One thing I’ve learned while being a custom pantry designer in Maryland is that when a kitchen has a functional and well-designed pantry, keeping things clean and organized is effortless.

One of the best things about being a custom pantry designer in Maryland is getting to see many incredible homes and their beautiful kitchens. The thing I’ve learned, though, is that no matter how gorgeous a home’s kitchen appears, they’re rarely designed well.

Normally, homeowners don’t notice that their kitchen isn’t as functional as it could be until they’ve lived in it for a while and realize that they keep having trouble with organization. This is almost always because the pantry leaves something to be desired. When a kitchen has a functional, practical, and well-designed pantry, everything has a place and keeping things clean and organized is effortless.

Generally speaking, there are four common pantry problems in almost every home I see: black hole corners, poor storage for spices and bottles, no organization system for kids’ snacks, and not enough storage for fresh fruits and veggies. Let’s have a look at each of these problems and explore how a custom pantry design expert can help you create a more functional pantry and kitchen.

Problem #1: Black Hole Corners

Corners are the most unused space in kitchen pantries. Often times, corner cabinets are where old forgotten food items go to expire. They’re dark, dingy, and barely functional. Luckily though, with the right design, black hole corners can be transformed into great storage spaces during your pantry remodel.

Floor-to-ceiling Lazy Susans are one way that our pantry design experts like to make the most of corner space. Our super sturdy, rotating shelves make it easy for you to access all of your favorite food items, from baking supplies to pasta and grains. You’ll be amazed by just how much our custom-designed Lazy Susans can store and how much space they free up in the rest of your pantry!

Problem #2: Poor Storage for Spices and Bottles

Are your spices crammed in a messy drawer making it seemingly impossible to find the one you are looking for when making dinner? Are your wine bottles taking up counter space or hanging out in the warm cupboard above your fridge? While it may seem odd to think of poor storage for spices and bottles as being similar problems, the solution is actually the same.

A custom pull-out chrome bottle rack allows your favorite wines to be carefully stored, making selection easier. Similarly, a custom spice rack allows you to keep your spices nice and organized, saving you the frustration of rummaging through the entire drawer in search of the cumin for your garam masala. Cooking is probably a lot more enjoyable when your spices are in order and the wine isn’t crowding the counter!

Problem #3: No Organization System for Kids’ Snacks

If you have kids, you know that their snacks can be a pain to store. Cereal boxes are usually too tall for standard cupboards and shelves and your pantry might not be easy for the little ones to reach into and help themselves to a snack when their tiny bellies are grumbling.

With custom shelving, you can design a kid-friendly section of your pantry for all your children’s snacks. Extra tall shelving can fit cereal boxes while soft-close drawers ensure your little one won’t slam the cabinets or catch their fingers inside. For safety’s sake, floor mounts keep your pantry shelving completely secure in case your little ones decide it is a jungle gym.

Problem #4: Not Enough Storage for Fresh Fruits and Veggies

Many kitchens have storage space suitable for dry goods, but few have the perfect place to keep fruits and veggies. If you’ve ever left potatoes in a box under your sink only to forget about them and find that they’ve sprouted eyes and turned green a few weeks later, you know what I mean. If stored outside the fridge, fruits and vegetables should be easily accessible and where there is plenty of air circulation so they don’t spoil quickly. Sliding chrome baskets are the perfect solution!

Making more storage space suitable for fruits and veggies, like apples, oranges, onions, potatoes, beets, and turnips means that it’s likely you’ll consume them more often—especially if you install sliding chrome baskets so that these fresh items are in plain sight. It may be crazy to think that pantry shelving systems help families maintain healthy eating goals, but it is actually true. It’s hard to remember to eat something that you can’t see, after all!

Your Custom Pantry Remodel for Your Maryland Home

If you feel like your kitchen isn’t quite cutting it and meal prep is a source of stress rather than enjoyment, it’s likely that a pantry remodel could turn things around. Our clients in Maryland are over the moon with their pantry remodels—many can’t believe the effect a well-designed pantry has on one’s overall kitchen experience.

If our solutions for your common kitchen pantry problems have inspired you to start dreaming up your own pantry remodel, schedule a free consultation with the pantry design experts at Closet America today. We’d be delighted to work together with you to transform your pantry and your kitchen into the functional, organized, practical space you desire.

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