How to Turn an Under-Stairs Cupboard into a Pantry (Storage & Shelving Ideas)

If you’re looking to make better use of the space in your home, an under-stairs cupboard can be a great place to start. These cupboards are often awkward, dark and easy to fill with clutter, but with the right layout they can become really useful storage. One popular option is turning the space into a small pantry for food and kitchen essentials.

In this guide, I’ll show you how we transformed our messy under-stairs cupboard into a simple, practical pantry. With a bit of clearing out, new shelving and a small makeover, we turned an unused space into an organised pantry that’s easy to access and works perfectly for everyday use.

If you’re anything like us, focused on fitness or healthy living, this spot is perfect for storing your daily essentials. Keep your greens superfood, protein oats, and PB protein on an eye-level shelf in clear containers or labelled baskets. Having everything visible and accessible makes it easier to stick to your wellness routine.

Here are before and after pictures of the under-stair cupboard.

This great storage solution can be created with a few basic tools and a modest budget, and it gives you the freedom to be a little creative with your design. I’ve used scaffold boards on my build, but you could use a cheaper material like MDF sheets if aesthetics aren’t a priority.

Under Stairs Cupboard Storage Ideas

Our design brief was simple: we wanted a pantry with easy access and floating shelves that provided ample storage for all our dried and canned goods. We also added some baskets on the floor, which were easy to pull out. Now, other than the limited headroom further inside, this is a functional space. You might also want to consider some of these storage ideas:

• Pull out drawers
• Hooks for hanging items
• Clear storage containers
• Adjustable shelving dividers
• Rolling storage trolley
• Labelled pantry bins
• Appliance storage zone with charging

Here are a few design ideas we considered.

Things to consider when designing your storage:

• Spacing between shelving. Ours was designed to fit two standard size tins on each shelf, two deep.
• Shelf strength. We used scaffold boards as they are very strong. Paired with deep wall fixings.
• Lighting, will you need extra lighting? You can also consider motion sensor lighting for ease of use.
• The deepest section of the cupboard is usually ideal for some deeper shelving. Consider this when planning where certain items will go.
• Pull-out basket storage is perfect for potatoes, onions, snacks and baking supplies.
• Consider a combination of storage solutions like shelves, drawers and baskets for the ultimate in convenience.

Step-by-Step Guide to Building an Under-Stair Pantry

Step 1. Clearing the Cupboard

The first step was to clear everything from the under-stair cupboard and remove all the existing shelving and the horribly stained carpet from the floor.

I also removed all the skirting boards and filled any holes in the walls with a Multi-Purpose Ready Mixed Filler.

Step 1.1 – Choose a Suitable Design

Once you’ve cleared the cupboard, you have a better visual of the space you’re working with. This allows you to choose a functional design depending on the amount of space you have. The design for this understairs pantry was simple because it involved adding floating shelves for extra storage and replacing the flooring.

Step 2. Painting and Laminate Flooring

The next stage of this project was to paint the walls white and lay some new laminate flooring. The flooring was laid on a 3mm underlay and I only needed one box of laminate flooring to complete the job.

Once the laminate flooring had been laid I replaced all the skirting boards and painted them gloss white.

Step 3. Fitting the Shelves

We planned the shelving based on easy access to the whole length of the cupboard. We also wanted to ensure each shelf could stack three tins in height and three tins in depth. We needed space underneath the bottom shelf for our baskets.

To make use of the very back of the cupboard we wanted a single shelf which was double the depth of the other shelving.

We used scaffold boards for the shelves as we liked the rustic look. To add an industrial theme we used steel shelving brackets designed specifically for scaffold boards. You can find these products here:

The brackets are supplied with screws and wall plugs but I wanted something a bit more substantial due to the weight. I purchased these Cavity Fixing Anchors for extra strength when fitting the brackets.

Step 3.1 – Fixing the Brackets

• Measure the length of the shelf and divide it into four equal partitions for each bracket.
• Then measure the distance from the floor for each bracket and mark on the wall with a pencil.
• Hold the bracket in place and mark out the two hole locations.
• Drill a pilot hole for each.
• Using a masonry bill, drill a hole about 50mm into the wall. Select the hammer action on your drill when drilling into brick or stone etc.
• Insert the cavity fixing and tap it into the wall with a hammer. Just enough until flush.
• Tighten the bolt until the fixing becomes fixed in place. 
• Release the bolt from the fixing.
• Secure the bracket to the wall.

Step 3.2 – Preparing the scaffold boards

To prepare the scaffold boards for the bracket I needed to trim them slightly. Hopefully, you won’t need to do this but if you do an electric plane is ideal for this job.

I measured and cut the scaffold boards to length, planed and sanded them until they were nice a smooth. I used a 230mm mitre saw for cutting each board accurately and cleanly.

I didn’t treat the boards with anything but you can stain the boards if you desire a specific colour. As an example, I stained the boards used in my kitchen shelving project as seen here:

Step 3.3 – Securing the Scaffold Boards

With the scaffold boards placed on the brackets and aligned in the centre they can simply be screwed in through the bottom of the bracket.

Step 4. The End Shelf

It’s now possible to repeat this process until all the shelves have been secured to the wall before we fix the end shelf in place.

Due to the rear wall being sloped, it wasn’t possible to use the same style brackets. For the end shelf, I cut two pieces of scaffolding to the correct width of the cupboard and used a piece of timber, secured to the wall on one side to support them.

I also secured a couple of pieces of timber underneath each shelf for a strong finish.

Step 5. Add your Pantry Goods

And for the finishing touches, all you need to do is fill your shelves.

I hope you’ve enjoyed following this project. It’s been a very worthwhile transformation for us. Turning an old, unfunctional space into the perfect storage solution. Here are a few more considerations before you get started.

Best Shelving for an Under-Stairs Pantry

Choosing the right shelving makes a huge difference in how usable your pantry becomes.

Floating shelves

Great for:

• jars
• tins
• dry goods

Deep shelves for bulk storage

The back of an under-stairs cupboard often has more depth. This makes it perfect for:

• bulk food storage
• appliances
• large containers

Adjustable shelving

Adjustable shelves allow you to change heights depending on what you’re storing.

Materials for pantry shelving

Popular options include:

• Scaffold boards (rustic look)
• MDF shelving (budget option)
• Plywood shelving (durable)
• Melamine shelves (easy to clean)

Can You Convert an Under-Stairs Cupboard Into a Toilet?

Yes, but it depends on:

• available head height
• drainage access
• plumbing location

Most cloakroom toilets require at least 70–80cm width and around 1.5m height clearance.

If plumbing access is limited, macerator toilets can sometimes be used instead.

However, we found converting the cupboard into storage or a pantry is a far simpler project.

Conclusion

Transforming an under-stairs cupboard into a pantry is a simple way to make better use of space that might otherwise become a cluttered dumping ground. With some basic shelving, a bit of planning, and a modest budget, you can turn an awkward cupboard into practical and organised storage.

For us, this small project made a big difference in how we use our kitchen. Everything now has a place, and it’s much easier to see what we have in stock.

Of course, an under-stairs cupboard doesn’t have to become a pantry. The same space could just as easily be used for general storage, cleaning supplies, hobby equipment, or even a small laundry area, depending on your needs.

If you’re looking for more inspiration, I’ve also converted another under-stairs cupboard into pull-out storage drawers, which are great for shoes and everyday household items.

Take a look at another example where I have converted this under-stair space into pull-out drawers for shoe storage and other similar items.