Reach-In Closet Makeover: What It Costs and Whether It's Worth It

Custom closet companies have been doing pantries for years — and for good reason. The same design principles that transform a chaotic closet work even better in a kitchen pantry, where you can see everything at a glance and reach it without moving six things out of the way.

But is a custom pantry worth the investment compared to off-the-shelf organizers? Here's an honest breakdown.

The Problem With Most Pantries

Builder-grade pantries suffer from the same issue as builder-grade closets: fixed shelves spaced too far apart, no pull-outs, and zero customization. You end up with deep shelves where items get lost in the back, wasted vertical space between shelves, and a system that doesn't match how your family actually stores and retrieves food.

What a Custom Pantry Looks Like

A custom pantry system uses adjustable shelving at varied depths — deeper shelves for appliances and bulk items, shallower shelves for cans and spices where visibility matters. Pull-out drawers and trays let you access the full depth of the shelf without reaching blindly. Dedicated zones for baking supplies, snacks, and everyday cooking essentials mean everyone in the house knows exactly where things go.

Most popular pantry features

• Pull-out drawers for root vegetables, snacks, and baking supplies
• Adjustable shelf spacing that adapts to what you actually store
• Door-mounted racks for spices, oils, and frequently grabbed items
• Labeled zones so the system stays organized long-term
• Mixed depth shelving — shallow up top, deeper below

The Cost Question

Custom pantry systems typically run $2,500–$5,000 depending on size and accessories, using the same ¾" furniture-grade board and soft-close hardware as our closet systems. Compare that to a pantry full of off-the-shelf organizers from Amazon or The Container Store — you'll easily spend $300–$800 on bins, racks, and turntables that still don't solve the fundamental layout problem.

The custom approach addresses the root cause: the shelving itself doesn't fit your stuff. Off-the-shelf organizers try to make a bad layout work. A custom system replaces the bad layout entirely.

Is It Worth It?

If your pantry is a source of daily frustration — things falling over, items expiring because you can't see them, constant reorganizing that doesn't stick — a custom system pays for itself in reduced food waste and time saved. If your pantry is generally fine and you just need a few bins, save your money.

The best indicator: if you reorganize your pantry more than twice a year and it still doesn't work, the layout is the problem, not your organization skills.

Want to see what your pantry could look like? Get a free 3D design — same process as our closets, same no-obligation approach. We install pantry systems for homeowners across Madison, Milwaukee, Waukesha County, and Northern Illinois.