Looking to boost your home’s value? Here’s a kitchen feature you might be overlooking — a storage pantry. A 2026 survey of 101 interior design pros found that 81% said not having enough kitchen storage is a real turnoff for home buyers. And get this: a 2026 U.S. Kitchen Trends Study showed that nearly half of homeowners felt the need to add pantry cabinets during their renovations, with 16% going all-in on walk-in pantries. These additions give you extra storage, keep your kitchen tidy, and make meal prep way easier.
Walk-in pantries hit that sweet spot between being fancy and practical, with cool features like pull-out drawers, built-in lighting, labeled containers, and electrical outlets for your blender or coffee maker. Another solid option? Pantry towers squeezed between appliances that give you shelving you can pull forward when you need it. If space is tight, cabinet-style pantries usually do the trick.
Here’s the money part: when someone with a kitchen pantry puts their place on the market, the value bump is real. These upgrades typically deliver solid returns. According to home construction calculator site in 2026, a 200-square-foot, mid-range kitchen pantry would run you $4,800 but bring back 50% ROI — that’s a $2,400 boost to your home’s value.
Ways to add storage space to a kitchen
Ready to add pantry space to your kitchen? You’ve got three main ways to go about it. First, you could build an addition onto your home — something 18% of people planning a pantry upgrade chose, based on the 2025 U.S. Kitchen Trends Study. Second option, and the one most remodelers use (about two in three), is to rework the space you’ve already got in the kitchen to squeeze in more storage. Third approach? Borrow space from another room and tack it onto your kitchen. According to that same survey, the dining room is the most popular choice for this.
To maximize your pantry’s return on investment, consider pairing it with another kitchen superstar: a kitchen island. Add some pull-out drawers to your island and boom — instant extra pantry space. According to the National Association of Home Builders, 22% of homebuyers in 2024 thought a central island was essential, and another 52% really wanted one.
Some homeowners try a different approach to add storage without breaking the bank: open shelving. You can grab a couple of wooden shelves and hardware for about $40, so measure up and order what fits your space. This could be a weekend DIY project that costs way less than an island or full pantry. Just keep in mind, open shelving has its limits — stuff sits out exposed to dust and cooking splatter, so you’ll be cleaning it regularly.
