provides a striking contrast to the simple lines of the kitchen cabinets, adding a playful touch that is already present in the pink colour choice.
"Or, if you opt for a pantry as part of your overall kitchen cabinetry, matching the style and colour to the rest of your kitchen will result in a more cohesive and seamless final look that is sophisticated," says Alex. The choice is yours.
Alex Main is director at The Main Company, a family-run company that has been creating highly individual bespoke kitchens since the seventies. The family run business is bursting with knowledge and ideas, built up from the vast experience in kitchen design across the globe.
8. Use open shelving and drawers for smarter storage
With walk in pantry ideas often squeezed into relatively small spaces, the key to making them work for you is storage and organisation say the experts. Open shelving and drawers are two of Alex Main's fail-safe tips to making the space function effectively.
“More and more of our customers are swapping shelves for drawers in their pantries as they offer much easier access without having to root around in the back of a deep shelf," says Alex.
"Drawers also offer a more streamlined aesthetic for those who prefer to hide away items. Store heavier items like tins and sauces or use drawers as an opportunity for perishables like fruits, vegetables and bread as these are often accessed every day so need to be within easy reach.”
“For those who prefer to make more of a feature of their pantry items, open shelving also helps to create more space and interest," he adds. "Ultimately, you want to ensure that your dried goods and other kitchen accessories are within easy reach for when you’re cooking, and open shelving provides fast access to everything you need – and looks great when displayed with other personal possessions.”
Stylish storage for your walk in pantry ideas
Find items easily with these glass storage jars
A set of 4 handwoven wicker organisers with handles, steel-reinforced frame and nesting design
A set of two cake tins, so pretty that you might not want to keep them hidden away
9. Walk in pantry ideas can be compact too
Although in general, "a walk-in pantry should be at least three metres wide by one metre deep to be functional," says Charlie Smallbone, if space is at a premium, there are still ways of incorporating walk in pantry ideas in small kitchen diner ideas.
As this compact, but perfectly functional pantry in a kitchen from Kitchens by Holloways, with interior design by Jude Micklewright of JM Interior Design demonstrates, even small and narrow spaces can be put to good use for storing kitchen essentials that may otherwise need to be on display.
10. Pair simple shaker doors with wooden shelving and glass storage
If you've opted for a simple Shaker kitchen idea in your kitchen renovation, the clean simple lines of this classic style can work equally as well for your walk in pantry ideas.
Clean, unfussy and easy to pair with hardwearing wooden worktops and simple wooden shelves, it can also be a great backdrop for glass storage jars – a kitchen storage item favoured by decluttering fans and perfect for helping to reduce wastage or excess buying of food.
"Whether it’s a full-size pantry or a smaller unit, a pantry can’t be functional if it isn’t properly organised," says Alex Main. "Start by deciding what you’d like to store and then create zones within your pantry. For example, store dried goods like pasta, rice and cereals together in easy-to-see containers like glass jars so you can see how much product you have left – meaning you can keep track of how much stock you have left and when it needs refilling.
"If you like baking, designate an area for baking supplies like flour and sugar in air-tight containers. Baskets or boxes are great for storing snacks and other food like bread. We’d always advise storing heavier items like tins and condiments lower down in the pantry if you can.”
This set of 12 storage jars provides a home for all manner of kitchen staples and cooking ingredients you can store in your walk in pantry
11. Use bespoke floor to ceiling shelving in a corner walk in pantry
If you can only carve out an awkward corner as a possible location for your walk in pantry ideas, ditch the thought of kitchen cupboards and instead invest in some bespoke floor to ceiling shelving to make the most of the available space.
“Ideally, a walk-in pantry needs a certain amount of space and as a minimum it should be 1.8metres wide by 1.2 metres long," says Richard Davonport, "and what space you have will dictate the layout, whether U-shaped, L-shaped or more galley.
“However, if you are opting for a bespoke kitchen, your walk-in pantry can be designed to your exacting requirements," he adds, "and while typically, you’ll have kitchen cabinets along the lower half of your pantry with shelving from chest height and upwards, in other spaces you still have options such as the floor to ceiling shelving in this design."
12. Add windows for natural ventilation in a walk in pantry
Although some walk in pantry ideas simply can't include windows, it's always advisable to include them when you can.
"Proper ventilation is important to keep the pantry cool and prevent the build-up of moisture, which can spoil food," confirms Charlie Smallbone.
In the case of this walk in pantry idea, small windows on the rear wall with slatted shutters serve a dual purpose. Natural ventilation to keep items cool, and also the opportunity to block out bright sunlight during warmer months.
If on the other hand you will be using your walk in pantry as a back kitchen, you may need to consider additional home ventilation measures such as installing a kitchen extractor fan, or adding air bricks to an external wall.
13. Make your lighting bright and functional
Another practical element that needs as much consideration as your kitchen lighting ideas is your walk in pantry lighting. With many walk in pantry ideas devoid of windows or natural light, being able to clearly identify your sugar from salt is essential for avoiding a culinary disaster.
"A walk-in pantry should include several key features to maximise its functionality and efficiency, adequate lighting being one of them," advises Charlie Smallbone. "It's essential to ensure all items are visible and easy to locate."
Downlights in the ceiling can provide bright lighting from above, while LED strip lighting underneath shelves can also help to illuminate the items stored below. Motion sensor lighting is also another option for walk in pantries and ensures you aren't scrabbling to turn off a light switch if you leave with your hands full of cooking supplies.
Charlie's other top features in walk in pantries?
"Adjustable shelves to accommodate items of various sizes, from large cereal boxes to small spice jars; pull-out drawers for easy access to items stored at lower levels, perfect for storing canned goods and smaller kitchen tools; and a small counter area for food preparation or to place items temporarily while organising the pantry.
"Additional storage options on the inside of the door, such as racks for spices or smaller items, can further enhance organisation," he adds.
14. Pick a freestanding pantry with a walk in feel
If, despite your best kitchen layout ideas, you simply can't carve out the space to bring your walk in pantry ideas to life, get as close as you can to the concept with a freestanding pantry unit.
Nestled in the corner of this kitchen, this pantry cabinet offers all the storage concepts you'd expect in a walk in pantry, but in a smaller format.
“If you don’t have the space for a walk-in pantry, you can still have one designed as a part of your everyday kitchen. It could be you opt for a freestanding model or fitted," says Richard Davonport. "This is essentially a giant cupboard that has been carefully designed inside to maximise the storage offered.”
Not sure where to start with your walk in pantry design brief? Richard Davonport explains how they approach the task.
“A well-planned walk-in pantry changes how a kitchen works day to day, but it only performs at its best when the layout, circulation and storage are shaped around real habits.
"We always begin by understanding how the household shops and stores food, because this dictates everything from shelf depth to the amount of work surface required. When those proportions are right, the pantry feels purposeful rather than cramped or over-shelved. Good circulation is essential too; you need clear space to move comfortably, open doors fully and work without feeling closed in."
Dealing with less space? Follow the advice in designing a pantry in a small kitchen, and to ensure sure your walk in pantry ideas are as stylish as they are practical, take a look at the kitchen trends that will be popular in the coming year for some final inspiration.
