Pantry Door Ideas To Maximize Your Kitchen’s Potential

Pantry door ideas aren’t at the top of the kitchen renovation list. However, kitchen pantries receive attention because they’re practical. The doors protect the inside space that holds your dry goods and perishables while providing an element of style for your kitchen space.

Pantry Door

A pantry door helps with your kitchen organizing system. With the amount of time you spend in your kitchen, you want the best pantry style for your home. Here, we’ll show you pantry door ideas to inspire your next kitchen renovation. 

Pantry doors and pocket doors are functional. The doors give your home a contemporary feel. If you’re spending time thinking about installing a new pantry door, determine which direction it should swing open.

Next, what do you want it to look like, and see if the door is necessary. 

Pantry Room Storage Tips

Kitchen Pantry Door

A pantry is a practical home addition. It’s important to start with a good design to make the most of your pantry.


Pantry Storage Items

This is useful if you’re planning to build a new pantry or if you want to redesign an existing one. It helps you determine what types of interior storage you should prioritize based on your habits and needs.


Location

If you already have a pantry, examine whether it has the best placement. You might discover that your current pantry is in an inconvenient spot.


Size

A walk-in pantry doesn’t have to be big to be practical. You need enough room between storage areas to move around freely. If possible, include a walkway between 42’’ and 48’’ wide so two people can enter at the same time. 

Pantry shelves shouldn’t be too deep so that you can reach things at the very back. A depth of 14 inches is plenty and 16 inches is the maximum. The space between pantry shelves is often wasted, so leave room for large items. 


Lighting

A poorly-lit pantry interior makes it hard to find things. Also, it’s easier to keep a well-lit pantry clean and organized.


Contemporary Pantry Door Ideas For 2022

Here is our list of pantry doors that will compliment your home and kitchen design.

Frosted Glass Door

Create cohesion with a frosted glass door

A pantry door with glass is one thing, but one with frosted glass is another. With a frosted glass pantry door, the kitchen has visual interest when you choose a glass pantry door with frosted glass. This glass style lets you see inside but blurs the details and hides the contents inside the pantry. Check out thriftydecorchick for more inspiration.

Wooden Barn Doors

Make a statement with wooden barn doors

Barn doors make for enjoyable pantry doors, but it’s not about sliding doors that look cool. The color of barn doors captures a farmhouse vibe. The idea comes from designingvibes, where you can find more details about this pantry door style. 

Screen Door

Keep it traditional with a screen door

Another option is a screen door. Make one from scratch or repurpose an existing door. The screen element in this version by domesticimperfection only takes up half of the door, making it sturdy. 

Statement Details

Example of a classic light wood floor kitchen design

A small pantry door needs a special design to stand out. This antique example can be a focal element of a modern kitchen. Check out the details at slightlycoastal.

Space-Saving Sliding Door

Example of a classic light wood floor kitchen design

Sliding barn doors are gorgeous and well-suited as pantry doors. They help save space and are easy to build. The forward sliding mechanism is a nice kitchen element. Paint the door a fun color to add character to your home.

Pantry Door Spice Rack

Example of a classic light wood floor kitchen design

Attaching shelves inside your pantry door creates more storage space. You can build a small unit with shallow shelves deep enough to hold your spices, for example. Details for this project are on shanty-2-chic.

Kitchen Makeover

Example of a classic light wood floor kitchen design

You can have your favorite pantry door without buying or building a new one. Instead, try giving your existing simple pantry door a style makeover. To learn more about wood-planked pantry doors like this one at thewoodgraincottage.

Dutch Doors

Example of a classic light wood floor kitchen design

Another cool idea on our list is from littleslifeandlaughter. Farmhouse-style pantry doors look great on the outside. However, this Dutch door opens at the top or the bottom half independently. 

Include Blackboard

Example of a classic light wood floor kitchen design

Make pantry doors stand out in your kitchen with eye-catching and practical painted blackboards. They are handy for writing notes to family members or making a grocery list. On craft-o-maniac, you’ll get details about creating one.

Attachments And Accessories

Example of a classic light wood floor kitchen design

Maximize the storage capacity of your kitchen pantry by installing shelves on the interior of the pantry door. The shelves help with storage like spices, small jars, or utensils. We found the details at robbygurlscreations.

Apply Fresh Paint

Example of a classic light wood floor kitchen design

Add contemporary style to your pantry by painting the door a different color. Try using a unique paint color, like a matte effect or an interesting color. Chalkboard paint is a fun option. Check out brightgreendoor to see how to do this.

Decorative Glass Panels

Example of a classic light wood floor kitchen design

If your pantry door has glass panels, jazz them up with crystals and tape. First, though, check out this post from redheadcandecorate to see how easy it is. Just use stickers to create a simple X-shaped pattern on each glass panel and add a crystal where the lines cross.

Half Glass Pantry Door

Example of a classic light wood floor kitchen design

An old reclaimed cottage door is great for a pantry. Clean and repair it if needed but try to preserve its original look and weathered aesthetic. This gives it character and authenticity and the glass lets in light. Check out rafterhouse to see how to create this experience.

Double Sliding Barn Doors

Example of a classic light wood floor kitchen design

Since pantry shelves don’t need to be thick, you could install a door on empty wall. With wood sliding barn doors, select a lighter color to create a contemporary farmhouse interior.  You can see more inspiration on oldsaltfarm.

Patterns

Example of a classic light wood floor kitchen design

Regardless of what type of door you install, adding a decorative pattern and paint can change its aesthetic. You can do this at any stage of the project. We like this geometric pattern featured on prettyinthepines.

Solid Wood Doors

Example of a classic light wood floor kitchen design

Solid wood has a unique charm and is an elegant choice that’s also strong and durable. Numerous styles and varieties of wood are good for a pantry cover. Check out the selection at rivervalleywoodworks to see some of the options.

Glass Barn Door 

Example of a classic light wood floor kitchen design

This style is well-suited for pantry doors, particularly if you want a more traditional or farmhouse effect. Building a simple pantry door like this from scratch is not as difficult as you might think. The video tutorial by Pahjo Designs guides you through the entire process.

Door Upgrade

Example of a classic light wood floor kitchen design

To save money, upgrade your existing pantry door. Basic flat interior doors can be transformed using only some plywood or trim and paint. Watch this video by EvanAndKatelyn for a few tips.

Add Visuals

Example of a classic light wood floor kitchen design

Applying a decal or a stencil to the pantry door is an easy, fun way to add a decorative visual element. This design idea from HomeSteadHow is inspirational and works best with a glass door.

Curtain Option

Example of a classic light wood floor kitchen design

Instead of a pantry pocket door, try a curtain. It’s cheaper and easy to install. Sometimes it’s better to hang a curtain than add a small door. Curtains are also cheaper and you can make them and hang them yourself. Get all the details on jennasuedesign.

Organizational Board

Example of a classic light wood floor kitchen design

Most kitchens don’t have much free space so creating a pantry door that’s multi-functional is ideal. You can hang an organizational board or a memo board in a frame on the interior of the pantry door. An over the door pantry organizer helps keep your food inventory up to date. Check out thehouseofsmiths to see how it’s done.

Arched Pantry Door

Example of a classic light wood floor kitchen design

For an elegant and refined pantry door, try an arched door. This type of door can be a cool way to add extra flair to the kitchen. Matthew Thomas Architecture directed this remodeling project with arched trim.

Paint Sliding Barn Doors

Example of a classic light wood floor kitchen design

Sliding barn doors are practical for kitchens. Try painting interior doors in the same color as the adjacent walls to match a modern kitchen. Photo by Sunburst Shutters & Window Fashions Charlotte

Hidden Pantry Door 

Example of a classic light wood floor kitchen design

Disguise your door by making it look like a cabinet. The kitchen pantry doors can match the color of the rest of the cupboard doors as in this kitchen from Turan Designs.

Blended Pantry Doors

Example of a classic light wood floor kitchen design

Here’s another case where the pantry is integrated into the kitchen design and disguised as part of the cabinetry. This pantry door uses the same trim and gives the kitchen a cohesive look. This particular kitchen design is by Curt Hofer & Associates.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)FAQ

What type of door is used for pantry?

While any type of door will work if space is tight choose barn doors or a pocket door. These pantry doors don’t take up much room.

What size is a typical pantry door?

Pantry doors are 80 inches high, but the width can vary.  Average pantry doors are 24, 28, 30, 32, or 36 inches wide. Custom doors will be different.

Should my pantry have a door?

In most cases, you should have a pantry door. It helps hide an unorganized area, maximizes storage and keeps children and pets out.

How do you hide a pantry without a door?

If you can’t have a pantry door and leaving it open is not an option, try a curtain. These are cheap to make and install. Folding screens or room dividers are also options for pantry door alternatives.

Are walk-in pantries a waste of space?

In general, they are a kitchen must-have. The one downside is that they do eat up a lot of space in your kitchen footprint.

How do you update pantry doors?

If you’re not replacing the interior pantry door, you can paint it different colors, reface it or remodel it to include glass panels, a screen or trim. You can also add decorative elements to make it stand out.

Pantry Door Conclusion

Pantry doors are a key part of kitchen design. Whether you buy a door or update an existing one, spend enough time thinking about what you want. The doors function as valuable kitchen elements. 

Make a list of what you like, including which color your door should be. Your home deserves the best, so feel free to create the atmosphere that’s right for you.