Whether you’re building a new home and planning your kitchen, or designing a full kitchen remodel, choosing which type of pantry to have is an important decision. Sometimes, the available space dictates which option you can have, but other times, there are many factors to consider.
Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of walk-in and cabinet pantries. The more you know about them, the better equipped you will be to make the right choice for yourself.
Advantages of Walk-In Pantries
Walk-in pantries are a favorite choice for large families, people who entertain frequently, or homeowners who just like the idea of plenty of storage. Here are some reasons why they might be a great option for your new kitchen.
- More storage space – Floor to ceiling cubbies, shelves, or drawers provide plenty of space for everything you might want to store here.
- Easier to organize – With so many storage spaces, it’s easy to group items in an organized way. This not only keeps the space neater but also makes it easier to find things when the time comes for them to be used.
- Plenty of room to store big appliances – Do you have appliances like a fryer, microwave, slow cooker, or mixer that only get used on occasion? A walk-in pantry has plenty of space to keep these items out of your main work area. That means less clutter and more open space in your kitchen.
Disadvantages of Walk-In Pantries
Of course, a walk-in pantry may not be the best solution for every homeowner and every kitchen. Here are a few reasons why …
- Storage is spread out – While the many shelves, drawers and cubbies in a walk-in pantry provide lots of storage, they also spread items out significantly. When you are ready to cook, you may spend valuable time gathering all the things you need simply because everything is in a different spot.
- Require more work for upkeep – Most walk-in pantry storage space is open to the air. That means more dust to clean off shelves and stored items, especially if they’re only used infrequently. It’s essentially another room so there’s the floor to keep clean, too.
- The pantry itself takes up a lot of space – All of this extra storage space has to come from somewhere. In an existing kitchen, creating a walk-in pantry often means stealing from the kitchen’s previous footprint, unless there’s an adjacent room to take it from. This is less of an issue in a new home, however, where the additional space can be built into the overall kitchen design.
Advantages of Cabinet Pantries
So, maybe a walk-in pantry doesn’t fit into your remodeling plans. Here are some reasons why a cabinet pantry might be a great option for you instead.
- Centralized storage – Remember how a walk-in pantry had items neatly organized but spread out? A cabinet pantry eliminates that issue – everything you need is right where you can see it.
- Storage is more easily accessed – A cabinet pantry can be centrally located in the kitchen, next to your refrigerator, or adjacent to your food prep area. This means less time walking back and forth to get what you need and more time actually getting things done. Inside the cabinet, pull-out drawers can make it even easier to find what you’re looking for.
- Save space – Cabinet pantries don’t take up much room, making them the perfect solution for small kitchens.
Disadvantages of Cabinet Pantries
Just like their walk-in counterparts, cabinet pantries aren’t 100 percent perfect. Here are a couple of their downfalls.
- Less storage space – A smaller footprint means you can fit fewer items inside. This isn’t always a problem but it is something to consider if you have a lot of things that you want to store or keep off your countertops.
- You lose valuable countertop space – More cabinet space typically means losing some countertop and work area space.
Regardless of which pantry option you choose, Sea Pointe is here to help make your dream kitchen a reality. Our custom cabinets enable you to get ideal storage space in unique situations, and our design-build team works hard to make your kitchen beautiful, functional, and efficient. Give us a call at (949) 861-3400 to get started today!