All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Why a larder is the new object of desire and how to design one

The larder, once a staple of every kitchen, but forgotten in the days of fridges and built-in cabinets, is back, and it's a highly covetable object to have in your kitchen

Indeed, pantries can be an attractive design element in themselves. Using refillable jars and bottles is a great way to pack out your larder in an eco-friendly and visually satisfying way. As our news editor Christabel Chubb noted in her ode to the refillable kitchen, we're not the only ones waxing lyrical and the larder. ‘A well organised cupboard or pantry is one of those aspirational things to which people dedicate Pinterest boards and appreciation on Instagram,’ she says, noting that the hashtag #pantrygoals has 271,000 posts.

Colour specialist and founder of Atelier Ellis, Cassandra Ellis notes that many home owners choose to rip out their small pantries to regain some kitchen space. She recommends leaning into the beautiful, original feature and even adding a pop of colour to your kitchen by painting it a warm, rich red colour. Like utility rooms (which have grown in popularity too), it's not only organisation that the larder provides, but also the opportunity to experiment with different finishes, accessories and soft furnishing. It's no secret that we're loving frills, stripes, chintz and other retro trims, and the larder provides a small, closed off space for experimenting with fun additions like café curtains, wallpaper and gloss colours that hark back to their Victorian heritage.

We've opened the door on our archives and picked out a few of our favourite examples of deliciously designed larders…