See How This Homeowner Transformed Her ‘Tambakan’ Room Into an Organized Pantry
If there’s one spot in your home that you wouldn’t want guests to see, it would most likely be your storage room or bodega! Typically filled with all sorts of old, unused items, this space tends to be an eyesore, and it’s often neglected, too.
With a bit of decluttering, however, you can turn this into a clean and organized area—or you can also turn it into an entirely new space.
Take for example homeowner Rachelle Pestolante’s bodega transformation! This mom turned her “tambakan” room into a gorgeous pantry.
According to Rachelle, this small space used to be a playroom, which her kids outgrew. Eventually, it became a storage room. “For years, I didn’t feel the need to declutter [this space.] However, things just kept piling up until we couldn’t even fully open the door anymore,” she shares with Real Living.
BEFORE
Prior to the makeover, the bodega was packed with various items, from old books to kitchen supplies. You can also find suitcases on the topmost shelf.
She shares, “during the pandemic, our emergency food items started to fill up the kitchen so I had to move some into our tambakan room, and then it hit me, why can’t I just turn this space into a pantry?”
To transform the bodega, the first step was to declutter! “Pinamigay [namin ‘yung mga] ‘di na namin ginagamit. We also transferred our books to a closet na may extra space pa naman. Tinamad lang ako i-organize ito dati kasi nga meron naman pwede pagtambakan.”
Rachelle then hired a carpenter to install additional shelves. “I kept the old shelves since they were still fine and functional.” According to the homeowner, she spent around P15,000 for the shelves, which are made from marine plywood. She then installed vinyl tiles—which cost P600—over her existing flooring since she “wanted the appearance of wooden floors." Rachel adds, “I also didn’t want to go through the hassle of repainting the entire room so I used adhesive wallpaper instead."
Check out her newly-organized pantry:
AFTER
In case you’re wondering, Rachelle got the plastic baskets from Mandaue Foam. Meanwhile, the glass jars are from SM. “Not everything is new since I just recycled some pieces.”
For those who are struggling to keep their pantries organized, Rachelle suggests to “group your stuff according to their purpose, and have a basket or a bin for each group. That way, you’ll be able to easily find what you need and check what you lack before heading to the grocery.”
She adds: “I also suggest the FIFO method, which means FIRST IN, FIRST OUT. We put all the new groceries at the back, especially canned items, to avoid throwing unused expired food.”
Have you recently spruced up your room or renovated your home? We'd definitely love to see the result! Send clear photos (with your full name, city address, and accompanying kuwento) to [email protected], and we may just feature your DIY project!
