Why Pull-Out Pantry Cabinets Are Revolutionizing Kitchen Storage
Have you ever had to reach for something at the back of your cabinet? The process is a chore: You’ve got to move a bunch of things out of your cabinet, get the one item you’re looking for, and then put everything back. That’s assuming you know where the item you’re looking for is; if you don’t, you might end up pulling everything out of your cabinet before you find what you’re looking for.
Pull-out pantry cabinets are the perfect solution. Think of them like drawers, only much bigger; they’re full cabinets, with doors and hardware, but with pull-out shelves. You put everything on the shelf, and when you need anything that isn’t in the front of the cabinet, you simply pull the shelf out to grab it.
These cabinets are helping people maximize space and minimize clutter and busywork in the kitchen. This guide is designed to teach you everything you need to know about pull-out pantries—including whether or not you should invest in one, what style of pull-out pantry is right for you, and more.
Understanding Pull-Out Pantry Systems
Types Of Pull-Out Pantry Mechanisms
All pull-out pantry mechanisms consist of two basic parts: The cabinet doors, and the sliding shelves.
Sliding shelves all work on the same basic principle: A slide, featuring either ball bearings or wheels, is attached to the shelving, allowing you to pull it out or push it back in. Typically, ball-bearing slides are the best choice—wheels wear out more quickly, and cannot hold as much weight.
The cabinet doors also work on the same basic principle: Hinges connect to a wooden door that can be opened and closed. Most doors are opened with hardware, but modern-style cabinet doors may feature press-to-open mechanisms and no hardware at all. Some pantry doors also use soft close mechanisms; this helps generate less noise when you’re cooking.
The way you choose to open and close your cabinet door is up to your personal preferences; there’s no right answer. For shelving slides, however, we highly recommend ball bearings.
Weight Capacity And Durability Features
Most sliding shelves should be made of hardwood; this allows them to carry a lot of weight, from canned goods and other heavy foodstuffs to pots, pans, and other weighty cookware. We’ve already mentioned the importance of sturdy shelving slides, so we won’t belabour that point.
Space Requirements And Dimensions
Pull-out shelves can be installed in narrow spaces, in corner cabinets, in unused vertical space, and just about anywhere else that you want more storage space. You’ll want easy access to your most used foods and cookware—keep that in mind when you’re thinking about the space where you want to install pull-out shelves.
For a full-on pull-out pantry, you may want a fairly large space—pull-out pantries are typically 1-2 feet (30.5 to 61 cm) wide, 1-3 feet (30.5 to 91.4 cm) deep, and anywhere from 4 to 8 feet (122 to 244 cm) tall, depending on your needs. This varies, of course—and while we’re talking about pantries (which are generally used for food), the dimensions you’ll want will depend on what exactly you’re storing. Storage for cookware, for example, should take up a lot less room than storage for food.
Planning Your Pull-Out Pantry
Measuring Your Space
The first step to planning a pull-out pantry is to measure your kitchen—and most importantly, the areas that you would find convenient for storing food and other pantry items. Adjustable shelves might be something that you can install in your existing kitchen cabinets if you find you don’t have room for more kitchen storage.
Determining Storage Needs
The next step is determining what you’re going to store. How many pantry items do you have? Are you looking to store other kitchen essentials, like cookware, cutting boards, and small kitchen appliances? Do you have unused space that could be transformed into pullout shelving for spices?
Knowing what you’re going to store will help you determine the style of pullout shelving you’ll require.
Choosing The Right Configuration
Pull-out shelves come in a number of configurations. Single-height or single-level shelves are the shortest and are best for commonly used foods and condiments. Double-height or double-level shelves are often best for heavier foods; canned goods, flour, and other non-perishables. Triple-height or triple-level shelves are best for heavy items like pots and pans.
Installation Considerations
Professional Vs. DIY Installation
Professional installation is always best in terms of quality. When you work with reputable, professional cabinet makers, you may be able to get warranties. You’ll also get great advice on how to build the perfect pantry to maximize storage and give you both functionality and aesthetic appeal.
For people who have experience in woodworking, it’s possible to build and install pull-out shelves yourself! This can be an economical route, especially if you have existing kitchen cabinets.
Common Installation Challenges
There are a few common problems when installing pull-out shelves without a professional:
- Shelves that are too loose (stabilizing blocks may help)
- Shelves that are built too long for the cabinet
- Shelves without the appropriate sliders
These are just a few problems you might experience; if you’re not confident in your ability to install pull-out shelving, consider hiring a professional.
Organizing Your Pull-Out Pantry
As with all pantries, your most used items should be at the front of your shelving; that way, you won’t even need to pull out your shelves to access them!
Dedicate your shelving to different kinds of food, from canned goods to breakfast cereals. For shelves that are long enough, you may even consider getting labelled storage containers to keep everything sorted.
Finally, think about where you’re storing your goods. Heavier items should be stored lower, while lighter items work well higher up.
Making The Most Of Your Pull-Out Pantry Investment
A well-crafted pull-out pantry can improve life in your kitchen and add value to your home. We hope this guide has given you a better idea of where your pull-out pantry should be installed, what types of sliding shelves you’ll want, what sliding shelves are good for, and more.
The best way to make the most out of your pull-out pantry is to carefully consider what you need shelving for, what you’re going to store, and how you’re going to organize it. From there, working with a custom cabinet maker can help you create a pull-out pantry that’s perfect for your unique needs.