Pantry ideas: how to create a beautiful and practical larder

A well-designed pantry or larder is one of the most useful spaces in a home. Whether it’s a dedicated walk-in room, a fitted cupboard or a cleverly repurposed corner, it provides somewhere to store everyday essentials and keep the kitchen beautifully organised.

But practical spaces needn’t be overlooked when it comes to decoration. From colourful cabinetry to painted shelving, a pantry offers a wonderful opportunity to experiment with colour and create something personal.

Here are our favourite pantry ideas for making the most of your space, however large or small.

Make the most of your pantry storage

The beauty of a pantry lies in its practicality. Open shelving keeps ingredients and everyday essentials within easy reach, while drawers and cupboards can conceal smaller items and appliances.

If space allows, a worktop provides a useful area for food preparation, baking or arranging flowers, keeping the main kitchen surfaces clear.

Consider how you use your kitchen and what you would most like to store out of sight. A thoughtfully organised larder can accommodate everything from dry ingredients and preserves to serving dishes and small appliances.

Be adventurous with pantry paint colours

Because pantries are often tucked away from the main living spaces, they are ideal places to introduce a little more colour.

For a cheerful approach, Persian, a rich yellow, brings energy to painted shelving and cabinetry. Alternatively, a deep blue such as Saxony can create a striking contrast against jars, ceramics and natural timber.

If you prefer something softer, Flaxen Grey and Duck Egg provide a gentle backdrop for wicker baskets, wooden shelving and everyday kitchenware.

You could also carry your kitchen colour scheme into the pantry for a sense of continuity, or choose a contrasting shade to make opening the door a little more surprising.

Small pantry ideas for homes without a separate larder

You don’t need a dedicated room to enjoy the benefits of a pantry.

A tall kitchen cupboard can be fitted with shelving, drawers and compartments for dry goods, utensils and smaller appliances. An alcove or under-stairs space can also become useful storage with the addition of carefully planned joinery.

Painting the interior of a cupboard is a particularly effective way to introduce colour without changing the wider kitchen scheme.

For a bold approach, consider Invisible Green across the cupboard doors and interior. Alternatively, contrasting colours can create a beautiful effect when the doors are opened.

The combination of London Brown and Azurite, for example, offers a striking contrast between a rich, earthy neutral and a vivid blue.

Use colour to make pantry cabinetry a feature

Painted cabinetry can turn even the most practical storage into an attractive part of your kitchen.

For a coordinated look, paint the cupboard doors, shelving and surrounding woodwork in the same shade. This allows the joinery to become part of the architecture rather than standing apart from it.

Alternatively, use a contrasting colour on the inside of cupboards or shelving to highlight the objects stored within.

For wooden doors, drawers and shelving, choose a suitable paint finish that can withstand everyday handling and cleaning.

Our Water-Based Eggshell offers a durable satin finish for interior woodwork and cabinetry, making it a practical choice for painted pantry joinery.

Bring natural materials into your pantry

Wooden shelving, wicker baskets, ceramic jars and stone worktops all bring texture and character to a pantry.

These materials work particularly well alongside colours created with earth and mineral pigments, allowing the painted surfaces to complement rather than compete with the objects around them.

There’s no need for every container or shelf to match. A combination of useful storage and collected pieces can make a pantry feel both organised and personal.

Find the right paint colour for your pantry

Whether you’re decorating a walk-in larder or refreshing the inside of a kitchen cupboard, a little colour can make a practical space feel much more considered.

Explore our natural paint colours for inspiration, or order A5 colour swatches and sample pots to see how different shades work alongside your cabinetry, flooring and kitchen finishes.

For more ideas, explore our guide to Kitchens: Calm or Colourful, or speak to our Colour Consultants for advice on creating a scheme that works throughout your home.