Kitchen Pantry Design Checklist

• Determine layout that meets your needs, plus additional space for what you don't anticipate (will you try to cram a vacuum cleaner or step stool in there?).

• Allow for adequate movement for humans operating in the space.

• Make sure doorways are wide enough to enter and exit and bring shelving and food items into the pantry closet.

• If possible, locate the pantry in the northeast corner of the house, or the coolest location.

• Allow deep shelving for small appliance storage, bulk food, and other odd-shaped items.

• Allow shallow shelving for easy access and visibility to canned goods.

• A mix of open shelving and drawers will cover most of your pantry storage needs.

• A place to store and sort recyclables

• Bins or baskets for potatoes, apples, bananas etc.

• Plan for ample lighting, maybe even a motion light for convenience.

• Include wall hooks for miscellaneous items like aprons, sweater, or purses - this tucked away storage helps keep your main kitchen looking neat and tidy effortlessly.

• Consider keeping some empty wall space - you might want to hang calendars, a reminder board, or hanging pouch storage (or fly swatters, yardsticks).

• Many people associate the color white with pantries, and for good reason.  White walls and shelving brightens a space allowing it easier to see your pantry goods.

• Include outlets inside the pantry.  These would come in handy to recharge items out of the way, like flashlights, cell phones or even popular rechargeable vacuum cleaners.  Also, you may want to run a small appliance, such as a crockpot.  DO NOT make the mistake thinking you can squeeze something like a small chest-type freezer into a walk-in pantry. Pantries need to be kept relatively cool; a freezer's compressor would generate too much heat to be located there.

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