An organized kitchen pantry not only improves function but also elevates the look and feel of the space.
Done correctly, it can help you visually keep track of food items you use the most, thereby streamlining trips to the grocery store.
Today I’m excited to bring back my favorite organization pro, Emily Maiocco from Next Level Organizing.
Emily just finished our pantry organization and it came out perfect!
So, I asked her to share her best organized pantry ideas here today.
The Best Pantry Organization Ideas
Here’s Emily with some of her favorite tips and tricks to help you achieve pantry organization bliss!
Choose containers which make sense for how you live and the space you have.
Starting out with one of our top pantry storage ideas…
If you keep a lot of grab and go snacks in your home, open top containers allow for easy access by hands big or small.
As a result, bulky packaging can be discarded for less clutter.
Pantry Storage Ideas
We recommend you use a variety of food storage containers for different types of foods like dry ingredients and canned goods.
Not only can this improve function- think easy reach to items used most often (hello turntables!!) but they also add visual interest in the space.
Additionally, we tend to use clear containers and clear jars in a pantry shelf space as often as possible.
If you opt to go for more formal pull-out drawers for smaller items or small appliances, be sure to label them accordingly…
Label your categories.
While this may seem like an easy step to skip, I highly encourage you not to.
You can do this by hand or a label maker is a great option too.
Because, adding a label clearly communicates to anyone who uses the space exactly where to find what they’re looking for and where to put items away.
Choose label names for how you look for items in broad terms.
Of course, this will all depend on your specific inventory but these are some of our most used food storage labels:
- Dinner
- Pasta
- Grains
- Potatoes
- Onions
- Bread
- Breakfast
- Snacks
- Nuts & Dried Fruits
- Crackers
- Sweets
- Baking
- Baking Mixes
- Decorating
- Drinks
- Water Bottles
- and last but definitely not least Backstock!
So, if you have space on your pantry floor or higher shelves, these are great spots for back stock items.
This can be anything from bulky bags of unopened chips, to extra cereal boxes and basically anything that is a duplicate of what is kept in other more accessible spots.
However, if the pantry is not an option for your back stock items, look to other spaces such as in your garage, basement and other tucked away spots.
Utilize your doors: a great way to maximize space.
The good news is there’s a few great products for your pantry door.
For the back of the door, we recommend these door racks, in order to maximize your pantry storage options.
Furthermore, getting a bit of extra storage space out of the inside of the door is a great use of space – an added bonus!
Keep your corners accessible.
Another great pantry organization idea is to add turntables. lazy susans or containers so items don’t get lost in dark corners.
Also, don’t forget you can utilize the floor as your bottom shelf with some plastic storage bins.
Decant some of your dry goods into lidded jars if it makes sense for your family.
Lastly, be sure to add the expiration date right where you can see it on the container before discarding the boxes of food packaging.
PANTRY ORGANIZATION HOW TO: BROKEN DOWN IN SIX EASY STEPS
Time needed: 5 hours
HOW TO ORGANIZE YOUR PANTRY LIKE A PRO:
- Take it All Out & Sort
I know I know, no one wants to do this but I promise this step is key to your success! Clearing out this storage space is the first step in any organizing project. It’s particularly important in a cluttered pantry. Not only does it give you time to review your inventory, it also helps you start with a clean slate. If you have food in other kitchen cabinets, be sure to empty those spaces as well. This will give you the full picture.
Sort by Use – As you pull items out, be sure to sort. This can be how you use them or think to look for them. Sorting by category will be extremely helpful later in the process when you’ll plan for placement. Also check expiration dates during this step! You can make a grocery list of items you need to replace. Think about what you’ll need to leave space for in the pantry. For unexpired items you won’t use or eat, consider donating them.
- Give It a Good Scrub.
Now that your pantry is empty, it’s a great idea to use this time to wipe down the shelves and sweep the floor. It’s also the perfect time to for repairs like replacing warped or broken shelves, or add missing pantry shelving pegs. - Plan Out Your Zones
This step can often feel the most daunting, but here are some helpful things to consider.
First, who will be accessing what: If you want your kids to have access to snacks, be sure to set aside a lower shelf or a bottom drawer or cabinet in the kitchen. On the other hand, consider what you don’t want kids to have access to, or what you don’t need frequently – those items can be stored up higher.
Consider what categories may work better out of the pantry: The whole point of organizing is to make your life easier. For example, if you make daily shakes, keep your shake ingredients by your mixer in the kitchen.
If bulky appliances are taking up too much space in your kitchen, move them to the pantry. Alternatively, If you’re working with a small pantry, take an entire category like baking or breakfast and place it in a kitchen cabinet.
Create Zones on Shelves: Keeping similar categories together makes it easier to find what you need. EX: create a dinner zone by keeping canned goods and sauces by pastas. You can also group specific items together by meal, like Taco Night!
- Contain
While it’s very tempting to purchase the product first, keep this as the last step. Since you’ve taken the time to sort out unwanted items and planned out zones, you can now see the reality of the category sizes and decide the best way to contain them. Open baskets are an easy option and hide unsightly packaging. Baskets without a lid are much more user friendly.
We love decanting dry goods when it makes sense to do so. It may make sense for you to decant if your family always has a certain kind of dry good on hand, particularly in multiple quantities. Eliminating multiple boxes of the same item will help cut down on clutter. This includes cereals, nuts, pastas, rices and grains. Containers that stack allow you to utilize the vertical space on each shelf as well. - Label
Labeling may be one of the most important steps in the process! This is what allows everyone in the home to maintain the system you put in place. It’s important to point out that creating a zone is sometimes all the “containment” you need depending on your space. - Take a Step Back & Adjust
Take time to assess the big picture. EX: Are there off season/lesser used items that would make more sense in a clear container up high, instead of taking up valuable real estate at eye level? Do you want to play with your storage containers a bit for a more visually pleasing look. Should larger items go on lower shelves or upper shelves? Now is the time to do it!
Pantry Organization Ideas Conclusion
Most important of all, keep in mind that your pantry (and all organizational systems and storage solutions) should evolve with you as your family grows and changes.
Not only do systems change naturally with our needs, they also may evolve seasonally.
Systems that work well for your family during the school year, may need to change a little to function better for your summer schedule.
Moreover, if a system is not working for you, don’t feel defeated!
Finally, even in my own home, I have to remain flexible about moving pantry items around until it works best for our family’s needs.
Thanks for having me here today on The Zhush!!!
Additional Organizing Tips and Inspiration:
Hope you loved all of these brilliant pantry organization ideas and tips.
If you’re looking for even more inspiration and ideas to get your home organized, be sure to check out these other posts by clicking on each title below-
Eight Amazon Products Professional Organizers Swear By.
How to Organize Your Important Paperwork.
Closet Organization Tips From The Pros.
How To Keep Your Kitchen Counters Organized
10 Easy Steps On How To Declutter Your Home.
SHOP THE PANTRY ORGANIZATION IDEAS USED IN THIS POST:
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Notice your misspelling—–Panty organization, broken down in 6 easy steps
omg – lol, thanks for pointing this out! Fixing now.
This makes me want to buy organization shelves and start organizing. Thank you for the ideas!