TikTok's Pantry Upgrade Idea Will Give Your Kitchen The Storage It Deserves
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.
You don't have to splash the cash on professional solutions to upgrade your pantry — TikToker @kristenjoyce228 shows how you can dismantle your current one and replace it with your very own DIY storage solution. Not only is this a great way to customize the area, but it will also help you maximize every inch of space you have. Even better, you should be able to do this no matter the size of your pantry, although it's designed for smaller ones rather than a large room.
You'll need slip joint pliers, a tape measure, a circular saw, an electric drill, screws, a level, a rotary saw, wood glue, a nail gun or a hammer, finish nails, a micro pinner, 23-gauge pins, water-based wood filler, plywood, either drawers or some wood and metal drawer slides to make them, trim, paint in the color of your choice, hinges, and some cupboard doors to match your kitchen or in whatever style you want. How much of each material you need will depend on the dimensions of the space you have, so make sure you plan well beforehand.
Building your new pantry
Start by removing any existing shelving from your pantry closet and completely clearing out the debris, using your slip joint pliers to remove old nails, etc. Next, measure the height, width, and depth of the space you have to work with before cutting the plywood for your casing using your circular saw. Construct the casing by attaching the ceiling, sides, and bottom pieces of the plywood to the wall, followed by your structural supports and framing using screws. Then, add some horizontal planks up and down the sides of the casing for your drawer slides to sit on, followed by the drawer slides themselves, using your level to ensure they're at the same height on either side.
Next, build your drawers, whether you're simply attaching slides to drawers you purchased or making them from scratch. To do the latter, use your circular saw to cut four side pieces and one bottom piece, and then your rotary saw to add a handle to the front piece. Connect all the pieces together using wood glue and finish nails. Slot each drawer into place and test that they work before adding the trim using your pin nailer, applying wood filler to any holes. Paint the framing, the structural supports, and over any wood filler; attach your cupboard doors with some hinges and screws; and finally, put back all of your nonperishables and other supplies stored in your pantry, and you should now have a fully functional new storage space.
Adding the finishing touches
Okay, so you have your new pantry. But how can you take it to the next level? If there's room, you could add some hooks to the inside of the cupboard doors and use them to hang aprons or kitchenware. You could also add some LED strip lights or puck lights, particularly if your pantry doesn't have an overhead light. You can grab some under-cabinet LED strip lights off Amazon for $22.99 for corded electric or $33.99 for battery-operated.
For even more functionality, add labels to your drawers so you know what's inside. On an aesthetic level, you could swap out the handles on your cupboard doors or add some to your drawers, which may help you achieve a higher-end look if you have the budget for it. What's great about this upgrade is that it gives you the freedom to make your pantry work for you, ensuring there's enough room to store all the items you want to put in it.
And with this, you've completed a successful mini kitchen remodel. Looking for more ways to spruce up your kitchen? Here are 29 pantry shelf ideas that will transform your kitchen storage and one genius Home Depot shelving hack to easily upgrade your pantry.