One area of the home that can easily become unorganized is the pantry. Monthly trips to the grocery store and children rummaging through the shelves can create misplaced items, unnecessary clutter, and wasted space. Whether your food lives in a walk-in style closet or a tall collection of cabinets, the pantry is a crucial extension of your kitchen area. Any well-organized pantry is curated to provide convenience, maximize space, and aid the magic that occurs in the kitchen for any homeowner. 

Size It Up 

First things first: measure up your pantry. Knowing how much space you have to work with is the perfect starting point in organizing your pantry. Walk-in pantries, equipped with a built-in shelving system, offer a plethora of space but can easily accumulate duplicates of items and unseen clutter. Dedicate shelves and areas to avoid this problem.

Similarly, smaller closet pantries can also be quickly overfilled. Do not forget about your door! A pantry door is an essential part of your space, as it can be utilized for space if need be. A built-in cabin pantry can provide more depth, and offer the chance to implement levels with smaller shelving to ensure you never overlook a certain ingredient. An open wall pantry is an opportunity to get creative with your storage since all will be visible. Whichever style your living space offers, be sure to take advantage of every nook and cranny. 

Keep It Contained

Now that you know what your pantry can hold, decide what areas will hold what and how. This part of the organization process is key: create designated spaces for food items, nonfood items, and smaller appliances. These spaces should be carved out based on how often an item is used, who in the household needs to access it, and weight. Ideally, all items should be easy to identify and locate. Containers can help! From baskets, crates, pull-out drawers, lazy Susans, hanging racks, and smaller shelves, there are a variety of organizational options for you to choose from that will maximize space. For baskets and crates, arrange both high and low. Seasonal items, like holiday décor, should be placed on top shelves and everyday items at eye level. Hanging racks to place on pantry doors can serve as snack stations for children. The system in which you organize with containers will set you up for success in the future. 

To Decant or Not To Decant

Decanting food products offers several benefits: not only is it aesthetically pleasing to place food in uniform containers, but it also eliminates the worry of another creature in the pantry. Flour beetles are notorious for infesting and laying eggs. Decanting begins with selecting a jar. Be sure to find air-tight canning jars that are easily stackable and come in a variety of sizes. Pro tip: wash and thoroughly dry the jars prior to using. This will prevent any clumping in your foods. 

Label Away

The next step in organizing your pantry can be more tedious and time-consuming, but will ultimately save you time and money in the long run. Labeling your containers and jars can also be fun! Bring out the washi tape, label makers, markers, and chalk! An important note of labeling your containers and jars is to also include expiration dates. While it is easy to simply add the name of the food where visible, adding the expiration date on the bottom of the container will remind you when to make a trip to the grocery store.

Now Add Some Style 

Now that you have laid the foundation for the organization in your pantry, add some spice! If you do not know where to begin, look at the design of your kitchen. Incorporating the color scheme into your pantry will create a cohesive look. Additionally, placing wallpaper is a great way to include texture. Add an inventory list to your pantry with all the necessary foods you need for your weekly or biweekly trips to the grocery store. 

 No matter how you style or organize it, keeping your pantry neat will help endeavors in the kitchen!