Pros and Cons of Walk-In Pantries
March 17, 2020Walk-in pantries can be a great addition to the kitchen in your custom home design, as long as it’s right for you. As with anything, walk-in pantries have their benefits and drawbacks as well. Here are some pros and cons of walk-in pantries to help you determine whether this kitchen feature is right for you:
What is a Walk-In Pantry?
A walk-in pantry is usually a closet or a room located within the kitchen or near it. It’s a space designated for kitchen storage that can be used to store dry goods, appliances, other items, and anything else you need to keep near your kitchen. Some type of shelving is usually included. But, when building a custom home, you can truly customize the design of the walk-in pantry to fit your kitchen storage needs.
Here is a breakdown of the pros and cons of walk-in pantries to help you evaluate whether this is the right type of pantry for your custom home:
3 Pros of Walk-In Pantries
There are many benefits of a walk-in pantry. Here are just a few of the pros of walk-in pantries:
1. Walk-In Pantries Provide More Storage Space
One of the biggest benefits of walk-in pantries is that they add more storage to your kitchen design. The kitchen is usually one of the busiest rooms in the home and they also usually need to store a lot of stuff.
A walk-in pantry provides extra space for things you need to use in the kitchen. Plus, it also usually stores things out of sight and out of the way while still keeping those items easily accessible when you need them.
2. They Are Versatile and Customizable
Walk-in pantries are versatile and customizable storage spaces. Depending on the rest of your kitchen design, you can opt for a smaller storage closet or a larger room for your walk-in pantry. Since having enough storage is one of the kitchen must-haves, a well-designed walk-in pantry can help you get plenty of it in your kitchen.
On top of that, you can customize the storage options inside the pantry to suit your needs. Built-in shelving, hooks, racks, baskets, and more can all be used to create the optimal storage solution you need in your walk-in pantry.
3. A Walk-In Pantry Can Handle Storing Bigger Items
If you have larger appliances that you don’t need to access all the time, a walk-in pantry can be a great place to store them. Not only does this free up space on your counter and in your kitchen cabinets, but it also keeps these items organized, out of the way when you don’t need them, and still accessible when you do need them.
3 Cons of Walk-In Pantries
As with anything, there are drawbacks to a walk-in pantry as well as benefits. Here are a few of the cons of walk-in pantries:
1. Walk-In Pantries Require Space
One of the drawbacks of walk-in pantries is that they require space. And, usually, they require a lot of space. In order to include a walk-in pantry in your home, it can take space away from other areas of the kitchen. In some cases, this is fine. In others, it may cut into space you need and may not be the best solution.
2. They Require Upkeep
As with any space you add to your home, a walk-in pantry requires some upkeep. You need to spend some extra time organizing the items you store in them. Sometimes, they become a dumping ground for stuff.
Whatever you need to store quickly or something that doesn’t have a designated place in your home can end up thrown haphazardly in the walk-in pantry. Over time, this can lead to clutter and general disorganization that you will need to deal with eventually.
3. A Walk-In Pantry Can Spread Out Storage
Whether your walk-in pantry is located in your kitchen or nearby, it does spread out your kitchen storage a bit. In some cases, this can be inconvenient as items you may need during meal prep might be stored slightly out of easy reach.
Also, depending on the size of your walk-in pantry, you may need to spend some extra time searching for what you need. This is especially true if things were stored or pushed further back on the shelves. If it’s not at the front, you may miss it on an initial glance or you might need to dig for what you need. A good organization strategy can help prevent this.
There are many types of kitchen pantries and a walk-in pantry is just one of them. After evaluating the pros and cons of walk-in pantries, you may find it is the right pantry for you. Or, you might decide a different type of pantry or even a combination of pantries is the best solution for you.
Whichever way you go, there are a lot of details to consider when designing and building a custom home. It can be difficult to keep track of them all! Working with an experienced custom home builder, especially one with an in-house design/build process, can be a big help and ensure you get the home you want.
If you’re ready to get started on your own custom home, contact Custom Home Group at 717-284-4090 – we can help bring your dream home to life!