This post is sponsored by The Home Depot
One of my best friends just moved from Texas back to Utah where they are originally from. They moved back to their old home but quickly realized how much they missed their large Texas home for their family of six. So they got a slightly larger home and this new home came with an awesome walk-in pantry. But she had never had a large walk-in pantry and it was a little overwhelming. The pantry just became a catch-all because it is so large there is room to just set things wherever. Rachel asked me when I was visiting Utah to help her organize it. It was driving her crazy because the pantry door was always open exposing their secret messy pantry!
Wallpaper is always my go-to for adding some character to a space. And I found the perfect buffalo print wallpaper to use as our base. Even when organizing a pantry or a closet you still need an inspiration piece, something to get you excited about the project and to be able to pull the whole look together. In a large room I typically start with a rug. In a closet or pantry it could even be paint or baskets as the inspiration.
Also I want to mention organizing does not always mean you have to purchase new things. We used a lot of what she already had. With the addition to some new pieces and a statement wallpaper. It was also important to me to not take out anything that “didn’t look pretty”. I am all for staging a photo. But I wanted to share what she actually keeps in her pantry so it is a true before and after and to give you some practical ideas. (PS- this pantry was sooooo dark! I really had to play with my camera to brighten it up and leave the lights on).
She said that this is the nicest room in her house. She might host her next book club here and “she can’t believe she get’s to live here”! Let’s take a look at the before photos….
Pantry BEFORE-
Pantry AFTER-
Pantry BEFORE-
Pantry AFTER-
Pantry Organizing Tips-
#1- Make it functional but also add in some decorative pieces-
As I mentioned before the pantry door is always open, with 4 young kids it is a loosing battle. Might as well embrace it! I hung THIS piece of art from The Home Depot Website on the large empty space above the top shelf. The wallpaper on the shelves really adds some drama and pulls in the style and look from the rest of their home. You could wallpaper the wall behind the shelves (we had brackets in the way) or you could wallpaper every other shelf. This large pantry only took two rolls of wallpaper! The wallpaper we used can be found HERE it is a temporary wallpaper that requires no paste. Just sprayed water on the back of the paper to get the paper to stick to the shelves. Then to remove you just wet the paper. (See video at the bottom when we installed it). Also I recommend putting felt pads on the bottom of your baskets to protect the wallpaper.
#2- Take everything OUT then put back in according to most used and who will be using it-
We removed everything from the pantry to install the wallpaper on the shelves. I would have done this step even without the wallpaper. We then put things in bins, baskets or containers according to the size. Then I added everything back to the pantry keeping in mind the kids and what they get from the pantry and what you want out of reach too. I made sure to put the breakfast food all grouped together and within reach for the kids. Also snacks are low for the kids. I moved the large appliances to the back part of the pantry because they aren’t used daily and visually they looked best hidden.
#3- Get Creative with Containers-
I always suggest shopping your home first. We used her vintage BREAD container to store all of her tea. And the vintage picnic basket for her S’mores kit- easy to grab to take outside! I found THESE awesome black metal baskets and bought six of them. If you are going to be purchasing new container I suggest buying in three’s to make a statement and stagger on the shelves. And try to stick to one color scheme. You could even spray paint baskets you have to match!
We used the most of THESE containers with the suction lids. Everything that they typically stock in their pantry we took out of the package and put in a container and labeled them.
#4-Use all of the space, floors and walls-
We maximized the floor with THESE large baskets from The Home Depot Website for storing paper towels, extra large bags or chips, paper plates etc. On the walls we added some hooks for S’more sticks and to hang bags and coolers. Around the corner we painted the wall behind the door in chalkboard paint to write a master pantry staples list, favorite cookies recipe, conversions and a simple “how to boil an egg” for kids to learn a new kitchen skill weekly!
A label maker is one of my favorite tools that I keep in my tool belt! Find the one I use HERE.
Painting the pantry door a fun color is always a great place to start! We used Sherwin Williams Dorian Gray.
I had someone ask me “why go to all that work for a space that the door will be closed?” Simple answer- it brings us joy! And not to mention if you make a space pretty and organized then you will be more likely to put everything back where it goes!
Sources-
Blog Post on how to measure for wallpaper and more info on installing wallpaper
Pantry Makeover Video-
(Video clips taken from my Instagram Stories, but thought they were helpful to post here!)
aaaaaamazing! Please come do mine now 🙂
WOW….WOW…WOW!!!! That looks awesome… I am so inspired! Off to order paper from H. Depot. Great job!
YES! I am so impressed with the variety Home Depot has!!
This looks beautiful–so many good ideas to try at my house. 🙂 Thank you!
Some people just have a natural talent for organizing. It’s fun, exciting, and the organized space brings joy. Some people struggle with looking at a space, and the things that go in it, and figuring out how to put it in functional order. I love to purge, tidy, and organize. It’s so easy to keep a clean, smooth running house when it’s organized. Helping the organizational challenged is a great way to pass on an inate talent. I’m sure your friend appreciates what you have done for her and her new home.
I agree! That is exactly why we need to share our talents and help our loved ones! We all have a talent to share xxxx
Such a great makeover!
It looks awesome!!
I love ALL of it! Brooke, as usual, you have outdone yourself! I always look forward to your design ideas and especially how you make even the smallest things so functional.
You are so lucky to have a PANTRY! Of course you are the one that made it beautiful. I have a large home but no pantry….my fault as I designed the house. I wish I had of seen all these beautiful blogs when we built our house.
This is very inspiring! I have a smallish pantry that I use for dishes , platters, etc. but you have me thinking about putting dishes elsewhere and storing all my food in one place. Total kitchen upheaval! Thanks for all the good ideas, as always.
Wow, Wow, WOW!!! Every time Rachel uses that pantry she is going to have happy thoughts of her dear friend Brooke. And that chalkboard wall, I can’t even…..
Everything looks fab! Do you know where here hooks came from?
What a great inspiration this was! Brooke, what chalkboard marker did you use? I have one but your getting a lot of detail with yours maybe I should switch up. Did you use stencils to make the cutting board drawings look so good? That’s a cool idea. My pantry door is white among an all white kitchen. The doors aren’t great wooden doors inside this house (I’d like to work on switching them) so do you have any tips on painting them? I’m guessing they are composite builder grade doors…look ok but I’d like to paint the pantry door to match my gray painted island……at least I’m thinking about that!..Lol Maybe it’s a no-no to match my pantry door to my island in an open concept kitchen/LR space?
What is that that she is storing all her canned food on? I love it but have no idea what it is!
The entire pantry is beautiful, what an amazing transformation!
This is so great! I love how much attention to detail you use, and love the idea of a basket for paper towels! Why didn’t I think of that 🤔
Oooops..I see all the links now…..Have a safe trip home!:0)
Love this…. I have a closet style pantry in this house and now cant wait to re-organize it! I have the Freedom Rail system so cant wallpaper the shelves, but may wallpaper the walls. I re-did my master closet and wallpapered the walls and people kept saying to me… why bother its going to be behind clothes… but it makes me feel good every time I open the doors 🙂
Love this!!! Thanks for sharing. Sometime when we put more work into a space it’s more satisfying!! The wall paper adds so much!
I Love it! It looks so great, thanks for doing these organizing projects, it’s so inspiring!
Wow!! Great pantry space….super functional and attractive.
Where did the artichoke art come from. Love it 💗
Dreamy!! I was planning on buying the print from ikea on the door. I didn’t see your source for the frame. Would you mind sharing? It’s perfect!
WOW! It’s beautiful! I love the chalkboard paint behind the door, that’s an amazing idea!!
May I ask where you got the poster/print holder on the door?
she made it! With just two thin pieces of wood she stained!
hey girl- love the pantry! great job- so cool!
Love the makeover! I live in Canada but wanted to share that Costco sells a 2 pack of those metal baskets very similar to her potato and squash basket for $18!!
Just beautiful and I am such a fan of buffalo check! Maybe you could flip over the top shelves so you see those totally covered from the bottom view?
This pantry came out gorgeous! Any chance you know where the print on the door is from?! Love everything about this space, awesome job!
thanks! It is just a print from Ikea that she attached the wood pieces to and stained them!