How to design the perfect pantry for your kitchen

❚ This article contains affiliate links and we may receive a commission for purchases made.

Today’s kitchen-living spaces are sociable places used for relaxing, entertaining and even working. As the role of the kitchen has changed, the desire for aesthetically pleasing kitchen storage, that reflects the decor of the rest of the house, has grown. The choice of good-looking, kitchen cabinets – be they for tableware or food – has never been greater, offering an opportunity to introduce a new statement piece of furniture into your home.

What's the difference between a pantry and larder?

Pantries and larders were common features in Georgian kitchens - larders were used as an early form of refrigeration to preserve raw meat, while pantries were where non-perishable foods such as jams, grains and flour, together with table linens and silverware, would have been stored. Nowadays, thanks to modern refrigeration, perishable items tend to be stored in the fridge, and ‘larder’ and ‘pantry’ are often used interchangeably to refer to the same thing. A walk-in space or separate room, however, is more commonly called a pantry.

Why should I install a pantry or larder?

A pantry or larder is a valuable addition to any kitchen. As open-plan kitchens become more desired – simultaneously doubling up as spaces in which to entertain, relax and even work – the need for a practical area or room in which to store kitchen goods is a must. Simultaneously, it enables the kitchen to function as a living area that is as aesthetically pleasing as any other room in the house.

Pantries: the different styles and layouts to choose from

Freestanding Pantries

If you have an existing kitchen that you don’t want to change, but would like to have a larder, opt for a freestanding one. Consider buying a highly functional but also thoughtfully designed cupboard with a nod to traditional and practical touches, such as ample shelving, hooks and deep drawers. Consider whether there’s an alcove or nook that lends itself to accommodating it. Otherwise, you could incorporate it into a utility room to free up more space in the kitchen.

Sussex Sage Green Double Larder, £1095, The Cotswold Company – Buy it now

Stow Warm White Grand Triple Larder, £1495, The Cotswold Company – Buy it now

Bronx Kitchen Larder Cupboard, £750, Next - Buy it now

Vintage 1950s/60s Tall Wooden Blue & White Kitchenette, £150, Vinterior – Buy it now

New Hampshire Double Mini Larder, £496, The Dormy House – Buy it now

Chester Charcoal Larder, £1295, The Cotswold Company – Buy it now

Bromley Larder Cabinet, £299, MADE – Buy it now

Ardingly cabinet with oak base and oak stretcher shelf, £1830, Neptune – Buy it now

Walk-in Pantries

An advantage of a larder cupboard over standard cupboards is that it usually includes worktop space. This can be used to store everyday appliances like toasters, coffee machines, mixers and blenders – items that you don’t want cluttering up the kitchen.

Pantry with staged shelving, solid marble cool shelf and limestone floor, from £6,000, Martin Moore

Walk-in pantry with open artisan shelving, quartz worktops and limestone floor, from £15,000, Humphrey Munson

Classic English tongue and groove pantry in Drop Cloth by Farrow & Ball, from £5,000, deVOL

Pantry with Carrara marble cool shelf, from £6,000, Martin Moore

Integrated Pantries and Larders

Consider building a larder into your kitchen cabinetry for a seamless design.

Integrated larder in Lithodora from the Hartford kitchen, from £20,000, Tom Howley

Counter-top larder with pocket doors painted in Studio Green by Farrow & Ball, from £45,000, Blakes London

Larder in a pre-loved Mark Wilson kitchen, prices vary, Used Kitchen Exchange

Larder cupboard in a teal Arbor kitchen, from £25,000, Harvey Jones

Find out how to decorate with teal here.

Larder Storage and Accessories

Once you've finally sorted out the blueprint of your larder, it's time to get organising. Storage baskets are great to use for fresh produce, clear containers for dry goods, and racks are used to keep your pots and pans tidy. You can even opt for custom labels to keep the organised flow going and its a great way to ensure that you refill the right containers with the right products!