Pantry cupboards are one of those cyclical, design elements that have roared back into style with more innovative ways to organise, design and make the most of tiny spaces.
I always remember my Grandparents having a pantry cupboard space, but it was literally a white cupboard, with a shelf and bottles of squash on the floor, and it was freezing! In fact, many houses built in the early 1900s in the UK would have been built with them, but of course, over the years as pantries became unfashionable, they’ve been removed and fashioned into other storage spaces.
But, as we head into 2025, pantry spaces are most certainly having a moment. I liken them to small downstairs toilets as you really can have such fun with smaller spaces. If you have a small cupboard space waiting for some action, here are some super clever design ideas with big style to bring your dream pantry Pinterest boards to life!
Clever Designs for Small Pantries with Big Style
1.Elevate With Tongue and Groove Panelling
If you’ve got an empty cupboard space that you’re looking to transform into a bijoux pantry, the easiest way to transform how it feels is by adding tongue and groove panelling to the back, and sides of the cupboard space. It will add verticality to the cupboard and instil instant character.
We love the vintage feel of this pantry with old fashioned weighing scales and a curtain on the lower half of the cupboard, a great way to conceal white goods.
A small space deserves some beautiful light too. Instead of an overhead bulb, add a rechargeable table lamp, it adds warmth and ambience and can be moved around without the need for a plug socket.
2. Labelled Storage Organisation
Not only does labelled storage make it easier to find things that you need quickly, but it allows you to easily stack and organise your pantry supplies seamlessly.
Opt for glass storage boxes or jars, or jars with wooden lids if you want a slightly earthier feel to your colour scheme.
3. Add A Kitsch Skirtain
Adding a neat little skirtain to the lower part of your pantry cupboard will conceal unsightly appliances while bringing a tactile element to your setup.
The black accents on the hardware and baskets in the pantry below add definition to the colour scheme for a really modern look with a traditional twist.
4. Maximise Space With Lazy Susan Storage
Maximising every inch of space that you have becomes even more important when you have a smaller space to play with. Innovative storage ideas will allow you to fit your pantry out with all the essentials, whilst making it easily accessible too.
Lazy Susan storage solutions are fab for corner areas, allowing you to fit even more items onto shelving. Take inspiration from the below pantry setup!
5. Transform A Cupboard
All you need is a cupboard to create your own pantry space. You can maximise storage by adding shelving options from the floor to ceiling.
Add interest by incorporating different types of storage items to each of the shelves.
6. Bring Natural Warmth With Baskets
Rattan or wicker baskets are a popular choice for pantry storage. They hide a multitude of sins, and they add instant natural warmth to a pantry.
Generally it’s best to stick to one type of material for a feeling of consistency in the pantry.
7. Add Vintage Touches For Character
A well stocked pantry = a happy household!
I adore the more cluttered approach to this pantry, and aesthetically it looks just as great as labelled storage jars. Intersperse vintage details for a unique twist. Weighing scales, old bottles and tins are great ideas that can be picked up from antique shops and places like Facebook marketplace.
8. Introduce A Shaker Cupboard
So, what if you don’t have a cupboard? Add a cupboard instead to fulfil your pantry dreams!
This shaker cupboard is a beautiful addition for country, earthy style interiors. A perfect option for more open plan spaces that can take an additional unit like this.
9. Lean Into A Sultry, Moody Shade
Small downstairs toilets tend to share the same design mentality as small pantries, you can have some fun with them!
Opting for a bold shade not only delivers a dramatic look, but it adds a gorgeous depth of colour against a kitchen. It draws you in and creates a fun space full of personality.
Red really is the colour of the moment and can help to finish off any interior design scheme beautifully. Get the look with Farrow and Ball Bamboozle.
10. Mix Up Storage Options For Interest
You don’t need to opt for the same storage jar throughout the pantry, it will make the space feel flat and it will lack interest.
For example, use rattan baskets on one shelf, jars with wooden lids on another and cereal dispensers on another shelf, this pantry below is a beautiful example of how to mix up interest.
11. Utilise A Shelving Unit
You don’t necessarily need to spend a fortune on joinery work to get the pantry of your dreams. If you have a cupboard, see if you can add a pre-built shelving unit to your pantry cupboard.
I adore the wooden doors on this cupboard too, they balance beautifully with the intensity of the paint colour Still Water by Sherwin Williams.
12. Keep Things Light & Bright
For windowless pantries, light can be an issue, and if you don’t want to lean into the dark side, a warm, fresh white will give the space an uplifting, welcoming feel.
A bright white is clinical and will make a dark pantry feel even colder, so opt for whites with a yellow, red or pink based undertone to really benefit from that natural warmth. Wimborne White by Farrow and Ball is a popular white with a slight yellow undertone.
13. Colour Drench The Pantry
Colour drenching is one of the most modern painting techniques that will instantly add drama to a tiny pantry, and make it feel even more encompassing and cosy.
Adding an accent colour to the door frame here adds the most beautiful depth of colour and balance between the two bold shades.
14. Mix Textures For A Tactile Feel
Mixing texture in our kitchens in 2025 is a big trend. Carry it through to your pantry space for a tactile, interesting feel.
Mix wooden surfaces with fun tileplay, quartz and painting shelving for a visually endearing pantry. Take inspiration from the below pantry.
15. Utilise The Verticality of The Space
Don’t waste an inch of space with a small pantry. Utilise the verticality of a cupboard by building in storage options from the floor and up.
Use shelving or a combination of a lower drawer space and shelving to add interest and different types of storage options.
16. Divide The Pantry With Glass Doors
Add a perfect separation from your kitchen to your pantry with glass doors.
From a design perspective, this is the only way you should do it. The pantry adds visual interest to the kitchen with the doors shut, and it gives you even greater reason to go bold with your tile or paint choices inside the pantry. Let people have a peek!
17. Earthy Colour Scheme
Earthy inspired colour schemes are hugely popular in interiors right now, and they lend themselves perfectly to pantry spaces.
Lean into those deep olive shades and use natural materials in the pantry where possible, such as rattan baskets, wooden jars and drawers.
Small spaces, packed full of attitude! Which of these ideas is your favourite?
