We recently moved into a house that has a legit, dedicated pantry. It's not gigantic or elaborate, but coming from someone who has never had a proper space to store food, drinks, and kitchen gadgets, I think the pantry is a dream come true. My 7-year-old daughter calls in magical.
In our tiny apartment in San Francisco, we used a dining room cabinet as our pantry. In our last house in Corte Madera, California, I stored food in the garage—until a mischievous rat made his way into the bag of Pirate Booty. My friend Ivana lives in a beautiful Arts and Crafts home in Oakland, California, and she turned her entryway coat closet into a pantry. It's otherwise known as her "clantry," and it's fantastic.
No matter how big or small your pantry is, proper storage and organizational systems will help maximize its functionality. Here are my favorite eight pantry organizing essentials that will significantly amplify your space.
Lazy Susans
With the addition of a Lazy Susan, you can easily access the cans, jars, and bottles that were once hidden in the back. Grouping similar items on the Lazy Susan also ensures you're always aware of what you have, preventing any surprises when you're running low on a particular item. It's a simple solution that can bring a lot of relief to your pantry organization.
Shelf Organizers
Organizing shelf units are a game-changer. They allow you to view everything you have in one glance, eliminating the risk of items getting buried in the corners. My go-to pantry organization strategy is to combine shelf organizers with one or two Lazy Susans, depending on how I plan to group items. This approach has proven to be highly effective in maintaining a well-organized pantry.
Beware. Many shelf organizers do not fit larger canned goods. My large can of tomatoes hangs slightly over the edge; sometimes, that bugs me.
1. Large Expand-A-Shelf | 2. Non-Skid 3-Tier Spice Pantry Kitchen Cabinet Organizer | 3. Expandable Kitchen Organizer
Under-shelf storage baskets
I LOVE these. It's the perfect way to sneak more space into your pantry, cupboard, or closet. Slide them onto your shelves to create the ideal spot to stash things like towels, napkins, paper plates, Nespresso sleeves, tin foil, etc.
Please beware! Not all storage baskets will fit on thicker shelves. However, most baskets have an arm 1.18 inches thick, which will work perfectly on a standard shelf.
Shelf Risers
Instantly increase your storage capacity. You cannot go wrong with using shelf raisers to expand your storage areas and organize your pantry. Adding shelf risers will significantly increase your storage capacity and make everything in your pantry more accessible,
I recommend avoiding wire racks like these, as there are two things that frustrate me about this type of design. First, items like cans and jars can easily fall off the sides because there is no lip to prevent them from slipping. Lastly, there is wasted space on the sides from where the rack ends to where the legs start.
1. Space Shelf Riser - Set of Two | 2. Bamboo Stackable Shelf | 3. IKEA Shelf Insert
Shelf Dividers
Shelf dividers are primarily used in clothes and linen closets; however, they also work great for pantries. You can create clearly defined areas for each type of food good: snacks in one section, baking supplies in another, table linen, lunch boxes, cookbooks, and so on.
Over The Door Rack
Remember to take advantage of your vertical space. I have one on my linen closet door and one on the playroom door, and soon, I'll be adding one to our front closet door for wrapping paper, ribbons, gift bags, scissors, and various craft supplies.
Hands down, the Over The Door Rack is my favorite organizing item. It's high quality, easy to assemble, and offers numerous organizing solutions.
Here's a tip: I see people selling or giving away this item on Nextdoor, Facebook Marketplace, and local Buy Nothing Groups. So keep your eyes peeled for this gem.
1. The Home Edit Over the Door Rack | 2. Elfa Over the Door Rack | 3. Utility Gift Wrap Over the Door
Storage Bins
In my opinion, you can never have too many bins and baskets. I like using bins for the pantry to combine similar items to create a unified and uncluttered look. This way, you always know if you are running low on something because all the soups, pasta, or crackers are stored together.
Take note that not all bins are the same, and some work better than others for storing specific items. For example, clear containers are nice because you can see the contents inside. Tall and wide bins work well for storing taller items like bags of chips or cereal boxes, whereas short and narrow are best for canned goods and baking supplies. There are so many options and possibilities, so to get you headed in the right direction, here are my tried and true favorites.
Baskets
Use baskets to store oversized items, backstock, or items you use less frequently. They also work nicely for tucking away things you don't really want to look at, like paper towels, garbage bags, lunch boxes, and water bottles.
If you're storing heavier items, you'll want a sturdy basket with reinforced edges so that it will always stand up straight.
What are your favorite pantry organization products?
The right pantry organizing products is vital for ensuring your space is functional and practical and, most importantly, give you lasting results. Please share the products and systems that have helped you with your pantry organizing endeavors. I'd love to hear your pantry product favorite.