How My under the Stairs Pantry Went Viral

If you told me a couple years ago that my little under the stairs pantry would go viral, I would’ve laughed. But here we are, over 20K views and counting.

I live near Bogue Sound, in a builder-grade home that I’ve been slowly making my own on a budget. Storage space has been an issue from day 1. So I decided to knock down the wall under my stairs and to turn it into a pantry meets coffee bar setup, with a mix of function, style, but on a budget.

This was our first ever big project and my husband was completely against knocking down this wall…. He doesn’t have the vision like I do and likes to see a plan- my motto was W.W.C.G.D- what would Chip Gaines do- so after I drew a terrible sketch he agreed and has never questioned my “vision” since and just goes with my wild ideas.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

My Husband, the electrician and son moving an outlet and wiring in lighting.

The Breakdown:

• Walls: I used white shiplap to line the walls inside and out, and painted the interior Hale Navy by Benjamin Moore which is a dark blue- Not black like people who have been sharing my pictures have stated. This dark color immediately gave the space a cozy, tucked-in feel. Floating shelves hold pantry staples in glass jars.

• Countertop: A simple butcher block from Lowes Home Improvement became the perfect prep surface and home for my coffee makers.

• Storage: Clear bins, wooden trays, and baskets keep snacks, Coffee Pods, and grab-and-go items super organized. I even added two canvas bins on the bottom for snacks and hidden items. We added a small beverage fridge that I ordered on Amazon that has held up beautifully after 5 years and has no issues but is out of stock unfortunately.

Why It Works:

• It’s small space smart, every inch has a purpose.

• It’s visually satisfying, thanks to color blocking, containers, and lighting.

• And it feels like a little luxury, even though it was done on a budget.

People online loved the transformation, especially the lighting (under-shelf + track) and the “snack station” vibe.

The Total Cost:$2,200

This is a rough estimate as this was done 5 years ago.

We had a family friend help with the carpentry work and Paid him $800 in labor .

Supplies:

-Shiplap- around $400

-Flooring-$50

-Paint – around $150

-Butcher Block- $169

-Trim and Shelf Wood -around :$150

-bins,Gold track Light and fridge- $450

How to cut cost:

My Husband is an electrician so all of the electrical was done by him, but they do have Under the counter lighting and Bulbs that are rechargeable which would save a ton on electrical cost.

Cut and nail the wood yourself- our friend taught us a lot so it was worth it but all our future projects I will share we ended up doing the woodwork ourselves- it looks scarier then what it actually is.

Do the shiplap only on the inside or just paint. Shiplap is $$$! Some say it is “out of style” but I love it and honestly if it brings you joy that’s all that matters.

I bought most of my wood & canvas bins and jars from The Container Store when they were having a big sale, but I also shopped around at Walmart and Amazon for items and there are so many other options now.

You don’t need a huge budget or a big house to create something that feels custom. This project took a couple weeks for the carpentry and painting because of work but we also didn’t buy all of the bins at once. I slowly added items that made sense and waited for sales.

If you’re thinking of tackling a project in your home, I say go for it. You might accidentally go viral too. 😉

Bogue On a Budget