I’m sure we’ve all been there, you’re trying to figure out what to make for dinner, but the hardest part is… we don’t even know what we have in the pantry. Between boxes strewn about, almost-empty containers, and extra bottles of salad dressing because we bought more when we couldn’t find the extras already in the cupboard. Since we spend so much time in the kitchen, it just makes sense to create a space that makes you smile when you open the pantry. The plus, it’s not a hard space to get set up!
Start with the hardest part and empty out your pantry, tossing expired goods and wiping down the shelves as you go. From here, it’s all uphill!
1. Be wise and categorize.
Every item in your pantry should have a place to call home. Group like items with like, such as baking items together, canned goods grouped together, and a specified place your kids can find their snacks. It makes locating what you need so much easier, and will help you keep it clean in the long run.
2. Location, Location, Location.
Where you put your goods matters. Store items you use less often out of the way, while the items you need daily should be front and center.
3. Containers are your friend.
Decant as many goods as you can into glass jars, not only does it look great and clears up space from all those cardboard boxes, but it also helps you to easily see when you’re getting low on something you use often. It also helps to use expandable shelves to maximize space, like pull-out spice racks for your spices and drawers for rows of canned goods. Think of the functionality when selecting storage solutions for your pantry. For example, storying kids’s good in non-glass containers, easy-to-reach-in baskets for those on-the-go items and airtight storage to ensure freshness!
4. Make it pretty.
Now clearly this isn’t a requirement for making your pantry look large, but it definitely helps when you have a space you want to look at! I have also noticed that my family and I are much more likely to keep a space put together if it’s pleasant to look at. In fact, we want to add a glass or screen door to the pantry — so keeping it pretty and organized is important!
5. Step up.
Since you’re going to be using all of your vertical space and keeping your non-essentials in a less accessible space, stash a step stool nearby so you can still get to those higher shelves when needed.
My organized pantry makes me SO happy! Are you ready for an organized pantry? We’d love to hear your tips and tricks, so leave us a comment below!