DIY Under Staircase Makeover | Closet to Pantry

Our kitchen pantry was incredibly small, but we had all this extra space under the stairs that was just being used as storage. So, I set about transforming that under the stairs closet into a brand new pantry complete with cabinets, shelves, and counter.

Here’s how it’s done.

Closet to Pantry Makeover Tutorial 

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Making Space 

First things first, clear out the under stairs closet, remove the doors, then get to work removing the surrounding drywall.

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One issue I ran into early on was a load-bearing support beam that needed taking care of.

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I got around this by taking the beam out and adding a new beam all the way across the top before fitting new support beams to the side. 

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With that done, it was easy enough to finish gutting out the drywall to make enough space for our new pantry.

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That included taking out the back wall and covering up the crawl space access.

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Framing 

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Next, you can go ahead and add the framing for the pantry. 

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Install Junction Box 

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Next, you’re going to add your junction boxes for whatever wiring you may need, keeping your state’s local electrical codes in mind the whole time.

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Add the Drywall 

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With the frame in place, you can now set about covering with drywall.

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To join the drywall boards together, apply drywall compound using a taping knife, then apply drywall tape over the compound and run the taping knife over it to flush out the excess.

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For the corners, I used 3M Drywall Corner Bead Adhesive, but you can use drywall compound if you prefer.

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After the drywall compound dries, use 8-100 grit sandpaper to lightly sand down all the harsh edges without exposing the tape you just laid down in the previous step.

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Skimming, Texturing, and Painting

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After a layer of skimming, you can then apply a layer of texturing before getting ready to paint. For our closet makeover, I used the Wagner Flexio 5000 Paint Sprayer, but feel free to use whatever method works best for you.

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Cabinet Making

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The paint may take a while to dry, which presents a good opportunity to get started on the cabinet making.

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I decided to make my cabinets out of three-quarter-inch-thick plywood to ensure that they're truly built to last.

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Again, I used the Wagner Flexio 5000 Paint Sprayer to paint the cabinets.

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Shelves

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With the cabinet’s drying, you can get on and make the shelves. I made a whole extra video on how to make those shelves if you want to check that out on my YouTube channel.

I used Minwax Fruitwood stain to stain the shelves, then added a wipe-on polyurethane to protect the shelves for years to come.

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Bringing it All Together 

Once the shelves are finished, it’s time to bring in your cabinets, secure them in place and add doors, handles and other finishing touches.

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Finally, I made a mould from wood and filled it with concrete to create a solid countertop.

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Then used some small strips of wood to create the design on the back wall. 

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And there you have it, from an old closet to a fresh, new pantry! 

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