It would be nice if we all have a pantry in the kitchen, right? Imagine all that space and storage spaces. But if you have a small kitchen, a pantry may not be a priority when setting up the space. Most small kitchens usually have cupboards or cabinets under the sink or counter – and that’s about it. So, maybe the burning question in your mind now is how to organize a small kitchen without a pantry.
Well, worry not because you can still organize this spot (your favorite I suppose) in your house, even without a pantry. We, homemakers, are quite a pro at improvising, right? So, here’s how you can keep things – especially your food supplies and whatnot, neat and tidy even without a designated pantry in your kitchen.
What is a Pantry?
A pantry can be a small room, closet, or cupboard where food, groceries, and other dry goods in the kitchen are kept. Some may have a big enough pantry that they can also store silverware, glassware, and fine Chinas for special occasions.
Modern kitchens are now designed not just to have a pantry but even a walk-in pantry! Well, of course, walk-in pantries also have their pros and cons – but the bottom line would still be more storage space! Back to reality, though. We don’t have one – and that is what we’re going to remedy here. So, are you up for some organizing? Here’s how to organize a small kitchen without a pantry.
How To Organize a Small Kitchen Without a Pantry
Before we even begin our list, just so you know, this will involve a whole lot of decluttering in the kitchen. Adding space for your pantry supplies will not magically organize your kitchen. It is a start of course, but keep in mind – we’re not adding extra storage spaces for clutters, these extra storage spaces are for your pantry supplies.
Free some drawers
Some of the drawers in your kitchen can be put to better use rather than housing your gazillion kitchen utensils. It’s time to do some auditing and keep only the must-have kitchen essentials. You can use these drawers to keep for example your spices or baking supplies. You can make use of drawer dividers or organizer bins to keep sachets or packets of ingredients neatly together.
Add wall shelves
There are wall shelves available now, particularly floating shelves, that can be easily installed if you have wall space to spare in your kitchen. If you’re not loving the idea that your cereal boxes, grains, or pasta are in plain sight like that then consider getting storage containers or canisters that you can beautifully transfer these food items.
Make use of your cabinet’s door
Your pots and pans won’t mind sharing the space with your other kitchen supplies – make use of hanging wire or basket organizer. These are not of course meant for heavy items (gauge the capacity of your cabinet’s doors). Another option would be to make use of these hanging organizers to organize further your cooking utensils which could end up freeing an extra whole cabinet for your food supplies alone. Now, wouldn’t that be great?
Consider pegboards
Now, this is quite similar to the wall shelving we previously mentioned, but some may prefer this one instead – especially if you have a big wall space to spare. If you don’t mind your supplies out like that on display then this is a great idea. Wherever you’re going to attach the pegboard will automatically designate that area as the pantry. Just make sure that you’re keeping the items organized so that it won’t turn into an eyesore.
Add a sideboard
If you can squeeze it in (choose a petite one if you’re really lacking space), add a sideboard. This will not only serve as your pantry cabinet but can also be used to add décor to your kitchen. That is of course if you can spare the top for decorating – if not (like you really have a lot of stuff to store), then you can of course use the top space. Perhaps, add baskets or other storage bins or make use of trays to keep them neat and organized.
How about a rolling island
Yes, if you can’t with the sideboard then how about a rolling island, right? It is supposedly for kitchen utensils and small kitchen appliances but you can easily turn it into your very own pantry cabinet. Just make use of organizer bins or racks to maximize the space. Use hanging hooks if needed.
Consider slim storage cart
This is absolutely perfect for a small kitchen. You can simply slide them in or out of tiny spaces, say a space between the fridge and the kitchen counter, or right beside the kitchen counter, or perhaps at end of the kitchen island. You see, you can pretty much ‘squeeze’ this slim rolling storage cart anywhere. It can hold jars or canisters, canned or bottled supplies, drinks, or even cereal boxes.
Make use of hard-to-reach cabinet spaces
Most of us have these – hard to reach and oftentimes wasted spaces in our cabinets, the corner areas! But, with the use of Lazy Susans, we can absolutely turn it into an extra pantry area. Just go for big and heavy-duty ones if you’re planning to store heavy or big items.
Related Read: The Search for the Best Fridge Organizer: One Tub At a time
Don’t forget your counter space
Sure, we would like our kitchen counter as neat and as clean as possible – without clutter and all. But if you have a small kitchen, achieving that will be quite a stretch. You can work around it though by making sure that you’re still keeping things all organized – say make use of uniform canisters or baskets or making use of trays.
As mentioned previously, tackling how to organize a small kitchen without a pantry will involve decluttering as well. And if you’re getting overwhelmed just by the thought of it, know that you can do it one space at a time – or area, or whatever you may want to categorize it.
To be truly successful with your organizational effort, you would of course want to fill your extra space now for the pantry with items that you truly need. Hence the importance of decluttering first. Otherwise, you just gained more area to keep all the clutter, lol!
So, who’s ready to get down to the nitty-gritty of organizing your kitchen?