How to Organize Your Small Pantry

Whether your family lacks an organizational system or you're simply inundated by trying to store too much in a too-small space, taming the chaos of a crowded, over-stuffed pantry is an overwhelming chore.

Learn how to transform your disorganized kitchen pantry into the kind of storage space you'd share proudly with your friends when you're entertaining (and, yes, we're over 40).

1. Get the Right Supplies for Your Pantry Refresh

When it comes to transforming your small pantry into an organized oasis, having the right supplies at your disposal is key. These tools will not only maximize space but also make it a breeze to locate and access your pantry essentials.

Clear Storage Bins of Various Sizes: Invest in transparent containers for grains, pasta, and snacks. This not only keeps your pantry visually appealing but also allows you to quickly assess your inventory. The ones with an airtight seal help food last longer. Mason jars or wicker baskets can also work.
Wire Shelving or Floating Shelves: Vertical space is often underutilized in small pantries. Installing wire shelves or floating shelves can significantly increase storage capacity if you have limited shelf space.
Risers or Turntable Organizers: Make the most of deep shelves by incorporating risers or turntable organizers. These tools allow you to access pantry items at the back of the shelf with ease.
Hanging Storage for the Door: The back of pantry doors is an often overlooked space. Expand your pantry storage by hanging spice racks, grocery bag holders, or small shelves.
Under-Shelf Baskets: Slide-out baskets under shelves provide a practical solution for storing bulkier items by category. This also ensures the space is used efficiently, whether for root vegetables, as a snack bin, or to store bulk items.
Labels for Identification: Labeling pantry containers is a game-changer when it comes to pantry organization.
Color Coding Items Helps, too: Assign different colors to various categories to add an extra layer of visual organization.

2. Declutter With Ruthless Abandon

Before you go grocery shopping, take time to declutter. How many stale chip bags are taking up valuable space in your pantry?

Empty everything from your disorganized pantry: Take everything off the pantry shelves. Toss expired food items, donate unopened packages you'll never use, and recycle empty cardboard boxes.
Group and categorize: Sort remaining items into logical categories, like baking supplies, coffee, canned goods, snacks, spices, and cleaning products. You can also group like containers together, like pizza pans and baking sheets.
Contain the madness: Put your items back in a way that makes sense to you. Knowing what you already have is a very important step in preventing you from overbuying next time you go to the store.

An organized pantry closet. — Door racks keep spices organized. Credit: Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

3. Label Clearly and Consistently

Label everything: Use labels on containers, shelves, and even the door to avoid the "mystery can in the back" dilemma. Consistency in labeling style maximizes visual clarity.
Color code for extra oomph: Assign different colors to different categories for even faster visual identification. You can also use a label maker for this.

4. Organize Items By Theme

Put everything back into the pantry and set it up so it works for you. An efficient way to maintain order in your small pantry is by organizing items based on food groupings. This not only streamlines your daily routine but also enhances the overall visual appeal of your perfect pantry.

Baking Essentials

In a well-organized pantry, you can group together baking ingredients such as flour, sugar, baking powder, and chocolate chips.
Store baking utensils, mixing bowls, and measuring cups in the same section.
We love transferring bulk items like flour and sugar into clear canisters for ease of use and to maintain freshness and visibility.

Snack Haven

Create a dedicated area for access to snacks, grouping chips, trail mixes, and dried fruits together.
Use bins, baskets, or chip clips for easy access to grab-and-go snacks.
Consider implementing a designated shelf for healthier snack options or portioned healthy snacks for easy meal planning.

Canned Goods Corner

Arrange canned vegetables, soups, and sauces in a specific section.
Employ a tiered shelf organizer for clear visibility of all canned items.
Label shelves or use color-coded markers to differentiate between types of canned goods.

Spice System

Designate a space for spice jars and herbs, organizing them alphabetically or by cuisine.
Utilize a tiered spice rack or clear containers to ensure easy identification.
Consider labeling or color-coding spice containers for quick access during cooking.

Additional Pantry Organization Ideas

Here are bonus ideas and tips for making the most of a small storage space and being able to reach for exactly the items you need efficiently. Put these into practice during step four, when you are putting your organized pantry back together.

Utilize Every Inch of Space

Verticality is your friend: Tall shelves in a larger pantry are great. Take advantage of vertical wall space. Use risers or turntable organizers to maximize shelf depth.
Don't forget the door: Hang spice racks, grocery bag holders, or even mini shelves on the pantry doors for additional storage. Look for wall-mounted solutions to get more valuable storage space.
Embrace baskets: Slide out baskets under shelves are perfect for storing random items. You can also get larger floor baskets to use space there.

Embrace the "First In, First Out" Rule

Rotate your stock: Place new items behind older ones to ensure you use everything before it expires. This also prevents forgotten treasures from languishing in the pantry abyss.
Clear containers are your allies: Being able to see what you have makes it easier to avoid overbuying and helps you prioritize older items for consumption. Invest in a set of clear food storage containers that will last.

Maintain the Magic

Schedule regular decluttering sessions: Once a month, do a quick pantry audit to remove expired items and reorganize misplaced ones.
Embrace the clean-as-you-go mentality: Wipe down food spills immediately, put things back in their designated spots, and resist the urge to hoard random kitchen paraphernalia.
Keep a list: Keep a grocery list of items to need to buy to either organize or restock. This is easy to do on your notes app or a dry-erase board in your kitchen.