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NO MATTER WHAT SIZE YOUR KITCHEN PANTRY IS, INCREASE ITS SHELF LIFE BY TAILORING IT TO YOUR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS. LET THE PLANNING BEGIN!

- STEPHANIE HOPE

Not only a place to store non-perishable food, the humble pantry can be one of the hardest-working spaces in your home, helping keep your kitchen clean, tidy and clutter-free. And with the prospect of guests to cater for at this time of year, you’ll want to be fully stocked without having piles of snacks and extra supplies on benchtops and falling out of overstuffed cupboards. “In a well-functioning kitchen, the pantry will serve as the main storage hub,” says Briony Mikrou, marketing communications manager for Kaboodle Kitchen. “It’s where you keep everyday items out of sight but within arm’s reach [below], and in some instances, a place to store appliances and get food prep done.”

Choose your type

Pantries come in many different shapes, sizes and formats, and can be as simple as a series of floating shelves, a steel shelving unit – or even a cupboard under the stairs. Often, the size of your kitchen will dictate the pantry type you can have, although, of course, the options increase when you are renovating or building a home from scratch.

The traditional freestanding pantry is a cupboard or cabinet that can be easily integrated within existing cabinetry (above and opposite), either concealed or hidden. It might include shelves, drawers, baskets, racks or a combination of all of these. They’re ideal for smaller kitchens, but as Briony points out, “With some savvy thinking, you can store everyday appliances, pantry items and even cutlery in a freestanding pantry.”