As I am sure many of my readers know we just moved into a bigger home. I have a dilemma that I would love for my readers to solve for me. There is coat closet right across from my kitchen. We are not using it as a coat closet because I have a wardrobe that holds our winter coats near our back door. I cannot decide whether to use this closet as a pantry or a craft closet. In our last house we used it as a craft/school supply closet.
I have a hutch in my dining room that holds decorative stuff and some dishes on the top, but the bottom is loaded with craft supplies. If I moved the supplies to the cabinet then I could put kitchen stuff in the bottom of the hutch. If I made the closet a pantry, then I would keep the craft supplies in the bottom of the hutch.
What should I do?
Here is the closet, we plan on clearing out the few things that are in it and adding shelves.
Closet in relationship to the kitchen.
Hutch, located in the dining room, which is around the corner from the kitchen.
I would love any advice from my readers. This one really has me stumped!
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
OH! I wish I had this dilemma! I would use it as a craft cabinet for sure!
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Personally, I would leave the craft supplies in the hutch and use the closet as a pantry. But that’s just me… BTW, I love the green walls!
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Oh, I think that has the makings of a very nice pantry! Something about digging out canned goods and whatnot from the hutch just doesn’t seem right.
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Make it easiest to store and retrieve what you use most often, and try to store things most conveniently to where they will be used. Using the closet as a pantry seems to have better proximity, and the lower height of the hutch might make it more accessible for children.
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I’d use the closet as a pantry. I love a good pantry!
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I think it depends on how much food storage space you have and need. If you’re grinding wheat and things like that, perhaps a pantry is best. If you need more dish/kitchen storage, I’d convert the closet to a craft closet.
You could always go half and half…crafts below, food up top!
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I would use the closet as a pantry, it is so handy!
My dh sold our cabinets and is building us an entire new kitchen WITH a pantry this time! 
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My first thought would be to make it a pantry. The bottom hutch is not centrally located. Foodstuff is not easily accessible.
That being said, if you feel there is already enough pantry/storage space in the kitchen. I’d make it a craft/school supply closet and store less used, bulky kitchen storage items (platters, soup terrine, etc) that only come out occaisionally in the bottom of the hutch.
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I’d make the food closet a pantry and if you need additional room for serving dishes, etc. maybe they would fit in there as well. I’d keep the crafts in the hutch. Do the kids do their crafts at the dining room table? If so, that’s very convenient. You’ll have to share pictures of your finished project — whatever you decide to do.
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Oooh, I’d go pantry all the way! I love my craft stuff, but nothing beats easy accessability when I’m hurrying to get a meal going.
I love the green walls in the dining area!
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