Between the Studs Pantry

Don't have a dedicated pantry space? Why not make one! I’ve also seen people create a between-the-studs area for additional storage space in their bathroom; another great idea!

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Below I'm going to share my journey with you on making a between-the-studs pantry.

I do have a dedicated pantry, however, I have a large open wall that quite literally held crap. It was messy, disorganized and an eye sore.

Step 1: Determine Stud Placements & Cut

The first step is to determine the stud placements. I did this, however, I ended up running into some additional 2x4's I wasn't expecting. I figured my stud finder was being finicky... turns out, it was just doing its job! To start, I cut out a small hole to try and figure out was going on.

After looking at our original house plans and speaking with an engineer, they advised me that those 2x4's are there to support the drywall on the kitchen and powder room side. (The powder room is on the opposite side of this wall). Nonetheless, not load bearing, so I was able to remove them! Woohoo :)

To remove the boards, I used my Milwaukee Tool Sawzall. I did try and be careful cutting these 2x4’s as I didn't want to cut through the drywall on the reverse side.

Step 2: Add Hardboard

Next up was adding hardboard to the back wall. The wall was a bit uneven and made up of miscellaneous studs, drywalls and seams, so I wanted to cover that up to create a smooth finish.

I cut the hardboard to size on my Milwaukee Tool Table Saw and added liquid nails to the backside. I secured it in place with some brad nails using my Ryobi Brad Nailer — nailing them into the middle stud.

Step 3: Trim it Out

After adding the hardboard, it was time to add some trim to give it a more finished look. I added trim both to the inside sides and the outside of the built-in.

Step 4: Wood Filler

To cover up the nail holes and seams, I used wood filler — wood filler is seriously, magic! After letting it dry, I sanded it all down with a fine grit sandpaper to get a smooth finish.

Step 5: Make Shelves

To start, I made the mistake of using Alder wood to make my shelves. The problem was, Alder is a soft wood; it warps easily and shows every little nick. It also doesn’t take a stain very well. In the end, I decided to switch to hickory which is a hard wood. Hickory also has a “red” tint to it (more than I wanted), so I picked through the boards to find one that better suited the look I was going for.

I went back and forth on how to make these shelves and even tested a couple different ways.

I wanted the shelves to float between the studs and to have an additional little lip on the edge of the shelf… It adds a nice little touch to it and adds a bit more depth to the shelf.

To create the shelves, I ended up cutting the shelf and the shelf lip separately on my Milwaukee Tool Table Saw. I then glued and clamped the two pieces together.

I used 3 clamps for each shelf… Honestly, you can never have enough clamps!

Step 6: Finishing touches to the shelves

I let the shelves dry overnight, to be sure they were completely dry. The following day, I added wood filler to the seams and sanded them down with a fine grit sandpaper (400 grit).

Step 7: Pocket Holes

To create the floating shelves, I made pocket holes using my Kreg Jig. I made 3 pocket holes on the underside of each shelf. For the top shelf, I made the pocket holes on the top so you won't see them :)

Step 8: Prime and Paint

Time to paint! First, I started by priming the hardboard and trim with Zinsser Primer. This stuff is seriously amazing – also very potent, so wear a mask! After priming, I used a fine grit sandpaper as the primer does leave a bit of a gritty finish.

So… here’s where things got frustrating. I could NOT decide on a paint color! My kitchen is white and my island is gray, so at first, I decided to paint this the same color gray as the island. I didn’t mind it, but wasn’t loving it…. Then, after spending too much time on Pinterest, I changed my mind so sanded it down, primed it, sanded it again and decided to go for a dark, moody look.

Honestly, I liked the color but then decided it really didn’t go with the theme of my kitchen. Nothing in my kitchen is dark… not even my hardware.

So, sadly I sanded it down, primed it, sanded it again and ended up going with the same white used on my kitchen cabinets….

And, I love it! I guess 3rd times a charm, right?

Usually, I would use my paint sprayer, however, this was such a small area and not well ventilated, so I decided to use a roller. I hate brush strokes and roller lines, so wanted to be sure I chose a paint that would give me a smooth finish. After speaking with a rep at Sherwin Williams, I went with the Emerald Urethane in Satin. I added Floetrol to the paint which helps the consistency of the paint to get an even smoother finish. I'm shocked and impressed at how good it looks! No roller lines or brush strokes.

Step 9: Finishing it off by adding the shelves

Before priming and painting, I made pilot holes for each shelf so I knew the exact placement for each. I used my level to ensure that the shelf was level from side to side and back to front.

Ready to see the final result?

What do you think?! Let me know your thoughts below and if you have any questions!

I’m going to be sharing the full pantry reveal next week, so stay tuned!

Below, I've shared some additional ideas and inspirational photos for a between-the-studs storage space.