Pantry closets provide effective storage for dry goods in your kitchen. Design your pantry walls to create a space that is efficient and inspires organization. Pantry walls don't have to be dull. Paint the walls in bold colors and install barn board shelving for a contemporary, yet rustic appearance. Build in the shelving against the back wall for a functional and efficient pantry space that makes use of the walls. Install three shelves starting the lowest at waist level and work your way up the wall for easy access to all of the shelves. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Sand the closet walls lightly with a fine-grit sanding block. Wipe off the dust on the walls with a tack cloth just before you are ready to apply the primer coat.
2. Brush on an even coat of interior latex primer with a paintbrush. Allow the primer to dry at least four hours. Brush on a coat of interior latex paint using a paintbrush and allow it to dry 24 hours.
3. Slide a stud finder across the side walls of the pantry closet and mark the stud locations on the wall with a pencil. The 1-by-2-by-12-inch shelf support boards will mount to the side walls so that the shelf ends can rest on them.
4. Position one shelf support board flat against each side wall at 32, 48 and 60-inches up from the floor. The 2-by-12-inch wide sides of the 1-by-2-by-12-inch boards should be flush against the wall. One 1-by-2-inch end should be flush against the back wall since the shelves will be installed against the back wall of the pantry close. Drive 3-inch wood screws through each support board into the wall at each stud location.
5. Measure the length of the back wall of the pantry closet with a tape measure. This is the measurement required for the shelf boards. The shelves will be installed against the back wall of the pantry closet. Lay the barn boards out on a work surface and mark them to the measurement. Cut three barn boards to length using a miter saw.
6. Sand the cut edges of the barn boards with the fine-grit sanding block. Wipe off the boards with a tack cloth and spray on two coats of lacquer. Allow the lacquer to dry at least four hours between coats. Wait 24 hours after the final coat before picking up the shelf boards. Perform this work in a separate work space such as a garage or workshop to avoid getting the already painted pantry closet dirty.
7. Slide one shelf board over each pair of shelf supports. Drive four evenly spaced 2-inch pan head screws through the top of the shelf boards into the supports at each joint using a screw gun.
Tags: back wall, against back, against back wall, pantry closet, back wall pantry, barn boards