Spring has sprung! As we begin spring cleaning, let’s discuss one of the most important places that should be organized, the pantry! For many people, starting with the pantry is a great way to get organized. Unlike when you organize your closet, when you organize your pantry, you’re not getting out personal items, you’re throwing out food that you won’t even be able to eat anymore. 

Butler Pantry vs. Kitchen Pantry

What’s the difference between a butler pantry and a regular pantry? Well, the regular pantry is usually located behind or to the side of the kitchen. I prefer using open shelving when it comes to the pantry and maybe some cabinets near the bottom to store appliances. The butler’s pantry is located between the dining room and the kitchen. Back in the day, people preferred to store their expensive silverware in a room off the kitchen, and because so many valuable items were stored there the butler would often stand guard, even sleeping inside the pantry itself. So crazy! But nowadays it’s a place to make drinks, prep food, etc. it’s a mix between the pantry and kitchen, without fully being your kitchen if that makes sense. 

Many people don’t have a kitchen pantry plus a Butler pantry, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have the best of both worlds. Let’s delve into pantry design and figure out the best design for your home pantry. One of the most important things to have is space, obviously. The butler pantry is where most people store their fine silverware, but if you don’t have a butler pantry, the next best place is the kitchen! The kitchen offers space for great cabinetry design, making it the perfect place to show off that beautiful silverware! 

Lifestyle + Equipment

Your lifestyle plays a huge factor in the design of your pantry too! Different meals use different cooking equipment, and you need to be sure you’ll have enough space to store it! What you also need to consider is your morning routine. Do you have coffee in the morning? Where is the best spot to place the coffee maker? What about smoothies? Do you have enough space where you store fruits and vegetables? It’s those little details of grouping things together that play a huge role in the overall design and organization of your kitchen and the pantry itself. Having designated areas helps things run more smoothly in every home. 

Speaking of coffee and smoothies, get yourself a lazy Susan or a bar cart! It helps save countertop space, not to mention if you’re storing equipment in places that don’t have enough outlets, having a bar cart helps make moving that equipment a whole lot easier! And it’s a great place to store ingredients that you only use with that equipment, such as protein powder, coffee beans, etc.