Yahoo Lifestyle The Genius Way to Organize Your Pantry Without Spending a Ton of Money
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Let's face it: A pantry can easily become an unsightly clutter zone. Between the kids' snacks, baking supplies and appliances, it can be hard to figure out the best way to keep it all in order. Here, some of our favorite organizing experts and DIY pros reveal their go-to pantry organization ideas to make the most of every inch, even if you're working with a tiny cabinet in your kitchen setup.
You can try decanting items into matching glass jars for a cohesive look, labeling bins to find what you need in a pinch and reserving upper shelves for appliances that you don’t use daily. We've also included tips on utilizing spice racks, door and wall space and choosing the best organizing solutions for things like canned goods and fresh produce. Plus, we've sprinkled in pantry organization hacks for must-haves like food storage containers.
So, get ready to create the pantry of your dreams. You’ll find tons of genius ideas for small spaces as well as walk-in pantries.
Illuminate Your Space
Take a cue from Chris Loves Julia and install lights to make it easy to find your pantry essentials. These bloggers went with auto light switches in the door jamb. As soon as the doors open, the lights immediately turn on, adding a chic touch to the overall design.
Stack Breakables on Risers
For this pantry that Urban OrgaNYze's Laura Kinsella designed for a family of four, "acrylic shelf risers double the usable space without distracting from the stunning dishware and serving pieces." Kinsella then placed special-occasion dishes higher in the cabinet and created zones on lower shelves for everyday pieces.
Set Limits
Baskets, bins and other organizing solutions can make a pantry more efficient, but don't overload them. Once the container is full, it’s full—no more cramming," says professional organizer Stephanie Treantos of Lemonaid Solutions. "You might think leaving things stacked on shelves will work short-term, but it’ll only create clutter as others start using the space or when you're in a rush."
Install a Vintage Shelf
One of the easiest ways to add character to a space is with vintage finds. Michael of Inspired by Charm thrifted a vintage wooden shelf and dressed it up with pantry staples and a few potted plants.
Consider Shelf Depth
While deep shelves are a huge plus for any pantry, if you're not careful, they can also make it hard to find things. To make it easy to access items, Cami of Tidbits & Company outfitted her RV's compact pantry with long clear containers for condiments, juice boxes and more.
Elevate Your Beverage Station
Start your morning off right with a well-organized coffee or tea station. Professional organizer Laura Cattano doesn't just keep her everyday cups and appliances within reach — she added a drawer especially for tea bags, coffee pods and sweeteners. "The deep clear plastic bins, labeled by the type of tea, makes choosing your favorite easy," Cattano says.
Place Kids' Snacks at Eye Level
If you live with children, it pays to carve out kid-friendly snack zones. "Place approved snacks at a child-friendly level to promote independence," says organizer Ashley Hines of Thee Tailored Life. "This simple adjustment helps little ones grab their own snacks while maintaining pantry organization."
Build in the Microwave
Instead of letting her microwave take up much-needed space on the kitchen counter, blogger Arin Solange decided to build it right into her narrow pantry. It adds a sleek touch to the floor-to-ceiling cabinetry and makes her kitchen "feel less chaotic."
Stack Clear Bins
Keep it simple with clear bins that can be stacked on shelves to save even more space. "They help to maximize vertical space and keep categories visible and easy to access," says Atlanta-based organizer Kenika Williams of Tidied by K.
Make Use of Wall Space
When you have a small setup, every bit of space counts. Ursula Carmona of Homemade by Carmona decided to install a wall-mounted organizer for things like vacuums and brooms. It frees up floor space and prevents the pantry from feeling too cluttered.
Take Inventory
You'll never run out of an item again with this simple tip. Bless'er House keeps an inventory list on a wall in her pantry, so she always knows exactly what needs to be replenished.
Hide Pantry Items in Wicker Baskets
From baking supplies and fresh produce to extra paper towels, corral kitchen essentials in baskets to minimize clutter in your pantry. In case you forget what's what, be sure to label bins and jars, as Anastasia Casey of The Interior Collective does here.
Group Food by Type
Treat your pantry like a grocery store, putting similar items nearby. Designate areas for breakfast items, like cereal and oatmeal, plus canned goods, condiments and packages goods, such as pasta or rice. Here, Pearce Design Group puts canned beverages and non-food items down below.
Install a Sliding Door
Not only does a sliding door with glass panels exude charm, it provides easy access to your pantry without taking up additional space. Inside, designer Jess Weeth of Weeth Home installs a butcher-block counter for extra prep space and a brass rail for hanging pots and utensils.
Use a Mix of Storage
After blogger Elsie Larson painted her pantry a pretty pink, she layered in storage solutions, including woven baskets, metal bins, food storage containers and a canned goods organizer. Then, she tucks away a small stepping stool to make top shelves more accessible.
See more at A Beautiful Mess »
Decant Items Into Glass Jars
Stock up on large and small jars for your storage needs. You can even take the jars to a local grocery store that sells bulk staples, like grains and beans. These clear food containers really pop against bright blue shelves and botanical wallpaper, courtesy of 27 South Home Design.
RELATED: The Best Food Storage Containers, Tested by Experts
Carve Out Space for Small Appliances
Clear clutter from countertops by storing small appliances — like the Crockpot, waffle maker and food processor — in the pantry. According to Laura Kinsella, founder of Urban OrgaNYze, reorganizing is also the perfect time to take stock of what you've got and get rid of any appliances you don't use.
Use Mesh Drawers for Food Storage
Here, Ellen Lopez of El Design Studio opts for open shelving on top and closed storage down below. Everyday ingredients and snacks are stored in glass jars and canisters, then mesh drawers are used for storing produce like onions and potatoes.
Maximize Vertical Space
Take shelving all the way to the ceiling, storing infrequently used appliances, tools and ingredients up top, just as designer Kate Marker does here. Just don't forget to keep a stepping stool handy.
Add a Rolling Ladder
Worried about reaching the top shelf? Install a rolling ladder that makes it easy to grab pots and pans or spices as you cook. We love that this pantry has a butcher block counter, so you can use it for prep, too.
RELATED: Open Kitchen Shelving Ideas to Revamp Your Cooking Space
Don't Forget to Label Everything
Detailed labels will save you from rummaging through every bin and basket when it's time to grab something you don't use often. Plus, it's important to label spices and baking supplies (you don't want to mix up sugar and salt).
Reimagine a Closet
For a compact closet layout, keep spices, cans and everyday snacks in acrylic organizers and storage bins. This maximizes space and makes packing school lunches a breeze. Meanwhile, cereal, pasta, rice and beans can be placed in clear containers to preserve their freshness. They're also aesthetically-pleasing and make it easy to see if you're running low and need to stock up.
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Dress the Door With Shelves
Don't let any space go to waste! Store condiments, spices and other small items in a rack on the back of the door. You'll be surprised at just how many items can fit.
Keep Baking Supplies Within Reach
Transfer common ingredients — flour, sugar, brown sugar, pasta and so on — into large glass jars with lids, and place them on the middle shelf for easy access. On the shelf above, arrange small glass jars full of more specialized ingredients, like spices, nuts and dried fruit.
Hang a Spice Rack
When it comes to cooking, you can never have too many spices. It's easy to confuse your preferred spice with another, especially if they're the same color and jumbled together in the drawer or cabinet. To avoid this, take advantage of vertical space. Hanging a spice rack on your pantry door, or stick it on the wall inside. Everything will be upright, so it's easy to see your go-to spices all at once.
RELATED: Best Spice Rack Ideas to Save on Kitchen Counter Space
Arrange Baskets High and Low
No matter if your pantry is out in the open or closed off in a dedicated room, leverage vertical wall space by positioning baskets on high and low shelves. Place seasonal items in the baskets up high (Christmas cookie cutters, for example) and kid-friendly essentials down below.
Organize Drawers With Labeled Bins
It's no surprise that stocking up on food items can keep shopping trips to a minimum. The downside: Drawers might become crowded if you don't take extra time to organize. Try placing 16"-deep bins in your pantry's bottom drawer and label them. This will save time searching for desired spices, sauces and condiments.
RELATED: Best Kitchen Drawer Organizers, According to Organization Pros
Design a Hidden Pantry
Designer Kate Marker devised a secret pantry cabinet in this kitchen and chose a deep green shade to make it a focal point of the space. Replicate the nifty look to store coffee essentials. Here, a Native Trails Malibu sink and a compact counter workspace offer enough room to prep food. Mugs, jars, cutting boards and more are placed on the interior shelves, while the back of the doors offer extra storage.
Divide Cabinets Vertically
Divide and conquer! Tray dividers are simple yet effective ways to organize cutting boards, pizza pans and baking sheets. They'll work well in base cabinets, pantry cabinets or any deep upper cabinet spaces.
Opt for Pull-Out Drawers
Rather than leaving the space below shelves empty, fill it with pull-out wire shelves, perfect for storing your kid's favorite snacks and lunch supplies. They're a kid-appropriate height, too!
Install Frosted Pantry Doors
Cover up the inevitable clutter by installing frosted glass doors to the closet-turned-pantry. That way, you can get a glimpse of the items tucked inside without a clear view of the mess.
Take Cans and Jars Off Shelves
From up above, all jars and cans look exactly the same. When you arrange them by category — fruits, veggies, sauces and more — in a pull-out wire shelf, you can find exactly what you need without the hassle.
See more at Fresh Mommy Blog »
Transform a Glass Cabinet
Even if you don't have a designated pantry closet or room, you can still keep all of your non-perishable goods neat and tidy. Just stick everything in baskets and jars, and place them in a glass cabinet. An added bonus: It doubles as decor.
See more at A Bowl Full of Lemons »
Paint Walls a Bright Color
Store dry goods against a colorful background to make your pantry instantly appear more orderly. Get creative with countertops to add contrast to the now-brightened space.
Add Decals to Jars
Keep track of what's what with cute, decorative decals marking flour, sugar and more. Pro tip: Use a dry-erase marker to write down the expiration date before you decant it into the container.
Use Vintage Soda Crates for Storage
For a rustic farmhouse look, scan thrift and antique stores for wooden soda crates to corral like items. These crates come in all shapes and sizes, making them a unique and functional addition to a pantry.
See more at Alison Kandler Interior Design »
Enhance Space With a Lazy Susan
Increase your available shelf space and allow for easy access to items with a two-tiered Lazy Susan. Featuring a smooth, rotating design, you'll see all of your necessities at a glance.
Build Cubby Shelves
Cubby shelves, rather than wall-to-wall shelves, make it easier to place like items together. Divide spices, ingredients and food into different categories to fill each cubby.
Add Inspiring Wallpaper
Line the walls of your pantry with graphic patterned wallpaper to instantly jazz up the space. By having a pretty background visible, there's a chance you'll be motivated to keep your contents in order day after day.
See more at Jesse Turek Design »
Fill Tiered Shelves
Store cans and spices on bleacher-style shelves (whether built-in or purchased) that allow you to easily see the label of each item. You'll never have to worry about using salt instead of sugar!
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