Don't Overlook The Potential Disadvantages Of A Walk-In Kitchen Pantry

It often feels like there's never enough room in a pantry. Seeing images on Pinterest of pantries with their perfectly curated organization and feet of shelf space makes a walk-in pantry seem tempting. The long shelves give you plenty of spots to store food and keep them organized by food type or use. Larger ones, called butler pantries, may have integrated countertops and often leave enough space for small kitchen appliances, so you add an oven to your walk-in kitchen pantry if you want. Plus, the pantry gives you lots of hidden storage to hide your mess away.

But all that space comes at a cost, both financially and time-wise. Before you have your architect pencil in an oversized pantry, consider the implications of this design decision. Not only does it take up prime real estate in your kitchen area, but the walk-in pantry isn't always the most convenient place to access. Plus, it takes a lot to keep such a large space clean once you figure out the best way to organize your pantry. Consider your preferences, shopping habits, and cooking methods to decide if a walk-in pantry will work well for you.

The average walk-in pantry is at least 5 feet wide by 5 feet deep. However, some are much larger, which takes up extra space in your floor plan. You might have to sacrifice space in your kitchen for a walk-in pantry. Because you need a walkway in the pantry room, you lose storage space. An average center aisle is 30 to 36 inches wide, but you may need a 48-inch aisle to maneuver the space better. Narrow shelves can make storing larger items and using the space efficiently challenging. Regardless of the shelf depth, keeping a large space organized takes more effort. Such pantries promote personalized shelves and built-in storage solutions, but those add-ons come at a premium. You may also need to invest in more storage containers and organizers.

Having more space can slow down your cooking routine. Sure, you can keep more ingredients on hand, but it could take you longer to find what you need. With ingredients placed throughout the pantry, you may spend more time finding the right items. You're also putting in a lot more steps just to get to your pantry each time you go back for another ingredient. That's especially true if your walk-in pantry is outside the kitchen.

Whether or not you add a walk-in pantry to your kitchen depends largely on your preferences and budget. To elaborate, a small walk-in pantry may cost between $750 and $2,000 while a larger one ranges from $2,000 to $3,500. High-end details or custom features could increase your total price. You'll also pay more if you need to make structural changes to your home to accommodate a new pantry.

Consider where you'll put the pantry and how much space you have to determine if a walk-in pantry fits. While choosing an unused space outside of the kitchen like a small office or bedroom is an option, consider how far it's from your kitchen. If you're building or buying a new home, look at how much space a walk-in pantry takes from other functional areas. For some people, having a large storage space is worth giving up some square footage in the kitchen itself. Others might prefer a smaller cabinet pantry to have a larger kitchen.

When comparing a walk-in vs. cabinet pantry, think about your cooking style and habits. Do you grab all ingredients before you start cooking, or do you go back and forth between your pantry several times? An in-kitchen pantry may make it easier to grab ingredients as you need them. If you like to stock up on deals, a larger walk-in pantry gives you more storage space than a smaller closet one.