TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.
The kitchen is the one room in the home that requires maximum organization and efficiency to function properly. If your kitchen is a disorganized mess, then so too will your meals be. Not only is the kitchen one of the most highly utilitarian rooms, but it gets perhaps the most active foot traffic of all. Not only is it important for your kitchen appliances and utensils to have good storage, but the flow of the room also needs to allow for people to walk in and out as needed. If your current kitchen scheme is causing traffic jams, confusion, and messes, then it’s time to shop for something that can solve those problems. After all, you can’t simply choose to barbecue outside every day.
That’s why storage cabinets are so vital to every kitchen’s floor plan. While built-in cabinets are a part of standard kitchen design, rarely do they offer enough storage space for anyone’s needs. Therefore, it’s usually a good idea to add some additional storage based on your personal needs. The best way to do this is with a standalone kitchen pantry. These cabinets can be large or small and come in an almost limitless array of sizes and configurations. There are really no limits on what you can get. You just need to assess what’s missing from your current kitchen setup and pick a pantry that fills those gaps. While there are many styles and design motifs from which to choose, the two most common types of cabinets are flat wall pantries and corner pantries.
Standard kitchen pantries
Some of the best flat wall pantries are the simplest designs. That said, you can find models in just about every aesthetic style you can imagine. From modern and sleek to traditional farmhouse looks, standard pantries run the gamut. Of course, more important than the looks is the functionality of your pantry. Most include one or two closed cabinet areas with an open cubby in the center. Because of the rectangular design, they’re ideal for fitting large kitchen appliances and cookware, while storing foodstuffs is also an option. The following are a few of our top picks for the best flat wall pantries at the best prices.
Garveehome Tall Kitchen Pantry
Courtesy of Amazon
Hiphuta Farmhouse Kitchen Pantry
Courtesy of Walmart
Costway Tall Farmhouse Kitchen Pantry
Courtesy of Target
Corner kitchen pantries
Corner kitchen pantries are a clever solution to an age-old problem. Many of us have limited square footage and need to make the most of every inch. That’s where a corner pantry can come in extremely handy. They have a triangular footprint and squeeze easily into the corner of any room. As mentioned above, either pantry shape works just as well in an attached dining room as it does in a kitchen if you want to maximize your space utilization. There’s also no saying you can’t add a small corner pantry to your already existing flat wall model. Most corner pantries have a similar layout to flat wall models in terms of one or two closed cabinets and an open cubby section. However, corner pantries tend to fare better when used for storing smaller items, as they simply have less interior storage space than their flat counterparts.
Dripex Farmhouse Corner Pantry
Courtesy of Amazon
Lacoo Tall Corner Cabinet
Courtesy of Walmart
Cozony Farmhouse Corner Hutch
Courtesy of Target
Which type of pantry should you choose?
Whether you opt for a flat wall pantry or a corner pantry depends largely on the size and layout of your kitchen. Generally speaking, flat wall pantries are more popular in kitchens that have more space. If you have a flat wall in your kitchen, or even in your attached dining room, then a standard pantry can be a great way to expand your food, cookware, or appliance storage. Depending on the design of the pantry, it can also serve as a china cabinet for storing any sort of dishes you want to have easy access to.
Corner pantries offer special convenience for those working in smaller spaces. If you don’t necessarily have a full wall to spare for a flat pantry, then a corner pantry can solve that problem. Corner pantries also have the benefit of filling gaps in your decor and adorning corners that often times remain bare and dull. While many corner pantries tend to be smaller than flat wall pantries, you can still find some with a larger footprint to fit a fair amount of items. Just as it is with flat wall pantries, corner designs can be used to store any kitchen items that you don’t have space for in your built-in cabinet system.
No matter which configuration you choose, getting a new kitchen pantry will help you get organized. If you want food preparation to be headache-free, then the first step is to make sure your kitchen is easy to keep neat. If you’ve got a spacious storage pantry to store all of your odds and ends in, you’ll be able to keep your counters, as well as your mind, clean and clear.
TheStreet Shopping is your guide for shopping insights and advice. We look beyond the price tag to find the best value in home, tech, and wellness gear based on product features and real-world use.
