10 Kitchen Pantry Organization Hacks

Kitchen Pantry Storage Hacks

The Best Storage Containers for Your Pantry

Let’s start with the obvious of the Kitchen Pantry Organization Hacks: What containers should you use for storing food in your pantry? Consider see-through containers, preferably glass, rather than plastic, with labels. Create a space for some empty extras to keep within arms’ reach. You can also use vertical door storage for lids to pots and pans and extra containers (but more on that in a minute!). You’ll also want a mix of different types of containers to make it easy to differentiate. Some lightweight baskets are a good idea as well, as long as everything is labeled.

You can even DIY – we recently wrote this fun post on what to do with all those empty glass water bottles – using them for pantry storage is a great option. Check out more of our DIY projects for empty water bottles here.

9. Lazy Susans Optimize Corner Space in Your Pantry Cabinets

If you’re not planning to build out a brand new, state of the art pantry, but rather, are looking to make the most of the storage and shelving that already exist, here is one of the best pieces of advice I could give you: Utilize lazy susans as storage in corner shelves to completely maximize the space.

If you are planning on building brand new — check out these tips for upgrading and making your kitchen eco-friendly!

8. Vertical & Flat Storage in Your Pantry

If you’re truly maximizing your vertical space, it may behoove you to think of the pantry like a food library and keep a step ladder accessible and tucked away. To truly get organized, you want to switch your thinking: Infrequently used, non-perishables shouldn’t go to ‘the back of the shelf’ but rather, ‘the top shelf.’ Think vertical! Hang oven mitts as well. Shower racks make great produce racks. Cutting boards can also be strapped to cabinet walls.

If you’re liking these tips, a lot of similar ones (with a few adjustments) apply to closets! We wrote in-depth about how to organize everything in your closet. You can check that out here.

7. How to Build Shelving in Your Pantry

Shallow Shelving – don’t want things to get forgotten about on the back of a deep shelf. Also maximize your ability to walk around,if you have the space. Don’t forget shelf liners! It will make your life so much easier when it comes time to clean. LIners you can either throw away or throw in the dishwasher.

Additional Kitchen Pantry Organization Hacks:

Alternative Uses for Your Pantry Beyond Storage.

Work Space in a Walk-In Pantry

A Place for Smaller Appliances – another benefit of maximizing the space you have to walk around, is that you can design your pantry with space for smaller appliances. Consider hiding the blender, toaster, and microwave in the pantry. If you have the space, including a small-space island in a walk-in pantry with open shelving or storage underneath is a great place to create a prep station and store some cookbooks, and perhaps even a microwave or blender.

5. Lighting & Electricity in Your Kitchen Pantry

Electric: Outlets and Lighting. If you have a naturally lit bright pantry with windows, amazing! Most of the job is done. But generally these are dark, closet-like spaces without much natural light so task lighting is going to be very important if you plan to actually use the space. Under cabinet lighting is a great option, as well as some over head lighting like recessed canned lights or a flush mount work well in this space. We write about lighting A LOT – a whole lot! If you want to delve more in depth with planning lighting schemes, we suggest you start with checking out this post here.

4. Roll It Around!

Put containers touching the ground on wheels, like crates or your trash can. This will make moving them about the space even easier. Consider a rolling cart or, if you have the space, an island on locking wheels that you can easily roll out of the way if you need more space.

On a complete cleaning spree? Check out our whole-house deep-cleaning check list post here or this one here for clean decor updates for Spring!

Designing Your Pantry for Maximum Efficiency

3. Access to Everything Non-Food Related

Keep cleaning products at Hands Reach in Your Pantry, Use tension rods to organize cutting boards and pots and pans’ lids, again, adhering to the vertical organization rule! Utilize the space behind the door as well — I’ve seen lots of tutorials suggesting hanging storage for canned goods behind the door, which is a great idea if you have the space, otherwise, a space-saving alternative would be to hang a broom and dustpan for easy access.

2. Easy Grocery List

Keep a white board or clipboard on the wall with an ongoing grocery list. Having it by the door, at eye level will help get you into the routine of adding items to the list the moment you run out.

1. Keep Colors Simple and Bright

Beautiful, Pinterest photos of wallpapered pantries in bold prints always catch my eye, but upon further consideration, they’re often impractical. The pantry is something you use everyday, but not somewhere you spend great amounts of time in– it’s all about efficiency: how easily can you get in, get what you need, and get out? From a design perspective, one of the easiest things you can do is not overthink or be experimental with color and pattern in this space. Keep it simple in your pantry: A bright white coat of paint will do!

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