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The pantry is a hot spot in any home. One no-fail way to keep this high-traffic area organized is by investing in the best pantry storage containers and organization systems that will keep everything in its place. We tapped five professional home organizers for expert advice on how to keep everything in your pantry in order, including canned goods, spices, cereal, and more. Ahead, discover their pantry organization tips and the pantry storage containers they rely on.
1. Remove bulky packaging and place dry goods into clear containers.
To create a sleek aesthetic in your pantry, remove dry goods (like rice, pasta, and beans) and baking essentials (like brown sugar and flour) from bulky boxes. Once removed, Karine Bouganim—the owner of Karine OCD—recommends sorting these pantry items into tall glass canisters or other clear containers so you can see exactly what’s inside. For increased uniformity put labels on the containers so you can easily identify each item.
2. Store individually packaged items in organizer bins
Remove grab-and-go snacks from their packaging and place them in storage bins for easy access (and added texture) in your pantry. “Fill these baskets with similar items,” Jen Martin, founder of Reset Your Nest, advises. This will keep your pantry looking organized and make it easy to find exactly what you’re looking for.
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3. Use a lazy Susan to make everything accessible
A lazy Susan is the perfect solution for organizing bottled products, such as oils, dressings, and sauces in your kitchen pantry (and we’ve recommended these clever cabinet organizers before). The rotating feature makes everything accessible. Karine says, “These will come in handy for so many loose items around the kitchen.”
4. Shelf risers help you maximize your shelf real estate
Instead of stacking cans on top of one another on pantry shelves, utilize a shelf riser to double or triple the amount of space you have. “Shelf risers are a game changer in a pantry,” Karen Windholz, founder and professional organizer at Sort Toss Repeat, says. “They allow you to see everything at glance, save space, and keep cans accessible in one location.”
Shelf risers are also super handy for storing spices. If you prefer to keep your spices out of sight, forego the usual countertop spice rack and try organizing your spices on a shelf riser inside your cabinet or pantry.
5. Don’t forget to also contain your back stock
If you’re someone who likes to keep a back stock of kitchen items, you’ll definitely need a system of pantry storage containers. Annie Schmidt, founder of SOS Home Organization, advises using deep acrylic storage bins to house your back stock and immediately see what you have on hand. They’re easily stackable, dishwasher safe, and keep you from purchasing too many of the same products.
6. Use wire baskets for miscellaneous non-food items
Wire baskets are effective for organizing food storage products such as plastic storage bags, tin foil, and parchment paper. By placing not-so-aesthetically-pleasing storage items in baskets, you’re able to keep the uniformity in your pantry and easily access them when you need to without totally concealing what you might need.
7. Pour cereal and other dry goods into cereal containers
Annie recommends emptying cereal into cereal dispensers (with airtight seals) to keep it from going stale and to create a more uniform look on the shelves. By removing unnecessary packaging, you’ll be able to easily see each type of cereal, and the storage containers will add a pop of color to your now well-organized pantry.
8. Adding dividers between different types of items
Whether it’s because they’re too big or too small, sometimes baskets just won’t do when it comes to separating what’s in your pantry. If you want to use up all the space your shelves have to offer, then dividers might be the way to go for you. Set up a few on your shelf to separate your canned goods and boxes of pasta from your snacks.
9. Don’t overlook the pantry door
Get even more storage with a storage rack. These utilitarian wonders create storage space out of thin air. If you’re in a rental, you’ll be happy to know you don’t have to mount them, but can steady them over the door.
10. Add a step stool so your top shelves are easier to get to
Make the most of your vertical space by keeping a step stool inside your pantry. That way you’ll always be able to get to those top shelves. Without easy access, these shelves can get overlooked. But with a step stool, getting to the top shelf is a breeze.
11. Short on space? Get more kitchen storage with a freestanding cabinet or pantry unit
If you live in a smaller apartment that doesn’t have a designated pantry or food storage space, Lahni Carney—founder of Clutterless Home Solutions—recommends purchasing a freestanding cabinet or pantry unit to maximize empty wall space. They can be placed against or built in your walls and save space in your kitchen cabinets for other items.
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