If your kitchen pantry feels cluttered, overstuffed, or impossible to keep tidy, you’re not alone. Pantries often become the dumping ground for groceries, snacks, baking supplies, bulk items, tupperware, and even random kitchen items that you don’t know where to put (so you put them in the pantry). Before you know it, things are falling over, expiring, getting forgotten or lost altogether.
The good news? You don’t need a fancy pantry renovation to create more space and organization at home. With a few simple adjustments and some thoughtful habits, you can turn your pantry into a clean, functional space that’s easy to maintain and easy to use. Ready to discover how to organize a pantry? Let's jump right in!
1. Start With a Pantry Reset
Before organizing, take everything out of your pantry. Yes—everything! This step makes it easier to see what you actually have and gives you a clean slate to work with.
As you go through items:
This step alone can free up more space than you expect. It will also give you some insight into new habits you can benefit from moving forward.
2. Group Similar Items Together
One of the simplest pantry organization tricks is grouping items by category. When everything has a ‘home’, it’s so much easier to keep things tidy and organized.
Common pantry groupings include:
A major benefit of grouping items is that it helps prevent overbuying because you can quickly see what you already have. Life is expensive enough, so saving on unnecessary purchases will have a positive impact on your bank account.
3. Use Clear Containers Where It Makes Sense
Transferring your pantry staples into clear containers is a popular organization method. Why the hype? It helps reduce visual clutter, keeps food fresh, and makes it easy to see when you’re running low.
So, what should go into clear containers? These pantry items are great candidates:
Tip - Uniform containers help maximize shelf space and make your pantry look instantly cleaner and more organized. Be sure to label everything clearly. A label maker is helpful, but masking tape and a permanent marker works too if you have neat printing.
4. Make Shelves Work Smarter
Pantry shelves often waste vertical space, which is often under-utilized in general home organization. To make the most of the pantry space that you have, follow these tips:
Tip: Lazy Susans are also great for oils, sauces, and condiments, making items easier to reach without knocking things over.
6. Create a Simple System for Restocking
An organized pantry stays organized when there’s a system in place. A good system is not complicated and needs to be easy to follow and implement. A few helpful habits to adopt are:
These small habits go a long way in keeping your pantry clutter-free. They also help prevent wasted spend on items you do not need. They also help you keep the rest of your kitchen from getting cluttered and disorganized.
6. Seasonal & Bulk Items
If you buy in bulk, entertain often, or store seasonal cooking items, your pantry can fill up fast. Items like extra dishes, large appliances, party supplies, or specialty cookware don’t need to live in your pantry year-round.
Helpful solutions include:
We hope this pantry organization tips have been helpful and have inspired you to make some changes!
Even a well-organized kitchen and pantry have limits. If you’re storing bulk purchases, seasonal kitchen items, or small appliances you only use a few times a year, it may make sense to store them elsewhere…or it may make sense to store other stuff in your home that you use even less to make the space you need.
A self-storage rental can give your home the breathing room it needs, while still allowing you to keep the items you love and use occasionally.
If you’re looking for safe, secure, and affordable self-storage, consider Storage Solutions!
We offer a wide range of storage unit sizes and types across our five convenient locations:
We make renting storage simple & easy:
Our goal is to make self-storage simple, safe, and affordable—so you can get the most out of your space at home. If you have questions about renting storage, contact us by phone, text or email. We’d be able to help you! We also have lots of tips, advice, and knowledge on self-storage, so like or follow us on Instagram & Facebook.
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