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A well-organized pantry simplifies cooking and meal planning. No matter if you have a big walk-in pantry or a small cupboard, clutter can build up quickly. This can lead to forgotten ingredients and wasted food. By using some simple organization ideas, you can create a space that is easy to use and looks nice. With a few smart strategies, you can make the most of your storage, keep your ingredients fresh, and enjoy a tidier kitchen every day.
Here are 36 pantry organization ideas for you.
1. Label Everything
To keep your space organized, use containers with leakproof lids and label them clearly. This way, you can stack items safely to prevent them from falling when you reach for something, and you will also avoid spills.
2. Place Like Items Together
If you want to arrange your items nicely, try grouping similar items together, like in a grocery store. This can make your belongings easier to find and improve the look of your space. You can create a tidied and more organized environment without needing extra organizers.
3. Double Your Pantry Space
If you have limited space in your pantry, you can increase your storage by including shelves inside the pantry door. This easy solution can effectively double your storage space.
4. Place Kids’ Snacks at Eye Level
When you live with children, it helps to create snack zones they can easily access. Organizer Ashley Hines from Thee Tailored Life says, “Put approved snacks at a height that children can reach to help them be independent.” This change lets children serve themselves snacks and helps keep the pantry organized.
5. Illuminate Your Space
You might consider getting ideas from Chris Loves Julia for improving your pantry. They used automatic light switches in the door jamb that turn on when the doors open. This feature makes it easier to reach your pantry items and adds a nice touch to the design.
6. Use a Chic Cabinet for Storage
Don’t limit your kitchen storage to just the pantry. Instead, think about using a stylish cabinet as extra storage. This allows you to keep your food items or drinks organized and easily accessible.
7. Create Shelf Labels
Creating specific areas in your pantry can make it easier to find the items you use often. The Handmade Home uses traditional library drawer tags to organize and give each item a designated spot in the pantry.
8. Use Versatile Drawers
Drawers are a great way to organize your pantry. They help you store different items, like snacks and stacked plates, efficiently, reducing clutter. You can find ideas in this kitchen design by Lark Interiors.
9. Install Drawer Separators
To keep bottles, cans, and pantry items stable in a drawer, use drawer organizers to hold them in place. The team at Heidi Piron Design and Cabinetry has installed flexible dividers to stop liquor bottles from clinking together. These dividers also work well for items like food storage containers and cutting boards.
10. Install a Freezer
Having enough cold storage is important, especially if you buy in bulk from places like Costco. When your main refrigerator is full of leftovers, having another option is helpful. A freezer drawer in your pantry makes it easy to find essential items. This way, you can avoid digging through bags of frozen fruit to find what you need.
11. Install a Beverage Center
Consider organizing your beverage storage as carefully as your pantry does for dry goods. Adding a dedicated drinks center can make your morning coffee routine easier and increase your home’s value.
12. Hang a Pegboard
Instead of stacking heavy pots and pans, which can take up valuable shelf space, consider installing a pegboard on an empty wall. This option lets you display your strong kitchen items attractively and keeps them easy to reach.
13. Make Your Doors Useful
Many pantries, especially those with only cabinets, have unused space. One good way to add storage is by installing shelves inside cabinet drawers. This change can create a useful spot for organizing small items like spices and improve how your pantry works.
14. Stack Plastic Containers
Flat, stackable containers can help you use your pantry space more efficiently. They are great for storing grains, breadcrumbs, rice, and nuts. These custom containers slide out smoothly from the shelves, making it easy to access your items.
15. Keep Things Visible
Closed storage can help reduce visible clutter, but it can also make it hard to see and reach your items. To make your items more visible, consider using glass doors instead of solid ones.
16. Turn Shelves Into Drawers
Pull-out drawers are a great way to make the most of your pantry space. They keep everything, even items at the back like pasta sauce, easy to reach. To stay organized, sort your items by type for better storage. Also, Emily Henderson’s choice to paint the cabinets in this pantry area a dark green adds a stylish look to the design.
17. Use Woven Bins
Woven bins and baskets are popular for organizing spaces like playrooms, offices, and closets. You can also use them effectively in your pantry. Sort canned goods by category, such as tomato sauces and vegetables, so you can access them easily without lifting a lid. These containers can also hold items like napkins and tablecloths. The slanted shelves in this pantry, designed by Alice Lane Interior Design, help maximize storage depth.
18. Sort By Use
To make your pantry more efficient, keep items you use often close together. For example, you can store flour and brown sugar on a shelf above a stand mixer, where mixing bowls are stored. This setup can make cooking easier. Additionally, placing prep tools in a nearby cubby can improve accessibility and convenience.
19. Dedicate Each Shelf to a Purpose
In this organized kitchen pantry by Meta Coleman, each shelf has a specific use. The top shelf holds dry goods, the middle shelf is for condiments, and the bottom two shelves store snacks so children can reach them easily. Using matching baskets with clear labels helps reduce any confusion.
20. Organize by Color
Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin, founders of The Home Edit, are experts in organizing. They suggest a rainbow-themed method for organizing pantries. They recommend using clear storage containers against a white background. This makes the pantry look nicer and helps you find items easily.
21. Upgrade the Overhead Lighting
Interior designer Sara Malek Barney worked with Neat Method to create a stylish and functional kitchen pantry. She chose glass overhead lighting that matches the wallpaper and does not block it. This lighting improves the space’s brightness and makes it easier to access items.
22. Hang Up a Chalkboard
Chalkboards can be useful in places other than classrooms. You can put one in your kitchen pantry to keep track of what you have and what you need to buy. This simple idea can help you stay organized and work more efficiently.
23. Organize Spices
Set up a specific area for your spices to keep them stored in one easy-to-reach place. You can use spice jar labels to improve organization and make it easier to find what you need.
24. Hang a Spice Rack
Using a variety of spices can improve your cooking. However, it’s easy to confuse similar-looking spices if they are stored together. To solve this problem, try using vertical space for storage. You can install a spice rack on your pantry door or put it on the wall. This keeps your spices organized and easy to see, so you can quickly find your favorites.
25. Put Lids On The Door
Keeping your pots and pans organized is manageable, but storing their lids can be tricky. A door rack is a great solution. It keeps the lids easily accessible and neatly out of the way.
26. Transform an Unused Corner
If you don’t have a dedicated pantry room, use an empty corner in your kitchen or a nearby hallway. With some modular shelving, you can make a useful space. To make it look nice, organize items by color and add a stylish area rug for a polished touch.
27. Hang a Floating Cabinet
To create a practical and hidden way to store your spices, use a floating storage cabinet with a painted door. When the door is closed, it will blend in with your wall decor, keeping your space looking nice. You can achieve this look by simply painting the cabinet door or using wallpaper for a smooth finish.
28. Use a Lazy Susan
Are you looking for a way to use the corner space in your pantry more effectively? Try using Lazy Susans! This DIY pantry organization idea from Emily Allison of Decorchick shows you how to make your pantry more efficient. By adding circular shelves on your existing shelves, you can use every inch of space and create a more organized pantry.
29. Try a Shoe Holder
These organizers are not just for shoes. You can hang one on a pantry door to create a neat space. It’s a great way to store tea boxes, gravy mix envelopes, and other items that often pile up in the corners of your cabinets or slip through wire shelves.
30. Set Limits
Baskets, bins, and other organizing tools can make your pantry more efficient. However, don’t overfill them. Professional organizer Stephanie Treantos from Lemonaid Solutions says, “When a container reaches its limit, avoid cramming in more items.” It may seem okay to stack things on shelves for a little while, but this can create clutter over time as others use the space or when you’re in a rush. A more organized approach can help everyone have a functional environment.
31. Build in the Microwave
Blogger Arin Solange took a creative approach to her kitchen design by placing her microwave in the narrow pantry. This choice saves counter space and keeps the kitchen looking neat. It also helps enhance the appearance of the tall cabinets and creates a calm atmosphere in her kitchen.
32. Install a Sliding Door
A sliding door with glass panels makes the space more attractive and provides easy access to your pantry without taking up extra room. Inside the pantry, designer Jess Weeth of Weeth Home added a butcher-block counter to improve the prep area, along with a stylish brass rail for hanging pots and utensils.
33. Maximize Vertical Space
To make the most of your vertical space, consider extending your shelving all the way to the ceiling. This allows you to store appliances, tools, and ingredients that you don’t use often on higher shelves. Designer Kate Marker shows how effective this can be. Just remember to have a step stool handy for easy access when you need it.
34. Add a Rolling Ladder
If you have trouble reaching items on high shelves, think about adding a rolling ladder. This will make it easier to grab pots, pans, or spices while cooking. We also like the butcher block counter in this pantry; it provides a great space for preparing meals.
35. Install Frosted Pantry Doors
Improve the look of your closet-turned-pantry by adding frosted glass doors. This choice offers a soft view of the items inside while keeping any clutter hidden.
36. Add Decals to Jars
Organize your kitchen with decorative labels for flour, sugar, and other basics. Use a dry-erase marker to write the expiration date before moving the contents into the right container. This helps you manage your supplies better.
Conclusion
Organizing your pantry can greatly improve your daily routine. Group similar items together and use clear containers to see what you have. Make the best use of every bit of space. This will help reduce clutter and save you time and money.
A neat pantry encourages healthy eating and makes cooking more fun. Begin with small steps, stay consistent, and soon your pantry will be one of your favorite places in the kitchen!
Read also:
30 Small Closet Organization Ideas
40 Best Small Kitchen Storage and Organization Ideas
5 Smart Ways to Organize Under Your Kitchen Sink
My name is Mostarefa. I am an expert in home improvement. With 10 years of experience in the world of home improvement, I have started this blog to empower readers to make confident design choices and cultivate beautiful, functional living spaces. In this blog, I talk about trending home improvement ideas, as well as cleaning and organizing tips.