21 Game Changing Pantry Organization Tips That Will Make You Feel Like You Have Your Life Together
When it comes to organizing your pantry, it seems a lot harder than it is! Especially if you feel like you’re starting from square one.
Not to worry, I’m here to walk you through the process of creating the Pinterest pantry of your dreams! Even if you only implement three of these pantry organization tips, your pantry will still look 10x better than it did, trust me.
And after you see how easy it is to transform your pantry with these tips, you’ll be wishing you made these changes a whole lot sooner!
You’re going to learn the best practices for organizing your pantry from pantry organization tips, pantry organization tips and tricks, pantry organization tips and ideas, and more.
But we’re not just going to re-organize your pantry purely for aesthetics, we’re going implement a system to keep your pantry organized long term!
An organized pantry isn’t just about how it looks, but how functional and easy it is to use on a daily basis. So let’s get started!
This post is all about the best pantry organization tips that will make your pantry look unrecognizable in no time.
Best Pantry Organization Tips:
1. Zone Your Pantry
The first step to creating the most organized pantry is creating zones for different categories and groups of food.
There are some basic categories that you can use, but this is also something you’re going to want to customize and change up depending on your lifestyle and how often you use certain foods.
This is going to help you know exactly where to go when looking for certain food groups so there is no mystery involved!
The basic pantry zones:
- Baking
- Snacks
- Canned Goods
- Condiments
- Breakfast (oatmeal, cereal, etc.)
- Pasta / Rice
You’ll also want to consider where these zones are in your pantry. For items like snacks that you go to on the daily, you will want to use one of your more accessible shelves like one at eye level.
That way when you go to get a snack, you don’t need a step stool or you don’t need to kneel down to get a snack, it’s just right there ready for you to grab!
2. Use Clear Containers
Clear containers are easily one of the most effective ways to make your pantry look unrecognizable! Matching glass canisters will give you that cohesive and clean look.
And let’s be honest, a lot of the original packaging items come in aren’t very pretty. So getting rid of that bright ugly packaging is already doing a huge favor for the look of your pantry.
Clear organizers are the best for dry foods and ingredients so you’l be able to easily see what everything is.
I’ve found that reserving tall canisters for items you buy in bulk like flour, oats, and cereal is the way to go so you’re not constantly having to refill smaller containers.
Pro tip: Make sure the containers are air tight! Otherwise your food is going to get stale super quickly (and we definitely don’t want that!).
3. Label Everything
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Labels are EVERYTHING! I know that might sound extreme, but I promise you they will make such a noticeable difference.
If you want to achieve that Pinterest aesthetic pantry, minimalist labels will be your best friend! They’ll instantly make your pantry look clean and organized, not to mention they’ll help you find what you’re looking for super easily so you don’t have to rummage through your pantry to find what you’re looking for.
And if you want to DIY pantry labels, you can always use paint pens to write on the labels yourself (this idea really only works with glass containers).
4. Adjustable Shelving
Some pantries have adjustable shelving, and others don’t. It’s just the way it goes. But if you do have adjustable shelving in your pantry, this is definitely something you’re going to want to adjust to properly fit your items.
Some shelves you’ll want to be taller to fit the bigger containers and allow you to stack bins for double the storage space.
Other shelves that you use for items like spices are probably best if they’re shorter so you’re not wasting any vertical space.
Adjustable shelving is honestly like a super power for pantry organization, so don’t forget to use this to your advantage!
5. Line Shelves
Shelf liner will save you! It’s honestly just a good rule of thumb to line each pantry shelf. You won’t be able to see it unless you look super closely, so don’t worry about it ruining the aesthetic of your pantry. I promise, you won’t even notice it’s there!
But when it comes to spills and messes, it will save your butt! Instead of having a permanently damaged (or stained) pantry shelf, you’ll just be able to clean off the shelf liner (you can easily clean it in the sink with warm water and soap).
This is one step that you’ll be so glad you didn’t ignore!
6. Lazy Susans (Turntables)
If you’re not using Lazy Susans for pantry organization, you’re seriously missing out! When it comes to condiments, spices, and oils, a Lazy Susan will be your best bet for not only keeping them organized, but super accessible.
This will also help you from losing condiments in the back of your pantry and buying duplicates because you can’t actually see what’s in your pantry.
The double tiered Lazy Susan is great if you’re working with more vertical space or have smaller condiments to store. Anywhere you can sneak in an extra level of storage is a major win!
7. Baskets & Bins
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Even though it would look super aesthetic and pretty to take everything out of its original packaging, let’s face it, it’s just not always practical or within budget.
So for items like chips and crackers, or individually packaged snacks that you want to keep as is, baskets will help you hide their ugly packaging. 😉
Now if the original packaging doesn’t bother you, clear bins and wire bins will be your best friend (they’re also usually a lot cheaper). Wire baskets like the ones above are also super good for storing extra produce that you don’t want out on the counter.
But for items that you want completely hidden, wicker baskets will do the trick and make your pantry look effortlessly organized and cohesive.
With wicker baskets, you might want to get clip on labels so you know exactly what’s inside the basket. Otherwise it can get a little confusing when there are ten wicker baskets that look identical!
8. Tiered Shelf Risers
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Shelf risers are not only good for making use of vertical space in your pantry, but they’re the best way to store canned goods and spices so you know exactly what you have in your pantry.
You would be surprised how much room you can free up in your pantry just by not buying duplicate items. With the right system, you won’t have to guess what items you have.
You’ll be able to just glance at your pantry and know everything you have. Functionality goes hand in hand with an organized pantry. If it’s functional and you have a good system going, you’ll have a much easier time keeping everything organized (which is the goal!).
9. Over-the-Door Organizers
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Don’t forget about your pantry door! It’s basically free storage. You can definitely go the over-the-door organizer route, which will be super helpful if you need a lot more storage space.
You can also use adhesive acrylic shelves on the inside of your pantry door to make a DIY spice rack. Because the truth is, your spices are probably taking up a ton of space in your pantry or kitchen.
So this is an easy way to get back some valuable real estate while still keeping them within easy reach!
10. Stackable Bins
Stackable bins are a no brainer for making use of vertical space in your pantry while keeping everything super visible! If you’re storing produce or other items that you want to be able to easily grab on the daily, the open stackable bins will get the job done.
For extras or items that you don’t need to get to very often, the regular stackable bins are a good option. These bins are also great for that empty floor space in your pantry that you don’t know what to do with.
You can never have enough storage in your pantry!
11. Use Deep Bins
A lot of people have more vertical pantries with deeper shelves. Which is both a blessing and a curse (if this is your pantry layout you know what I’m talking about 🤦♀️).
The easiest way to make this layout functional is simply by using deep bins. These bins tend to be pretty narrow so you can fit more on one shelf.
The best way to go about this is by being super good with keeping everything categorized and grouped as similarly as possible.
That way you know exactly what is in the back of the bin and you’re more aware of what you already have in your pantry.
12. Make Use of Wasted Space
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You might be thinking, “Mable, what wasted space? I’m using up my entire pantry already!” and that may be true. But there are definitely some spots that are golden nuggets of storage space just waiting to be used.
The very top of your pantry will usually have a bigger shelf that can fit larger items or baskets. The same goes for the space in between the bottom shelf and floor of your pantry.
A lot of people kind of neglect these spaces because they’re harder to get to. But that just makes them the perfect spots for extra appliances that you don’t use on the regular and bigger baskets that can hold extra items and paper goods.
Don’t leave any pantry space up for grabs!
13. Create Extra Storage
If you have an open wall in your pantry, this could be the perfect place for an extra organizer! A utility cart is a great way to give yourself quite a bit of extra room for superfluous items, paper goods, or extras that just don’t have a home anywhere in your pantry.
But if a regular utility cart sticks out from the wall too much, there is also a narrow option that has less storage, but can easily fit into tight spaces and corners.
Even if it’s small, any extra storage will help you out a ton! The less crowded your pantry is, the easier it is to keep it organized and under control.
14. First In, First Out (FIFO)
This pantry organization tip does require maintenance, but it’s completely fool proof! This system is one of the easiest ways to make sure items in your pantry aren’t expiring before you’re using them.
Every time you go to the grocery store and add in food to your pantry, make sure the newer items go in the back.
Because let’s be honest, even if you tell yourself you need to take items from the back or look at dates to make sure you’re using the can of beans that has the closest expiration date, we all get a little bit lazy sometimes and just grab the first one we see.
Taking a couple extra minutes when you’re putting away groceries to keep the FIFO system going, will be so worth it in the long run! It’ll also help you be a lot less wasteful and make pantry clean-outs a breeze!
15. Backstock Zone
Designate a bin or two for extra items or duplicates that you like to have extras of. So when you use an item on the shelf, you know exactly where to go to restock it.
It will also help you from overcrowding your shelves with duplicates that you just don’t have room for.
16. Child-Friendly Shelf
If you have children, they’re probably a big source of your messy pantry. We all know they’re not always the most thoughtful when it comes to putting things back where they’re supposed to go.😂
So for your sanity, create an easy-to-reach shelf for them that’s dedicated to their foods, or at least the ones they reach for the most.
That way they don’t have to grab a step stool or ask you to grab something for them every time they want something to eat.
And when it comes to organizing their snacks, plastic containers are usually a better option so if they drop anything or knock any of the containers over, they won’t break.
The glass containers are better suited for the higher shelves that are out of their reach.
17. Add a Pantry Inventory System
If you want to take your pantry organization one step further to make sure your pantry actually stays organized, a good pantry inventory system will be your saving grace!
Lucky for you, I’ve got you covered! You can your very own pantry inventory printable below…
This is the pantry inventory I use to keep my own pantry organized, and it seriously keeps me sane! Make it into a habit to check and write items down in your pantry inventory tracker, and you will thank yourself later.
18. Designated Pantry Whiteboard
If you have space for a whiteboard in your pantry, it will defiantly help with the whole organizational aspect! You can write down grocery lists, and items that you already have enough or too much of to make sure nothing is going in your pantry that isn’t necessary.
It will also save you from forgetting to add items to your grocery list that you really needed.
It’s just easier when you have something right there in your pantry, so as you’re looking for items or thinking about what you need for the upcoming week, you can just write it down right then and there.
For those of use that don’t have the space for a whiteboard in out pantry, this acrylic magnetic list easily stick onto your fridge so you can add to your grocery list throughout the week as things come to mind. And don’t worry, of course it’s aesthetic and minimal. 😉
19. Lighting Upgrade
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This is definitely not a must-have for pantry organization, but if you want to showcase your beautifully organized pantry, adding some kind of lighting system will do wonders!
These light strips are super easy to attach to the bottom of your pantry shelves to easily get that extra lighting. It’s also super nice when you go to get something in the pantry when it’s dark out to have lights that allow you to see everything.
It’s such a gorgeous finishing touch that makes all of the difference!
20. Seasonal Swaps
This is another extra recommendation that might be helpful for some, and not worth it for others.
But for holiday seasons, if you find yourself baking more, rotating your pantry zones so that all of your baking items are front and center. It’s honestly super easy to rotate zones, and worth it if items that you find yourself using a ton during a certain season aren’t within easy reach.
It’s completely up to you, but this is just one more way you can customize your pantry layout to make it work for you!
Remember, the easier it is for you to find what you need in your pantry, the easier it will be to stick with your system and actually keep your pantry organized long term.
21. Make it Pretty
I’m sure we all wish we could just snap our fingers like Mary Poppins and “make it pretty”. But in the meantime, there are a couple easy ways and tweaks we can make to give our pantries a more aesthetic look (without much effort).
This ultimately comes down to the details. Things like matching your appliances and having a color scheme for your kitchen will automatically make everything look more put-together.
Matching containers is another big one! We already talked about using clear containers, but making all of those containers match is a whole different thing.
You’re probably going to need different sized containers for different items, so making sure they all look pretty much the same is what is going to give your pantry a super clean look.
For example, if you have round canisters for dry ingredients, make sure the rest of your canisters are round like for your spices.
I know, easier said than done. But if anything, this is something you can constantly work on. Replace original packaging with canisters little by little, until your pantry looks like it came straight off of Pinterest!
Another easy way to make your pantry look “pretty” is by adding in little pieces of decor here and there. Maybe a faux plant on one shelf, a cookbook on a gold cookbook stand on another, etc.
It doesn’t have to be anything too crazy, just a couple of finishing touches to make your pantry look just a little cuter!
This post was all about the best pantry organization tips that will make your pantry look unrecognizable in no time.
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