AD It Yourself

27 Pantry Door Ideas to Keep Your Food Out of Sight and Your Kitchen Looking Stylish

Experts weigh in on the most creative ways to conceal all of your cooking necessities
Image may contain Indoors Interior Design Kitchen Sink Sink Faucet and Kitchen Island
Rendering: Alexander Nevmerzhitsky/Getty Images

Your kitchen pantry, of course, provides valuable storage, but just because it’s practical doesn’t mean that it has to look boring. That’s where these stunning pantry door ideas come into play. Like the rest of your decor, pantry door styles are abundant, from vintage-inspired wood doors, barn doors, double doors, or set of pocket doors, just to name a few options.

“The goal is for the pantry to blend in naturally with the rest of the kitchen so it becomes an unobtrusive part of the space,” says Andrea Schumacher, the Denver-based founder of Andrea Schumacher Interiors. “At the same time, it should provide value. This approach makes the pantry an integral part of the kitchen’s design narrative rather than an afterthought.”

Should a pantry door match cabinets?

Pantry doors do not have to complement the cabinets, per se, but they should directly tie into your kitchen to some degree, says Marnie Oursler, founder of Marnie Custom Homes in Bethany Beach, Delaware. For example, if you don’t want to match doors to the cabinetry, consider playin to the island color or window trim. “I love to exercise our creative license with pantry doors and depart from the surrounding cabinet styles,” adds Kate Figler, the founder of Kate Figler Interiors in Nashville. In her work, she has opted for fabric fronts, swinging doors, and even vintage pantry doors.

What kind of door is best for pantries?

The most important factor to consider when choosing the type of door to use for your pantry is functionality, Figler says. “This is a door that will be heavily used—we don’t like to incorporate details that are too precious and could wear over time,” she explains. Additionally, be mindful to select a door that will allow you to hide clutter seamlessly. As Figler adds, “We never specify doors with see-through glass fronts as these spaces can get messy and no client likes to stare at their pantry's insides.” If your kitchen is short on square footage, a sliding door is a great space-saving solution full of practicality, Mann says, adding, “They can also serve as a statement piece in your kitchen.

What can I use instead of a pantry door?

If you’re not a fan of traditional pantry doors, there are other options. For example, instead of using a swinging door, Oursler likes the idea of opting for pocket doors that slide open. To add architectural interest, she recommends trying an arch-shaped door. Mann appreciates the functionality of sliding doors such as barn doors, commenting that they “allow the pantry to remain open, showcasing the open shelving inside, or to be closed when things need to be tidied up.”

Below, take a look at 27 stylish pantry door ideas to inspire as you perfect your own kitchen design. You’re sure to find a door design that complements your home decor aesthetic to a T, whether you’re a minimalist, a modernist, or fall into another camp entirely.

  • Image may contain Door Architecture Building Housing and House
    Photo: Allison Elefante
    1/27

    Don’t be afraid of color and pattern

    Don’t be afraid to think outside the box when it comes to your pantry doors, says Figler. She was eager to incorporate color and pattern into this kitchen and decided to use shirred fabric panels—made from a fabric remnant the client already had on hand—in the space. “The fabric not only completely hides what's going on within the pantry but also layers color into the space in an unexpected and fresh way,” Figler says.

  • Photo: Lucy Call for Studio McGee
    2/27

    Try pocket doors

    Shea McGee, the founder of Studio McGee in Salt Lake City, sourced the pocket doors shown here on eBay. The doors, which are shown in McGee’s own home, are over 100 years old. “Adding character and materials with history was an important part of designing our new kitchen that still referenced the past,” she comments. “They tuck in and can hide our pantry and mudroom when they get messy, or open them up like they are most days to easily go in and out,” she says of the pocket doors.

  • Photo: Christopher Stark
    3/27

    Go custom

    Believe it or not, the pantry shown here is not actually vintage—rather, it’s a custom Peñamade piece that AD PRO Directory Member Kristen Peña of K Interiors designed. “We wanted the piece to feel as though it could have been designed for the house as built in 1890,” says the San Francisco–based designer. “The fabric panel is a Zoffany textile and is used to add a soft layer to what is otherwise normally a hard surface room and to hide the contents of the pantry so that things inside do not need to stay perfectly organized.”

  • Photo: Kyle Born
    4/27

    Display bockmatched wood

    Kevin Kaminski and Alexis Pew, the husband and wife team behind Kaminski + Pew in Philadelphia, worked with a local millworker to custom fabricate this kitchen and landed on pantry doors made of vertical grain bookmatched walnut. “Our client wanted to add warmth to a modern interior,” the duo shares. “This home had a small kitchen footprint and a very narrow entryway.”

  • Photo: Dana Hoff
    5/27

    Find the perfect vintage addition

    Oursler’s client discovered these pantry doors at a salvage yard. “Its distressed black and wood finish perfectly complements the adjacent island, black windows, and countertops,” says the designer. Oursler added a custom decal to the door to nod to the homeowner’s last name. “It adds a cool design element and character to the space,” she says. “The door is mounted on a butler’s hinge, effectively concealing everyday kitchen items and keeping the space clutter-free.”

  • Photo: Abby Cole
    6/27

    Style bi-fold doors

    Due to limited space resulting from her client’s HVAC system, Jocelyn Polce, the founder of August Oliver Interiors, decided to opt for large bi-fold pantry doors. “If guests are coming or you want to hide all the ugly, you can easily close them up,” the New Haven, Connecticut–based designer says.

  • Photo: Erin Little
    7/27

    Combine the classic and contemporary

    Blair Moore, the founder of Moore House Design based in NYC and Rhode Island selected antique pantry doors for a Barrington, Rhode Island, home. “We restored the hardware to its original charm and opted for brass accents to add a touch of elegance,” she says. Consider incorporating glass inserts, the designer says—doing so “can blend classic charm with contemporary style, making your pantry a true focal point in your kitchen.”

  • Photo: Kyle J. Caldwell
    8/27

    Use cafe curtains

    Nicole Arruda, the founder of Nicole Alexandra Design Studio in NYC, made an effort to prioritize as much closed kitchen storage as possible in her client’s small kitchen. “We didn’t have the depth to accommodate drawers or cabinets so Euro pleat cafe curtains were a great option,” she says. “I have always been a lover of this style so this wasn’t a tough decision for me—they are just so charming!” She used the same fabric for the kitchen’s Roman shade.

  • Photo: Tuck Fauntleroy
    9/27

    Camouflage pantry doors

    In what she refers to as her client’s “dining lounge,” designer Emily Janak installed a hidden pantry that sits under the stairs and houses a breakfast bar as well as storage for entertaining. “In order to conceal it, we continued the white oak paneling on the doors,” says the founder of Emily Janak Interiors in Jackson, Wyoming.

  • Photo: Geoffrey Hodgdon
    10/27

    Find space-saving solutions

    Dealing with a client’s kitchen that lacked upper cabinets, Erin Paige Pitts carved out a pantry beneath the home’s stairs to provide essential storage and kitchen organization adjacent to the cooking space. “It was the best solution given our space constraints,” says the founder of Erin Paige Pitts Interiors, who is based in Annapolis, Maryland.

  • Photo: Kyle J Caldwell
    11/27

    Build a secret pantry

    This “secret” pantry is built into the oak cabinetry located within this kitchen belonging to a family of seven. “The owners wanted something more creative than just an interior door into a pantry closet,” says Shannon Murray, the founder of Shannon Murray Interiors. “The pantry is its own experience with a funky light fixture, oak shelving, floor to ceiling handmade tiles and cabinetry in a beautiful avocado green,” explains the Rye, New York, designer.

  • Photo: Lauren L Caron
    12/27

    Disguise pantry doors with beadboard

    Lauren Caron, the founder of Studio LALOC in Seattle, built this scullery with her husband, transforming a space that was formerly a pass-through area into a multipurpose space. “We built out a hidden door in an old doorway that we use as a broom closet,” Caron says. “An easy way to disguise it was to add beadboard paneling.”

  • Photo: David Wakely
    13/27

    Add barn doors

    Andrew Mann, the founder of Andrew Mann Architecture in San Francisco, incorporated sliding barn doors when designing this outdoor kitchen’s pantry. “This design allows the walk-in pantry to open to the outdoors, integrating it with the larger pavilion,” he says. “The pantry doors are constructed of Western Red Cedar, a local material that is faithful to the Northern Californian agrarian architecture of the pavilion, fostering a connection with the surrounding landscape.”

  • Photo: Julie Soefer
    14/27

    Play with a fun wallpaper

    Combine practicality and pleasure. A whimsical donut print brightens up this small pantry and is even incorporated on the back of the door. “The pantry itself has two sections, and using a fun, custom wallpaper across them helped to unify the areas,” shares designer Courtnay Tartt Elias, the founder of Creative Tonic in Houston, Texas. Elias and photographer Julie Soefer designed this wallcovering together based on Soefer’s work. “Knowing we wanted to use a white background to keep the room airy, but also wanted repetitive use of color, the donut motif was the perfect solution,” Elias adds.

  • Photo: Michael Clifford
    15/27

    Match doors to the kitchen’s aesthetic

    Denise Morrison, the founder of Morrison Interiors in Costa Mesa, California, appreciates how the black metal pantry doors she selected complement the kitchen’s contemporary aesthetic. “We chose these black framed doors to introduce an element of transparency and lightness to the space, allowing a glimpse into the pantry while maintaining a sense of privacy,” she says. “These pantry doors not only serve a functional purpose but also add an understated elegance to the space, seamlessly integrating with the surrounding design elements.”

  • Photo: Dan Piassick
    16/27

    Add a mirror

    Grayson Knight, principal designer at Layered Dimensions Interior Design in Dallas, notes that he selected pantry doors with an antiqued mirror front to “help bounce light throughout the area while also obscuring the reflection slightly for a bit of drama and interest.” He adds, “Since we didn’t use many materials in this space, the antique mirror was a subtle compliment to the more architectural interests in the room.”

  • Photo: Abigail Jackson
    17/27

    Incorporate glass panel doors

    Rebecca Driggs, the founder of Rebecca Driggs Interiors in Raleigh, North Carolina, wanted to infuse a new home with old world charm. “One of our discoveries was a pair of stunning antique glass panel doors, which we used to separate the main kitchen from the prep kitchen,” she says. “These doors allow light to flow between the two spaces while offering a charming peek-a-boo view.” She didn’t want to disguise the doors’ patina but did apply a fresh coat of stain so that they would better complement the remainder of the kitchen.

  • Photo: Aaron Dougherty
    18/27

    Channel the front door’s aesthetic

    Holli Esmundo, a senior designer with Dallas’s Angeline Guido Design, opted for an antique leaded-glass pantry door. “We worked closely with the client to achieve a timeless design throughout the house, and when it came time to select a door for the pantry we knew we wanted to go vintage,” she says. “This door was the perfect option because its finish evokes the entry door of the home and the geometric pattern of the glass catches the light and your eye perfectly.”

  • Photo: Spencer Cogburn
    19/27

    Dial up the charm

    Hayden Dendy, project designer with BRNS Design in Westlake, Texas, explains that her team wanted this kitchen space to feature “something unique to add character and charm.” They ended up scoring big in the form of this arched pantry door, which they found after combing through multiple antique markets and salvage yards. “A fresh coat of paint helped to seamlessly blend the older door with the newer, modern element of the home,” Dendy says.

  • Photo: Amy Lamb/NativeHouse Photography
    20/27

    Highlight an arched door

    Ashley Martin, the founder of Ashley Martin Home in Orlando, also opted for an arched pantry door in order to “add subtle charm and soften the transitional approach that we took with this home.” She adds, “We highlighted the arch door with a contrasting paint color and reeded glass to create an unexpected and effortless character.”

  • Photo: Lauren Edith Andersen of SEN Creative
    21/27

    Introduce light with a glass door

    Rosanna Bassford, the founder of Memmo Interiors in Campbell, California, finds that a reeded glass door like this one is the perfect solution for a pantry. “Adding glass to the pantry door keeps it feeling light and open, but it would defeat the purpose of a door if it was completely clear,” she says.

  • Photo: Emily Followill
    22/27

    Carry pantry door details throughout the rest of the kitchen

    Jeffrey Dungan, the founder of Jeffrey Dungan Architects in Birmingham, Alabama, stuck to neutral colors when designing this kitchen. “This pantry is wood tongue and groove with a lime wash, which extends throughout the rest of the kitchen so that the space feels quiet and serene,” he says of the textural door.

  • Photo: Amy Lamb/NativeHouse Photography
    23/27

    Go mod

    Looking to go mod? Take a cue from this kitchen. “The pantry door is a custom steel unit that was designed to tie in some of the modern architectural elements seen around the home,” says Megan Newman, an interior designer at Accentrics Interiors in Tampa, Florida. “We also love how the dark steel accents coordinate with the island pendants and kitchen plumbing, as well.” The designer selected frosted glass to allow for privacy without blocking the flow of natural light.

  • Photo: Emily Minton Redfield
    24/27

    Make a statement

    Schumacher says that these wood pantry doors “are designed to be a staple feature of the kitchen, much like a piece of art or a high-quality countertop.” Don’t neglect your door hardware, either. Schumacher selected gold circular handles to add a statement-making touch. “Distinctive hardware is crucial in transforming pantry doors into a design element that stands out and complements the overall decor,” she notes.

  • Photo: Stacy Zarin Goldberg
    25/27

    Spotlight old-world charm

    Zoe Feldman, AD PRO Directory member and the founder of Zoe Feldman Design in Washington, DC, and New York City, drew inspiration from her client’s home country of Portugal when transforming their town home “from old to old-world.” She says, “Built-ins and hidden closet doors were strategically placed to optimize storage without interfering with the home’s heritage aesthetic.”

  • Photo: Eric Rorer
    26/27

    Use the pantry door as a backdrop

    Dave Sturm, senior associate at Butler Armsden Architects in San Francisco, shares that his team decided upon a frosted-glass and blackened steel pantry—the materials are also used in the home’s laundry room and on the top floor. In addition to providing storage, the pantry “served as a solid backdrop for a very sculptural kitchen island,” Sturm says.

  • Photo: Matthew Millman
    27/27

    Search for inspiration

    When designing these door, Paul Wiseman, the founder of the Wiseman Group in San Francisco, was inspired by a pantry he saw while traveling to France. “It was a wall of glass French doors exposing all the dishes and dry goods,” he shares. “So, I adapted this to what otherwise would have been boring doors in this rather spectacular kitchen.”

Sarah Lyon is a New York City–based freelance writer who primarily covers interior design and lifestyle topics. Sarah’s work has appeared in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post, among other publications. Originally from the Washington, D.C, area, Sarah received her bachelor of arts in sociology... Read more
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