This Grover Beach Client has a pantry and utility closet in the same hallway off the kitchen.
The utility closet was being under-utilized and the pantry was home to several non-food items. This meant that most trips to either closet meant a peak into both closets because it was such a jumble!
The Strategy
Firstly, I wanted to make the utility closest more functional so that we could fit more items into it but keep it organized, at the same time. I installed two shelving units that the client already had but wasn’t using to create more storage space.
Secondly, I wanted the pantry to be only for food. All non-food items were moved to the utility closet or relocated to other areas in the house that made more sense. For example the humidifier, which is used primarily in bedrooms, was moved to the upstairs bathroom to be more readily available when needed. The travel accessories were stashed in suitcases. This not only freed up more shelving space in the small pantry, but it created a system where not often used items are stored in a place that makes sense so time won’t be wasted searching for the items when they are needed.
Finally, we rearranged the food items in the pantry by category, keeping in mind which items we wanted the little kids be able to reach on their own…or not.
The Result
The final result is a functional utility closet whose small space is maximized. I love that the client was able to use shelves she already had and nothing new was purchased for this transformation. The contents of the closet now make sense for the family’s lifestyle and needs. Not to mention they’ll have to make fewer trips up and down the stairs when someone needs the humidifier in the middle of the night!
If you want to see another inspiring closet project, click here!
