No butler’s pantry in this house, but honestly, this cupboard pantry is far more functional for everyday living.

Everything we use daily is right at my fingertips, and I’ve found that thoughtful organisation makes all the difference in how smoothly our kitchen runs.

A FUNCTIONAL CUPBOARD PANTRY

While a walk-in pantry sounds dreamy, this cupboard-style setup has proven to be incredibly practical. The three pull-out drawers are truly life-changing and the perfect way to store my ‘Oxo Pop’ canisters.

I’ve stacked the canisters from tallest at the back to shortest at the front, so every ingredient is visible and easy to grab.

The lower drawers are divided with my favourite ‘Mini Separators’ to keep everything organised. The middle drawer holds packets, cans and the boys’ snacks, while the bottom drawer is reserved for kitchen supplies like paper towel, food wraps and grocery bags.

CLEVER STORAGE SOLUTIONS

To make the most of the space, I’ve added three turntables to the upper shelves. These hold spreads, sauces and health foods and make it easy to reach without having to shuffle items around.

On the deeper shelves, mesh baskets and bamboo boxes store larger items like snack packets, baking ingredients and extra tea and coffee supplies, things we don’t need to access every day.

The top shelf baskets hold bulk supplies ready to top up the canisters when we run low, keeping restocking simple and streamlined.

And of course, I couldn’t overlook the inside of the cupboard doors, an often-forgotten storage opportunity. I’ve installed acrylic shelves to hold seeds and spices, plus a menu board for our weekly meal plan.

EVERYTHING HAS A PURPOSE

This pantry might not have the space of a butler’s pantry, but it’s designed to work hard. Every shelf, drawer and door has a clear purpose, making cooking, packing lunches and restocking faster and easier.

So, if you’re planning a new build or renovation, don’t feel like you need a butler’s pantry to have a beautiful and functional kitchen. A thoughtfully organised cupboard pantry can be every bit as efficient, and much closer to where you actually cook.

TIPS FOR YOUR OWN PANTRY PROJECT

• Add drawers wherever possible
  Pull-out drawers make deep cupboards practical and let you see everything at a glance.

• Think vertically
  Stack items by height so nothing gets hidden — tall at the back, short at the front.

• Use turntables for easy access
  They’re perfect for corners or high shelves where reaching can be tricky.

• Label everything
  Clear, consistent labels make maintenance easy and help everyone know where things belong.

• Use your doors
  The back of a cupboard door is valuable real estate, perfect for spices, small jars or a meal planner

SOURCES

• Acrylic shelves, spice jars, large glass jars, bamboo tags and vinyl labels: Little Label Co

• Square pantry labels: Pretty Pantry Labels

• White baskets with bamboo handles: Pretty Little Designs

• Bamboo boxes, mesh baskets and wicker baskets: IKEA Australia

• Clear turntables and Mini Separators: Howards Storage World

• Menu planner: Arlo & Co