Top 7 Best Kitchen Floor Plans for 2018

Choose your "Costco" Pantry Style

The most popular floor plans for North Carolina new home buyers are designed with ample kitchen storage - without sacrificing open square footage. One of the best ways to offer lots of shelf room is with a "Costco" style pantry.

What is a "Costco pantry"?

Costco shouldn't really get all the credit. BJs, Sams Club or anywhere you go to stock up gives you the same result - buying in bulk is a great way to save money as long as you have somewhere to store it. That's why savvy home buyers look for ways to design a kitchen that can store their bulk buys.

If you like to stock up, an oversized pantry is an important aspect you'll want built into your new kitchen. Ask your builder what will work best with your plan: Many new home kitchen floor plans integrate a walk-in pantry in a corner of the kitchen, or just around the corner in a hallway or nook.

Here are the top 7 best kitchen floor plans with a Costco size pantry - for Raleigh North Carolina new homes.

Best kitchen floor plans pantry style #1: A Costco style pantry is a large, walk-in pantry - designed for ample storage and convenience.

When pantry size matters more than location, Costco pantries can be located anywhere that's convenient to the kitchen.

Get this pantry style: A good example of a non-corner, walk-in style pantry is in this version of the Carwile - which includes a 5x10 pantry - supplemented by island cabinets and a nearby mudroom.

To avoid using the main pantry as a "catch all" for kitchen-related storage (such as mops, brooms, and tall cleaning supplies), a separate mudroom / laundry room was included just around the corner.

This "home hub" design is perfect for keeping storage areas distinct and uncluttered.

Click here to see more photos of this home.

Best kitchen floor plans pantry style #2: A cabinetry pantry integrated into the kitchen can supplement a walk-in pantry placed around the corner.

Best kitchen floor plans | Kitchens with a costco size pantry

Having two pantries can improve organization and add to kitchen storage without disrupting an open floor plan design.

Get this pantry style: When deciding between kitchen cabinets and drawers and a cabinetry style pantry, think about what type of storage you need most.

Best kitchen floor plans | Kitchens with a costco size pantry

If you often buy in bulk, consider a second pantry over "standard" kitchen storage units.

Click here to see photos of another home with two pantries - one closet style pantry and one cabinetry pantry.

Best kitchen floor plans pantry style #3: An L-shaped walk-in pantry can maximize shelving without reducing the look, feel, and maneuverability of the kitchen.

Get this pantry style: When choosing the best kitchen floor plans, keep in mind how close your pantry needs to be to the cooktop and refrigerator.

Best kitchen floor plans | Kitchens with a costco size pantry

The further from the kitchen you go, the more long-term the storage should be.

Consider reserving a few cabinets for daily-use items, if you want to keep the Costco pantry out of central walkways.

Best kitchen floor plans pantry style #4: Expanding a pantry by adding another wall of shelving can add a lot of functionality to your kitchen.

Even if a plan doesn't come with a pantry that's big enough for everything you want to store, top builders can find a way to fit it in. Ask us what we can modify in the kitchen floor plan to add storage and efficiency.

Get this pantry style: In this version of the Cove, Stanton Homes added a second wall of pantry shelving by:

1. Moving the door to the garage to kitchen, where there was more space to accommodate it.

2. Removing the pantry's double doors and adding a single door between the kitchen and pantry / laundry room.

Best kitchen floor plans | Kitchens with a costco size pantry

Best kitchen floor plans pantry style #5: A U shaped pantry is great for "at a glance" storage.

U shaped pantries, which are actually more in the shape of a square, require more depth (and less width) than an L shaped pantry - so your selection may depend on the overall kitchen floor plan.

A U shaped pantry does not always hold more goods than an L shaped pantry - it depends on the overall square footage and shelving design.

Best kitchen floor plans | Kitchens with a costco size pantry

Get this pantry style: Many of the best kitchen floor plans place pantry and laundry room storage near each other - which creates distinct areas for food, paper goods, soaps, and supplies while containing daily necessities in a common area.

Best kitchen floor plans pantry style #6: Angling a pantry can add more storage space.

Best kitchen floor plans | Kitchens with a costco size pantry

Get this pantry style: Ask your builder if placing your pantry at the end of a wall, as opposed to the center of the room, can allow you to angle shelving for more storage.

Best kitchen floor plans | Kitchens with a costco size pantry

An angled pantry can also add more visibility to the storage area.

Best kitchen floor plans pantry style #7: A classic design remains one of the best kitchen floor plans with a Costco size pantry: a tucked-in corner pantry.

A corner pantry generally takes the shape of a square, rather than an "L."

A corner pantry is located centrally in the kitchen (rather than tucked to one side).

Get this pantry style: Consider adding French doors to your pantry - doors that swing outwards can make it much easier to see everything in the pantry at a glance.