Adding This Overlooked Kitchen Feature Can Increase The Worth Of Your House

When you're looking to enhance your home's worth, certain kitchen upgrades can boost resale value, and one overlooked feature in particular is worth adding — a storage pantry. According to a 2026 Fixr survey of 101 interior design professionals, 81% of respondents said that the most "off-putting factor" for home buyers is insufficient kitchen storage space. Meanwhile, a 2026 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study showed that nearly one-in-two homeowners felt the need to add pantry cabinets during their renovations, with 16% adding walk-in pantries. These features allow homeowners to enjoy extra storage space, keep their kitchens decluttered, and facilitate access to items during meal preparation.

Walk-in pantries strike a balance between luxury and practicality, with desirable features such as pull-out drawers; built-in lighting; labeled containers; and electrical outlets for blenders, coffee makers, and the like. As another option, pantry towers between appliances leverage available space with shelving that can be pulled forward for use. For smaller spaces, cabinet-style pantries often make the most sense. 

When a homeowner with a kitchen pantry decides to sell, the benefits of the upgrade become obvious, since these features generally come with good returns on investment (ROI). According to home construction calculator site, HammerIO, in 2026, a 200-square-foot, mid-range kitchen pantry installation would cost $4,800 with a 50% ROI, which translates to a $2,400 increase in home value. 

If you're thinking about adding space for a kitchen pantry, you have three approaches to explore. One is to build an addition to the home, a strategy used by 18% of people who intended to add a pantry, according to the 2025 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study. Another option — one employed by about two in three remodelers — is to use the space already available in the kitchen, reconfiguring it to add more room for storage. The third approach is to take space from one room and add it the kitchen footprint; according to the survey above, the most commonly chosen space is the dining room.

To further add ROI-generating pantry space, savvy homeowners can include another kitchen feature that boosts home value: a kitchen island. Installing pull-out drawers can transform a typical island into additional pantry space. According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), in 2024, 22% of homebuyers considered a central island an essential feature, with another 52% finding it desirable.

Some homeowners use another strategy to add storage space but, despite cost savings, they often regret this kitchen trend: adding open shelving to store more items. You can get a couple of wooden shelves and hardware for about $40, so measure your space and order the appropriate number of shelving sets. This can be a DIY weekend project that costs much less than a kitchen island or a pantry. However, open shelving may only provide limited storage space, and the items you place there will be exposed to dust and cooking grease, necessitating frequent cleaning.