Easily Upgrade Your Pantry With One Genius Home Depot Shelving Hack

Kitchen pantries can sometimes be a scary place. Endless amounts of food line the shelves, getting lost behind each other. Plus, it's easy to keep a pantry messy when the interior isn't pleasing to look at, and basic wired shelving can look less than stellar. Having something that's sleek and custom can make the space feel more finished and make organizing more enjoyable. Instead of sticking with wired shelves, upgrade them with faux wood shelves. TikTok user @paigenicoleskeleton used plywood and contact paper from Home Depot to transform hers into stunning storage.

This pantry shelf idea is excellent for every DIYer. Home Depot has pre-cut wood available, so all you have to do is measure your shelving units inside your pantry to find the right size of the wood piece. You can also ask them to cut wood for you if your shelves are a specific size that isn't available pre-cut. The contact paper this TikToker used is the Con-Tact Creative Covering Light Oak Wood Adhesive Shelf Liner. You just need these supplies and a little attentive patience to create a nice, finished look.

Once you have acquired all of your materials, it's time for the fun part of using them. TikTok user @paigenicoleskeleton showed her process of doing one shelving section at a time to prevent taking every item out of the pantry. You can do the same or use this as a chance to empty everything, purge, and overhaul your organization. 

Start by clearing the shelving unit, removing everything, and setting it on a table or counter. Then, lay one piece of plywood on a flat surface and measure out the contact paper to fit over the entire surface, leaving a few inches of paper hanging off the side. Secure the contact paper on the plywood and smooth out the air bubbles with a credit card or other straight-edge tool. Then, place it on the pantry shelf, and fold the extra paper over the front lip of the wire shelf. Repeat the steps for every other section. Then, organize your pantry items as you put them back on the upgraded shelves.

Buying several pieces of plywood can get expensive when they're priced at over $10 at Home Depot. If you want to save money, you can definitely use items you have lying around at home. For example, cardboard is an excellent alternative. Maybe you're holding onto old appliance or electronic boxes for the perfect use. So, why not use them for a fun DIY project? Or get creative and look for any other materials you can repurpose. You'll be covering the base with contact paper, so you won't be able to see it. The key is to use something that has a flat surface and is semi-study. All you need to do is measure them out to be the size of your pantry shelves and follow the same steps. Instead of having to buy both supplies, you'll invest solely in the contact paper.

While the TikTokker used wood-look paper, this project is totally customizable. Use brushed steel contact paper to create industrial-looking shelves. Or, go with a fun floral or graphic printed paper to bring a little cheer to your storage space. You can even switch up the look between shelves to mix and match patterns or coordinating colors.