Quick Pantry Design Tips

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

03 Apr 2008 11:11 AM

Having an organized kitchen pantry can make those hectic evenings so much easier. You can just grab what you need for a quick dinner prep. Whether your pantry is large or small, you'll be able to incorporate the following design tips to build or improve your pantry.

The quickest way to build a pantry, other than by purchasing a stand-alone pantry, is to take over an existing closet and then install shelving. One great way to do this is with wire shelving, which is both inexpensive and easy to maintain. The narrow shelves are just right for a reach-in pantry, because they can give an open feel, even if your pantry is small and dark. Wire shelving can be customized to different dimensions, making these shelves easily installed. To clean, just wipe them down with a mild cleaner or soap and water.

Make use of turntables for small items, such as baby food or spices. It will give you easy access to those items, which might otherwise get lost in the pantry or take up more space than they should. You can purchase a traditional plastic turntable for pennies, but I suggest a two-tiered turntable for the extra function. Stainless steel is a nice choice.

To keep the pantry organized, make sure that everything has its own place. One way to do this is by labeling the shelves. This way, you know exactly where everything goes when you unpack your groceries. And when a shelf is looking bare, you know you need to restock that category. One nice way to label shelves is by painting wooden skims with chalkboard paint. Cut the shims down to size, first, and don't forget to sand any rough edges. Then you can label and relabel the shelves as your needs change.

Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, technology in the Computing Blog, and creating a home in the Home Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.

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Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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