If entertaining is one of the main activities in your kitchen, you're in for a treat. Bantry ideas are the newest kitchen trend, and perfect for homeowners who love to socialise in the heart of the home.
Combining all the ingredients you need to make, serve and present drinks without sacrificing on storage space, a bantry is the perfect hybrid of pantry and bar.
And, it doesn't necessarily need to be a bar linked to alcohol either – tea, coffee and soft drinks are just as at home in this clever use of kitchen cabinetry. But be warned, these bantry ideas could mean you might just want to change your kitchen design.
1. Include a sink in your bantry for practicality
If you like to create zones in your kitchen layout, making sure you have everything you need in each area makes sense. It saves you flitting between the zones in order to complete the task.
As drinks are one of the main focuses of a bantry, including a sink is the sensible option if you are designing your kitchen from scratch. It means you can run the necessary plumbing during the construction phase for a sink and any small kitchen appliances, such as a coffee machine, that can also be plumbed into the water supply.
It's a practical solution that will also save you carrying liquids from your kitchen sink, that may well be on the other side of the room.
2. Think about where to position a built-in bantry
Choosing where to place a built-in bantry is key to its success says Jane Everett, creative director at Naked Kitchens, meaning you shouldn't just place it wherever there's space for one.
"When planning the layout, the bantry should be placed to maximise workflow but minimise congestion," says Jane. "A spot that transitions from the main kitchen work area to an open-plan living or dining space works beautifully, allowing guests to access drinks without interrupting food preparation.
"Bantries work best when thoughtfully positioned within the flow of the kitchen, particularly close to key entertaining zones," adds Adrian Stoneham, managing director of Stoneham Kitchens. "Integrating one into a run of tall cabinetry allows it to sit seamlessly within the overall design, maintaining a clean, cohesive look."
In 2000, following a successful career in finance, Jayne and her husband left London and settled in Norfolk to raise their young family. In 2005, her passion for design led to the couple founding Naked Kitchens. As creative director, Jayne now oversees the design of new showrooms and kitchen styles.
Adrian Stoneham is Managing Director of Stoneham Kitchens, one of Britain’s longest-established luxury furniture manufacturers. With over 40 years’ experience in premium furniture making, he leads the 162-year-old family business from its manufacturing facility and showroom in Sidcup, Kent.
3. Or, fit a bantry in an under-utilised corner
If your kitchen diner is set up with entertaining at its core, slotting a bantry idea into a wasted corner could be the feature you didn't even know you needed.
"A standalone bantry can be used to create more of a focal feature, adding both character and functionality," says Adrian Stoneham.
"Positioning it near a kitchen island or sociable seating area ensures everything is within easy reach, supporting both food prep and at-home entertaining."
For a standalone option that could fulfil the brief of a bantry, try this Inglesham White Oak Double Larder from The Cotswold Company.
4. Contrast finishes for visual interest
Even though your bantry cabinet doors may be closed most of the time, it doesn't mean you should neglect them when considering your kitchen colour scheme. Instead, see it as a way of adopting paint trends such as the peek-a-boo paint idea which uses bright or contrasting colours and materials to create an unexpected focal point.
Here, the coral of the glass-fronted cabinet provides a splash of colour to showcase glassware, while the wooden finish on the inside of the home bar section adds warmth to the navy kitchen idea.
Shop for coloured kitchenware for your bantry
Add some colour inside your bantry with this retro-style tumbler set
Boost your mornings and storage with this set of stackable coloured mugs
Cause a stir with this stylish gold and green cocktail set
5. Add mirrored shelves for extra light
With the inside of a bantry needing to be practical and functional (especially one that's used as a bar at nighttime), it's important to consider lighting in your main design brief say the experts.
"Integrated lighting is also becoming increasingly common, illuminating the interior so the space feels purposeful and inviting rather than simply a storage cupboard," notes Richard Davonport, founder and managing director of Davonport. "It transforms what was once a purely practical pantry into something that feels far more sociable and engaging."
Glass shelves and a mirrored splashback can also serve a dual purpose in bantry ideas by not only looking stylish, but ensuring any light within the space is maximised.
"Integrated LED strips, positioned vertically or horizontally, will not only enhance visibility but also elevate the overall look," adds Adrian Stoneham, "creating a warm, inviting feature within the kitchen."
Try adding these Warm White COB LED Strip Light with Touch and Hand Sweep Dimmer Switch for Cabinets to boost your bantry or kitchen accent lighting.
Richard Davonport is a luxury cabinetmaker, 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. He has a vast wealth of experience in kitchen design, layout and creating beautiful kitchens for all type of homes.
6. Include drawers for practical pantry storage
With its double identity, a bantry is expected to work pretty hard in your kitchen, fulfilling the role of host and store.
“This type of cabinetry kitchen storage should be designed with layers of functionality in mind," says Richard Davonport. "Deep drawers might store snacks, cereals, and dry goods, while upper shelving accommodates glassware or decorative bottles, and a durable work surface inside the cupboard creates space for making coffee in the morning or mixing drinks later in the day."
But where do you start? "Consider what you’ll be housing, from dry goods to glassware, and communicate this clearly with your kitchen designer so cabinetry can be tailored accordingly," advises Adrian Stoneham.
"Personalised detail, such as engraved drawer fronts for items like bread, pasta or treats, can also provide a practical solution, and a sense of understated luxury," he adds.
7. Make it hard-wearing and practical
While a fun neon light or a contrasting colour can bring a lovely aesthetic to your bantry ideas, it needs to be practical, and fit in with your overall kitchen ideas too, especially if the bantry is located among the rest of your kitchen cabinets.
"The first design tip we give homeowners is to ensure the internal materials align with the main kitchen," says Jane Everett. "We recommend integrating a counter-height shelf made from a durable material like quartz, or a complementary timber worktop to tie the space together."
Or, as is in this idea, you can extend your kitchen worktop choice inside a counter-top cupboard that's being designed as a bantry.
"A functional bantry should always include a few key components," she continues. "For the pantry element, dedicated housing for small appliances with electric sockets at the rear is essential, allowing them to be used in situ. For the bar side, dedicated wine or bottle storage and elegant glassware shelving or hanging rails are a really lovely addition. Interior lighting really elevates the bantry too."
8. Place a wine fridge below
Although including kettles, coffee machines and blenders inside a bantry will enhance its useablilty, where space permits, a wine fridge located below the worktop can also be worth the investment.
Or, if you have the room available, including an integrated fridge and freezer could also turn your bantry into a more practical bar, small pantry and cold store too. Perfect for drinks, snacks, ice and more will turn your bantry into a truly multi-functional kitchen hub.
This HiSense Wine Cooler from Argos can hold up to 96 litres of drinks if you need one to enhance your kitchen bantry.
9. Consider an extended bantry wall
If your kitchen truly is the heart of your home, and life revolves around the space from day into night, it could be worth designing a bantry that suits your lifestyle – even if this means making it larger and the focal point of your room.
Here, a sink, drinks storage, coffee machine, copious amounts of storage and elegant gold trims and finishes make this bantry idea a real hive of activity, and it's a concept that Richard Davonport has seen grow amongst homeowners.
“Entertaining at home has become more relaxed and integrated into daily life, rather than reserved for formal occasions, and homeowners increasingly want spaces that make hosting feel effortless," explains Richard.
"Having a dedicated cupboard where everything needed for drinks, coffee, or snacks is gathered in one place means guests can be served without disrupting the wider kitchen.
"Traditionally, a walk-in pantry was a purely practical space for food storage, while drinks and glassware might sit in a separate bar cabinet or dresser elsewhere in the home. What we are now seeing is a merging of those roles in a way that supports both everyday routines and entertaining," he adds.
10. Use pocket doors for easy access
Although, as the previous idea shows, bantries can be as large as you want, smaller bantry ideas require extra planning, with features such as pocket doors proving advantageous.
"When designing a bantry, it’s important to balance practicality with visual appeal," says Adrian Stoneham. "Pocket doors are a great option, as they slide neatly out of sight when open, freeing up floor space and allowing the interior to be fully appreciated while in use."
Is there a minimum size for a bantry? It's much the same as any kitchen cabinet choice, with sizes ranging from 600mm upwards.
"We usually suggest the minimum space for a bantry (without pocket doors) is around 800mm wide which allows for two doors to open and not protrude into the room," says Jane Everett. "As a minimum, the internal space also needs to be wide enough for appliances," she notes.
If, like me, you're leaning towards a bantry in your next kitchen design, make sure you've planned ahead in order to avoid common kitchen layout mistakes so that it's placed in the best location.
And, when it comes to the internal design, take inspiration from these pantry organisation ideas to make sure you get the maximum use from your cabinets.
