Pantries are like closets; they can be walk-in or reach-in. Both types have challenges.

Reach in pantries are usually five-foot-tall kitchen cabinets that are two feet deep. The average person has the shelves packed like a trash compactor. More than likely the stuff in the middle to the back of each shelf is old and stale. I call the deep space in the pantries Siberia. It’s far away and rarely visited. The deep space needs to be accessible. This can be done by using the appropriate tools, which will create more space, accessibility, and function.

Walk in pantries are generally found in larger homes. Even if you are lucky enough to have one, odds are that things could be better. The most common problem is the depth of the shelves. They are either too deep or too shallow. Another issue is the distance between shelves.