Good Bones Shows Us A Unique Hidden Storage Solution That Combats Kitchen Clutter

Kitchen clutter is inevitable no matter how often you clean or organize the space. Whether you have small appliances on your countertop, a collection of spices that take up space, or snacks that always seem to be left out, it can quickly look overrun. However, mother-daughter duo Mina Starsiak Hawk and Karen E. Laine from HGTV's hit show "Good Bones" have a tidy solution for this. Simply put, you create a hidden pantry that keeps all of that annoying clutter out of view. It's a great way to turn a crowded kitchen into a minimalist space.

In Season 8, Episode 2 of "Good Bones," the lovable duo remodeled a kitchen with hiding clutter at the top of their minds. They were able to carve out a small walk-in pantry, but the clever mother-daughter duo disguised the door with a shallow cabinet. Notably, the cabinet mimicked the shaker-style of the rest of the kitchen cabinetry, and when opened, the owners were greeted with shallow shelves. The space can house everything from kitchen spices to everyday cooking items like pasta and canned beans. As a bonus, when the cabinet is pushed inward, a door is revealed, which allows access to a walk-in pantry. Here is a closer look at the storage solution. 

While the hidden pantry trend isn't a new concept, the "Good Bones" stars elevated the idea with the clever twist. They transformed the pantry door itself into extra storage space, which frees up the interior shelves to house the kind of everyday items that typically take up space elsewhere in the kitchen. "Things that usually clutter the counter can all go in there," Starsiak Hawk explained in the episode. "I don't know how you live your life, but mine with kids, no joke, I re-clean my pantry every other week. Mom lives the open shelf life, but I can't live it. This is kind of best of both worlds."

Thanks to the four rows of shelving spanning two walls, the homeowners can now store everything they'd normally keep on open shelves, but out of sight. This design allows them to prioritize functionality over aesthetics. One of the downsides to open shelving is that it isn't as practical as cabinets, since you have to keep them curated so the shelves look stylish rather than messy. But, with these shelves housed behind a secret pantry door, they can be as crammed as they need to be without detracting from the overall look of the kitchen. 

The "Good Bones" pantry hack is unique in that it transforms the door into extra storage. To create a hidden pantry in your own home, you will most likely need to hire a cabinet maker to create a shallow cabinet that will also function as a door. They then can also make doors to cover it that match your existing setup so it blends in seamlessly. Or, you can use a Murphy door, like this customizable one from The Home Depot, for your pantry. You won't have the same hidden storage as the hack, but you can use the open shelves to stash things like cookbooks and display-worthy utensil sets.

To further organize the inside of the pantry, find some aesthetic organizers to place your items in. For instance, spices can go on stepped shelves, allowing you to see your assortment clearly. An example of this is the acrylic PMMASTO spice rack on Amazon for $22.99. You can also decant your dry goods into matching clear containers, making the area look more uniform. The PRAKI Air-Tight Containers on Amazon deliver 24 different units for only $36.49. These will give the space order that you can enjoy, even if it's tucked away from guests.