OK, maybe it will be more than a few weeks before I get to this part of the kitchen remodel at this rate, but I was looking last night at the new pantry I've framed in. Hmmm, how to equip it with the best shelving options?

This will be a long/skinny room under 4' wide and maybe 7' long, shelving on three sides. Probably no more than 12" deep anywhere. I want to max out the space, and recognize that light stuff like boxed goods (cereal, etc.) more lightly loads a shelf than cans & bottles.

I swung through the shelving aisle at Home Depot recently and eyeballed -- quickly -- the choices. Conventional wire shelves (oh, almost definitely avoiding solid shelving) in cut-to-length sections of the "closet type", yes they have regular and heavy-duty but the latter looks like the same diameter wire, just more densely spaced. Available in white or taupe, no chrome finish. Alas, unless someone tells me different, stuck w/plastic clips and brackets to mount to the walls, limiting the load-bearing capability.

Alternatively, free-standing heavy-duty chrome shelving units. Alas, no ability to control unit length so unless very lucky, I'll have wasted space if I can even fit them in. Plus, few shelves per system if I want to space them closely, as one would for cans (yes, I can buy multiple units and throw the excess uprights away).

Well, then -- what options am I missing? Not only types of products but sources (not every purchase has to go to H-D or Lowe's, you know). I'm thinking something built for storing something heavier than sweaters. Maybe a garage-oriented product?

 

I like the adjustable shelves. They are usually white slotted strips that bolt to the wall & the brackets can be placed anywhere in the slots.

 

Just did a very similar project, and used the wire mesh shelving. Couldn't be happier. The metal brackets bolt to the wall, which if you find studs greatly increase its load capacity. Adjustable to really any shelf spacing you want, and the "pantry" shelves (your right, they're the same, just less space between wires) is great. System was expensive for what it is, but incredibly customizable.

 

I also recently completed a project like this. I purchased "pantry" shelving from target. It was the wire shelving... easy to put together and looks great! Adjustable also. The only thing was target didn't have a huge selection... so if you need more options I would try IKEA. Good luck!

 

Thanks for the input. I guess I've been worried about overloading, had in the shed and the garage a few instances of failure (wall brackets, mostly) due to heavy loading.

I'll also try the Target pantry shelving, see what that looks like.

 

Use clamp type wall holders with screws over and under, and PUT THEM IN STUDS!, then do the same with the angle brackets. It'll hold what you want.

 

At 7' wide you'll want one vertical pole in the center of the shelf to help support it. You can usually buy all of the pieces separately instead of all together like in a closet organizer. Get the denser wire shelves. They keep smaller boxes from tipping when they're not tightly packed. For the corners where the width and length meet you can get a piece that has a radius in it. That'll give you a little more space, but then you'll have a deep lost corner. Like Chandler said, definitely get as many of the brackets anchored into studs. If you do that and get a support pole in the middle you could probably put a surprising amount of cans on the shelves.