A well-organized pantry is a game-changer for any home chef. As you know, it’s all too easy for the pantry to become an out-of-sight, out-of-mind catchall for half-empty containers, spare plastic bags, and more unnecessary clutter. No matter if you have small corner to fill or an entire kitchen closet at your disposal, designating a unique spot to store all of your canned goods, baking ingredients, and speciality kitchen appliances is important. Browse through these pantry organization ideas to inspire you to get your shelves in order, so that cooking weeknight dinners, putting away groceries, and packing snacks for school lunches can finally be as easy as opening the pantry door. Best of all: Most of these clever tips and tricks — custom labeled containers, especially — can work in the rest of your kitchen, so you can keep the organized flow going.
No matter if your pantry is out in the open or closed off in a room, take advantage of vertical wall space by scattering 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.
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!
SHOP SLIDING ORGANIZERS
Cover up the inevitable clutter by installing frosted glass doors to the closet-turned-pantry. That way you can get a glimpse of the colors tucked inside without a clear view of the mess.
If you’re using a storage cabinet as a pantry, make sure to load the drawers with spare linens, utensils, and containers full of baking supplies for easy reach. Label each container on the top, so you can easily see what’s inside without having to dig.
Make the pantry doors more functional with chalkboard paint or contact paper, so you can write down grocery lists, important reminders, and sweet notes to your family members.
SHOP CONTACT PAPER
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.
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.
SHOP CAN ORGANIZERS
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 in a glass cabinet. An added bonus: It doubles as decoration.
Take advantage of any spare kitchen space by adding a set of industrial wire shelves. You can soften the look with baskets in natural materials.
SHOP WIRE SHELVES
Tuck neatly arranged snacks and ingredients behind this farmhouse classic. When guests come over, just slide the doors shut to conceal the mess.
SHOP BARN DOOR KIT
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.
SHOP CANISTER DECALS
Set yourself up for success by giving every basket, container, and bin an easy-to-read, interchangeable label. Same goes for your trash and recycling bins.
For a rustic farmhouse look, scan thrift and antique stores for wooden soda crates to corral like items that go together.
Line the walls of your pantry with a favorite pattern to instantly jazz up the space. By having a pretty background visible, there’s a chance you’ll be motivated to keep contents in order.
SHOP WALLPAPER
Store cans and spices on bleacher-style shelves (whether built-in or purchased) that allow you to easily see the label of each item.
SHOP 3-TIER SHELVES
Stock up on jars large and small for all your storage needs. You can even take the jars to grocery stores that sell bulk staples like grains and beans to purchase food at a lower price than its prepackaged counterpart.
SHOP STORAGE JARS
Hampers aren’t just for laundry! Use them for larger items, like reusable shopping bags, in your pantry.
SHOP ROLLING HAMPERS
Increase your available shelf space and allow for easy access to your items with a two-tiered Lazy Susan.
SHOP LAZY SUSANS
Store dry goods against a colorful background to make your pantry instantly appear more orderly.
Don’t let any space go to waste! Store condiments, spices, and other small items in a rack on the back of the door.
SHOP BACK-OF-DOOR ORGANIZERS
