In most houses, the pantry is one of the fastest spaces to become disorganized – after all, it’s constantly in use. Between grabbing snacks, cooking meals, and hastily putting things back wherever there’s room, it’s easy for clutter to take over. Plus, with groceries coming in all shapes and sizes, items can quickly get buried or forgotten. Without a clear system (or people actually following it!), pantry chaos is inevitable. Ahead, I’m sharing practical methods to help you organize your pantry and create a system that works, even in a small space.
1. Start with a Pantry Declutter
First things first, take everything out. Yes, everything. Toss anything expired, donate unopened food you won’t use, and group similar items together. You’ll probably find duplicates you forgot you had — looking at you, three bags of flour!
2. Use Clear Bins to Control the Chaos
Clear storage bins are lifesavers for small pantries. Use them to group snacks, baking essentials, pasta, or breakfast items together. This makes it easy to see and grab what you need without digging through a pile of boxes.
3. Make the Most of Vertical Space
Small pantry? Think up. Installing extra shelves that allow you use stackable bins will help you make more out of your pantry space. An over-the-door organizer is also a great vertical option to store smaller items like spices, packets, and napkins.
4. Invest in Lazy Susans for Awkward Corners
If you have deep shelves or tricky corners, a Lazy Susan (rotating turntable) can prevent items from getting lost in the back. Lazy Susan’s are perfect for sauces, condiments, and oils! Simply spin it around to reach your desired item.
5. Use Matching Containers (Only Where It Makes Sense)
Decanting flour, sugar, and cereal into clear, airtight containers helps keep them fresh and prevents spills. It also looks very aesthetic. But don’t feel pressured to transfer everything — sometimes the original packaging works just fine! For example, If there’s a space or cart to organise your cereal boxes which, by the way, are typically of the same size, then don’t worry about decanting.
6. Label Everything (So No One Asks You Where Stuff Is)
Labeling keeps things organized and makes sure everyone in the household knows where things go. You can use sticker labels, a chalk marker, or even simple masking tape if you want a no-fuss approach.
7. Keep Everyday Essentials at Eye Level
Store frequently used items (like snacks, coffee, or pasta) at eye level so they’re easy to grab. Lesser-used items, like extra paper towels or backup supplies, can go on the higher shelves.
8. Store Bulk Items Elsewhere
If you buy in bulk, keep the extras in a separate storage space, like a cabinet, basement, or garage. Keep only what you need for the week in the pantry to avoid overcrowding.
9. Use an Over-the-Door Organizer for Extra Storage
10. Do a Weekly Quick Tidy-Up
If you forget everything else, don’t forget this! To keep your pantry from becoming a disaster zone again, spend five minutes each week tidying up. Only 5 minutes! And you’ld see that a little upkeep goes a long way in keeping things neat and preventing another pantry purge six months down the line!
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