Let’s explore the pros and cons of these popular kitchen storage options.

When you’re building a new home or redesigning your existing kitchen it is only natural to decide whether to go with a walk-in or cabinet pantry. Some homeowners want wall-to-wall shelves and customized inserts, while others are satisfied with just a few shelves and pullouts tucked inside a kitchen cabinet. Here are the pros and cons of both styles.

Walk-In Pantries

Pro: Have More Storage Capacity

Walk-in pantries are a home chef’s best friend. They take the cake when it comes to sheer volume of storage space. With multiple walls of floor-to-ceiling shelves, they’re big enough to store dozens of ingredients, cookbooks, snacks, pots, pans, medium to large cooking appliances and more.

Con: Storage is More Spread Out

Bigger isn’t always better, especially when you’re in the mood to whip up a quick dinner. It may take a few extra minutes to gather your ingredients in a large walk-in pantry. You may have trouble remembering where you put your sugar and flour. Walk-in pantries are also some distance away from appliances and prep space, which can reduce efficiency when you’re cooking. Some homeowners prefer the convenience of having ingredients on hand in their kitchen.

Pro: Can Be Better Organized

Cabinet pantries aren’t inefficient by any means, but walk-in pantries let you get a little more creative with your organization techniques. You can sort your items by row or column, by food group and so on. The limit is only your imagination.

Con: Require More Upkeep

Unfortunately, a highly organized pantry comes at a price. More space, more shelves equals more to keep clean and tidy. It takes time and effort to dust off dirty surfaces and declutter shelves. If you’re looking to cut back on your weekly to-do list, you may prefer a cabinet pantry with less storage and less upkeep.

Pro: Can Store Appliances with Ease

Cabinet pantries can house toasters, coffee makers and mixers too, but it’s usually at the expense of valuable storage space. Walk-in pantries can comfortably fit larger appliances like microwaves, slow cookers, juicers and deep fryers, freeing up kitchen counter space and they’re easy to grab when you need them. Some pantries may even have enough space for a second refrigerator or freezer.

Con: Take Up a Lot of Space

A major downside to walk-in pantries is that they require a lot of space to be functional and efficient. If you’re designing a new kitchen or remodeling an existing one, you’ll have to shrink your kitchen’s footprint to accommodate a walk-in pantry. This can be an issue for homeowners who are short on space and want to maximize the size of their kitchen.

Cabinet Pantries

Pro: Storage Space is More Centralized

Cabinet pantries confine all of your snacks, ingredients and small appliances to a single space. You don’t have to spend time searching through several walls of shelves to find what you need. Less time looking means more time cooking.

Con: Have Limited Storage Space

A single cabinet devoted to pantry storage won’t be enough for some homeowners, especially avid cooks. While you can fit larger appliances inside a cabinet pantry, they use a lot of the limited space. One way to get an excellent storage capacity with cabinet pantries is to have more than oneinto your kitchen, but that will eat up more counter space.

Pro: Storage is More Accessible

Having your pantry in the middle of your kitchen will cut down on the time you spend walking to and from your pantry. Placing it next to your refrigerator and across from your range will create a super efficient workstation.

Inside features can also increase your cabinet pantry’s accessibility. Pullout drawers, for instance, allow you to see every snack and ingredient at once, which reduces the amount of time you’ll spend rummaging. They’re easy on your back too.

Pro: Don’t Take Up a Lot of Space

Cabinet pantries are on the smaller side compared to walk-in pantries. Most measure 24 to 36 inches wide. They’re an efficient storage solution for small or medium-size kitchens, providing a little extra shelf and drawer space without giving up too much in return.

Con: Take Up Counter Space

You’ll definitely lose some counter space, no matter how small your cabinet pantry may be. If you’re designating multiple cabinets as pantry storage, be prepared to give up a significant amount of prep space. Either way, it’s important to navigate the delicate balance of storage and counter space with care. This loss is felt less in larger kitchens but can impact the way a smaller kitchen functions.

Consider the size of your kitchen and the way you cook when deciding what type of pantry is best for you.

Working from home maybe come the new normal, these essentials will keep you comfortable and productive.

When working from home you have probably realized that a desk area on a kitchen counter or the dining table isn’t the best setup. Once you’ve chosen a room or area for your office, here are five must-haves to include.

Comfortable Chair

Make sure you have the right chair for the job. This is especially important if you work at a computer. Look for a chair that supports your back and encourages good posture. Features to look for include adjustable seat, arms and back, as well as legs on rollers and a seat that swivels so you can easily get in and out of the chair and reach for things without straining.

No matter the type of chair you choose, be sure to take stretch breaks and move around throughout the day. And go to the sofa or armchair for relaxing or reading.

Work Surface That Fits Your Needs

The size of your desk or work surface will depend on the size of your office and budget. Consider different desk types and even creative repurposing of other furniture pieces. Think about how you’ll be working and the items you’ll want to have close at hand. To help keep your work surface neat, invest in attractive desk organizers and plan for at least a few shelves or drawers for things you use or reference less frequently.

A Place for Everything

Most of us haven’t reached the point of having a paperless office, and keeping paper organized is easier with the right mix of drawers, and shelves. If you don’t have a lot of papers to file or objects to display, a simple cabinet on wheels or shelf might offer enough storage. 

Good Task Lighting

A standard ceiling light provides overall light but you may also want to include task lighting for reading and other close work. A desk lamp, wall sconces and natural light from windows can help increase your lighting.

Electrical Outlets for Equipment

If you live in an older home, electrical outlets may be limited. Be sure you have enough for your electrical equipment. Keeping cords and wiring out of sight is easiest with storage areas that are flush against the wall. But if you’re planning a floating or freestanding desk, you can use cord covers to keep wiring neat and safe.

And don’t forget to include something that makes you happy or inspires you, whether it’s a sunny window, a treasured artwork or a furry companion to keep you company.

You don’t want to spend years dreaming about your home renovation, then spend several months of living through remodeling work — only to feel less than thrilled with the results. The good news is you don’t have to. Here are the 10 most common renovating mistakes to avoid so you can be assured of the end result.

Underestimating Costs

If you don’t budget properly you will soon run out of money. When that happens, you could be left with an unfinished project or property. Either you need to live with it or sell. No buyer is willing to pay top dollar for an unfinished product, so you will probably end up incurring a loss.

Remember, you don’t get a second shot at your budget and the money you lose from making a mistake cannot be taken back. Proper budgeting and planning from the outset is essential.

Tip: Always include a 10% to 20% buffer in your budget for unexpected costs — and you can guarantee there will be a few of these when you’re renovating.

Not Having a Detailed Budget

Not drawing up a detailed budget leaves you vulnerable to running out of money. Your budget needs to dictate the renovation — not the other way around.

Thinking DIY Will Automatically Save You Money

The DIY trap catches out a lot of remodelers. Not only can you end up with some very dodgy renovations, but it will probably take much more time than an experienced pro.

Limit your DIY tasks to things such as painting and simple landscaping jobs, and dedicate your time to project managing the renovation.

Choosing the Cheapest Contractors

This often happens when you are trying to keep costs down, and it can lead to added costs down the road when you end up having to fix mistakes or redo poor-quality work.

The cheapest bid doesn’t equal the best job. Instead of focusing solely on the affordability of a contractor’s quote, check exactly what that quote covers — this is where the true value, or lack of value, lies.

Get quotes from at least three contractors and compare them in detail.

Tip: Before making your decision on contractors, you should also look for evidence of quality work, project photos, professional recommendations and possible turnaround times.

Choosing Poor Floor Plans

The function of a room and how it flows, directly affects your use of a space. A well-conceived room layout can also add to the value of your home. Yet many remodelers ignore function and traffic flow when making a floor plan and instead focus all their attention on color and finish.

To avoid making this mistake, spend more time in the planning stage. Think about details such as the placement of doors, windows and power points. Come up with a sensible floor plan that makes it easy to move through the space and use it to its fullest potential. 

Not Having a Clear Plan and a Detailed Scope of Work for Your Remodel

This often comes down to insufficient research and planning at the very start of the renovation, before any work gets underway. If you don’t have a clear plan, you’ll find yourself constantly changing your mind, which costs time and money — and will also drive your contractor mad!

Tip: It’s also a very handy to have a clear plan to fall back on if a dispute arises with a contractor.

Being Unsure About the Exact Look You Want — or Not Knowing the Language to Describe It Accurately

Before you embark on a build, spend time working out what look you want to achieve. Create ideabooks and use digital visualizers to get a sense of how different layouts and finishes will work and look.

Also, become familiar with the proper terminology for the looks and finishes you want. This can really help you accurately communicate your wishes to your pros.

Neglecting to Fully Research All the Materials Options

Materials play a vital role in the look and function of your home, but builders often fall back on the same ones they’ve always used. This is where you come in. Spend time researching the various materials options available (including looks, price, pros and cons, sustainability, durability and which ones are best suited to your location), and take this information to your builder. Armed with this knowledge, you can decide together on the most suitable materials and finishes for your project.

Not Seeking Out a Builder Who Understands Your Vision

Lack of communication on a build is not only frustrating (for both parties), but can mean you end up with a home that’s far from what you wanted. Take the time to find a builder who is expert at creating the look you want. 

Not Dividing Up Responsibilities Fairly

This one is for renovating couples. Not working out clear lines of responsibility at the start that are matched to your strengths and weaknesses can lead to arguments, resentment and wasted time. Before any building work commences, spend time working out exactly who will do what and who is available when.