From the names, you will notice there is definitely a difference between a linen closet and a pantry. In the article, we will discuss each in detail, differentiate between the two, and then decide which is best: linen closet vs. pantry.
What is a linen closet?
A linen closet has deep shelves and drawers for storing household linens like towels, tablecloths, and sheets. A linen closet or cabinet is used to store bath necessities, towels, bedsheets, and other items. With so many different goods to keep, it’s easy for this space to grow cluttered and overwhelming.
What is a pantry closet?
A pantry is a cabinet dedicated to the storage of food. Unfortunately, food storage in the kitchen is vital to effective kitchen design. Of course, it’s beautiful to have all of one’s plates and cutlery perfectly organized in cabinets and drawers. Still, the storage of dried foods, canned products, spices, and condiments is essential kitchen’s primary function.
With the different pantry designs to intensify food storage space in a kitchen, extra bits can be acquired and added without wanting permanent installation.
This is where the linen closet comes in; you can turn a linen closet into a pantry without much stress. Check my recent post on the Advantages and Disadvantages of Walk-In vs. Cabinet Pantries.
A linen closet stores all sorts of linens, while a pantry stores food and kitchenware—both help keep the house tidy and clean by creating storage spaces. So you can have both a pantry and linen closet in a home.
Make a Pantry Out of a Closet
You can quickly transform a closet into a pantry in no time! For example, turn a coat closet into a pantry with this idea that takes only an hour to complete! For example, if you are in a house without a pantry, you can convert a room behind the kitchen into a laundry room and pantry.
Another option is if you have a closet underneath the stairs in the corner of our kitchen, which would be ideal for converting into a makeshift pantry! Below are some ideas if you are looking for ways to make a pantry out of a closet.
How to make a pantry out of a closet – Ingenious Organizing Concepts
Organize Your Kitchen
You can transform a linen closet into a pantry in a short while! For example, turn a coat closet into a pantry with this idea that takes only an hour to complete. Then, you can fill it with pantry products serving pieces, and other items that wouldn’t fit in the kitchen cupboards.
Converting Closet to Pantry
You can find some closets or some cubical shelves that fit perfectly. Once found, you can assemble them and work on organizing the closet.
Personalize Your Pantry
The first step is to unpack the closet and sort through the contents. Next, you can reorganize the kitchen’s several cabinets; you can move the crockpot, which takes up space in the kitchen cabinet. Finally, relocate those items to the new closet area, freeing up space in the closets for dry goods from all the packages.
Remove the shelf and closet rod.
Remove the closet rod and shelf to allow the units to rest against the wall. You can use removable wallpaper to make it more appealing and cover the closet’s back and sides.
You should install shelves.
Install new shelves on the inside. Move the smaller shelf up over the floor molding and back into the closet, where it can fit perfectly.
Arrange the Items in Your Pantry
Arrange everything inside most parts, make a pantry out of a closet, and store whatever you need inside. For example, you can keep all canned products and little stuff in a cupboard in the pantry. Larger appliances, baking items, serving bowls, platters, additional plates, and baking ingredients are required in the closet.
Guide to understanding closet types
While a closet is an enclosed place for storage, especially for clothes, various closet kinds suit different storage needs around the house. Therefore, you know how critical it is to utilize storage space properly.
Having enough storage space and making the most of it helps you declutter; it also improves the home’s aesthetic value. Check out these comprehensive guides to the many sorts of closets, along with storage recommendations!
Closets with walk-in doors
A walk-in closet is the best option for storing clothes, shoes, and accessories. It is also referred to as the “dream closet” because it is a complete room in itself. Walk-in closets aren’t just for storing your possessions; they’re also for showcasing them.
Walk-in closets, commonly seen in master bedroom suites, can be as small as a few square feet or as large as bedrooms, with windows or vents to maintain a pleasant temperature. These closets are pretty versatile, as they give more depth and storage capacity and can be adjusted to fit individual tastes and storage needs.
There are endless design possibilities, including lots of wall space for hanging clothing, open shelf units, and an island unit with drawers. However, walk-in closets require careful planning to maximize storage capacity and facilitate organization despite their large size.
Make sure you’re using corners and angles correctly and that you can readily reach drawers and cabinets. Consider dividing your walk-in closet into multiple zones for more effective storage, such as by kind, color, or season.
Closets within reach
The most frequent closets are reach-in closets, significantly smaller than walk-in closets. They are intended to hang garments from a rod with a shelf above. Unfortunately, there were also return fences that restricted entrance.
Today’s closets are usually an arm’s length deep and 4 to 10 feet broad, with hinged doors, partitions, sliding or pull-aside curtains, and bi-fold doors, and can be anywhere from 4 to 10 feet deep.
Even if it appears to be a significant reduction in storage space, reach-in closets use a combination of storage options and intelligent layout to maximize space and aid organization. These multi-purpose closets often feature a down each sidebar for later usage, shelves, compartments overhead, and on the side for extra space.
Multi-hangers and cubbies can accommodate you to make the most of your space. Place storage bins or hoops in the bar part of the closet floor for tall closets. To keep socks, underwear, and lingerie organized, use drawer insertions. Hanging door organizers keep your accessories and shoes organized while beautifying your closet.
Closets for linens
It is a reach-in closet for bedding, blankets, pillows, bathroom supplies, sheets, towels, and other items. Unlike conventional reach-in cabinets, Linen closets only include shelves and drawers to store additional linens and supplies. In addition, they might have hinged or bi-fold doors, or they can be doorless for convenient access.
Because you have less storage space, your linen closet doesn’t have to be a jumbled mess of towels, sheets, and pillows. Instead, use high-sided bins, deep baskets, under-shelf baskets, and pull-out drawers to keep things in order.
Hall or entry closets
The hall or entry closet, as the name suggests, is another type of reach-in closet that is close to the main house entrance. Depending on the size of the space, a hall closet may take the form of a small walk-in closet.
These closets are designed to store outerwear items such as jackets, coats, overcoats, hats, shoes, etc. They also hold sports equipment, weather gear, umbrellas, brooms or snow shovels, and other items. And, of course, there will be guest outerwear.
Low shelves or even under storage can assist in managing shoes and sporting equipment. Use an umbrella stand and hang outerwear like coats and hats on a coat rack or wall hooks. Use cabinets and shelves for storing bulky off-season clothing, such as woolens, luggage, and other essentials.
Closets in the pantry or the kitchen
Pantry or kitchen closets can be reach-in or walk-in and found near or inside the kitchen. Reach-in pantry closets have sliding or hinged doors, whereas walk-in pantry closets may be partitioned or without doors. Slatted doors or shutters are also prevalent in pantry closets.
Additional cutlery, serving dishes, baking, cleaning supplies like dishwashing soap and towels, and packing supplies like clear wrap and aluminum foil can all be stored on shelves and drawers. In addition, mops, brooms, and closed garbage pails can all be stored in some kitchen closets.
Employ lazy Susans or corner baskets to make the most of available space. This will also make it easy to access anything kept at the back. Also, keep goods that you use every day at eye level. Hooks and bars on the inside cabinet doors can help you make the most of your storage space.
Closets for utilities
A utility closet, or reach-in closet, helps store items other than clothes, linens, and food. A utility closet is found in or near a garage, mudroom, or basement. It stores all of the small items that you don’t need daily but are required to keep your home running smoothly.
What are in a utility closet?
- Cleaning chemicals and supplies
- Pesticides
- Gardening equipment
- Hammers
- Screwdrivers
- Hardware and tools of all kinds
- Paint cans and brushes
- Mops and brooms
- Vacuum cleaner
- Party and craft supplies
Store things to appear visible, just as you would in any other closet area. Items can be kept organized using shelving, wire baskets, and hooks. Sort similar goods into bins or boxes and
label them appropriately, so you don’t have to sift through the contents to figure out what’s inside. To easily reach the above area, keep a stool or stepladder nearby.
Wardrobes or armoires
The armoire is a tall, free-standing cupboard for the wardrobe group. A dresser refers to a dressing table, although it can also apply to a display. It’s a little table with horizontal drawers and a mirror attached.
A tallboy or highboy is a chest of drawers with 4-6 drawers piled one on top of the other. People use the phrases “wardrobe” and “closet” interchangeably. A closet is a fixed and designated storage place. On the other hand, wardrobes come in various shapes and sizes and can have multiple functions.
Wardrobes are portable, allowing you to move them around the house. Most notably, a cabinet is handy for people who do not have enough closet space or do not have enough closet space.
Use drawer enclosures and dividers, under-shelf baskets, and hangers to increase storage space. Also, installing rods on both sides of the wardrobe generates more storage space.
Conclusion
Messiness makes housework more difficult and adds unnecessary stress to your life. You don’t have to put up with clutter anymore because there are so many storage options. Limit the acceptable storage options for your home, maximize storage space when possible, and keep a clutter-free appearance.
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