35 Best Pantry Organization Ideas to Improve Your Storage Space
Keep everything tidy, no matter the size of your kitchen.
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Organizing a pantry is no easy task, something Ree Drummond knows all too well. When she showed her pantry refresh on social media, she admitted she "immediately regretted" pulling everything out at first. But, once she was done organizing, it was pure #pantrygoals. We're sharing our best pantry organization ideas to prove that your own kitchen can become one of these utterly satisfying spaces, too.
First, start with a clean room: Take inventory of your existing stock of pantry staples, including spices, sauces, cereal boxes, rice and grains, canned goods, and stored baking supplies—by sorting through what's good and what's expired. Next, corral all items by category—it's helpful to organize them in transparent, stackable food storage containers. (P.S. A label maker is handy for this step!)
Even if you don't have a dedicated pantry in your home, these tricks will still improve how you organize your spices, baking goods, and small appliances. You could hop on the open shelving kitchen trend and turn floating shelves into a DIY pantry that displays spice jars and glass canisters or grab a handy under-shelf drawer organizer. You could even make a multipurpose space that's part storage and part coffee bar station like in Ree's new house. These might even inspire some larger kitchen storage ideas, like organizing your kitchen cabinets to make the entire room more styled and tidy!
Continue your kitchen refresh with these ideas:
Use a Ladder
In Ree's pantry at The Lodge and her new house, she uses a library ladder to access tall shelves. This is a great way to ensure you store items on these hard-to-reach shelves rather than waste the space.
Divide and Conquer
Reorganizing is always daunting, but you can make it easier by organizing your pantry in sections. It makes the task more manageable, and it helps you focus on what's best for each area. Ree divided her tasks into sweet and savory, but you can do what you feel is best for your needs.
Make It Multipurpose
If you're looking to maximize your space, make it multipurpose! Ree's new house has a pantry equipped with an additional sink to wash all those extra dishes and a coffee station to stay caffeinated as she creates.
Go Magnetic
If you're running out of room in your pantry, make space by moving your spices (or other items) from their original containers into little tins. Magnetic tins can stick to the side of your refrigerator for easy access. You can also use adhesive to stick them on a wall or door.
See more at A Beautiful Mess.
Use Over-the-Door Organizers
Take a cue from your closet and buy an over-the-door organizer for your pantry. These racks can house anything from spices and oils to canned goods and snacks.
Invest in a Pull-Out Pantry
For those who are willing to renovate to get your dream pantry space, make this cool pull-out pantry. While it looks like a regular cabinet on the outside, you'll open it to find plenty of shelving to hold your food and other essentials.
Utilize Your Counter Space
Countertops can be used for storage, too! To make even more space for your canisters and miscellaneous food items, add a few shelves on your counters to hold them. Wooden shelves like these are both functional and pretty.
Put in Rod Racks
Rods are the way to go when you need to increase storage room. Attach metal rods to your backsplash to hang racks (as seen in the photo) or add tension rods to the inside of your cabinets and pantry.
Add a Bookcase
If you don't have a separate closet or space, add a bookcase instead. Not only can you find affordable options but so many sizes to customize to your space, too. Many bookcases also let you change up how tall each shelf is, so you can fit containers of all sizes.
See more at Homemade by Carmona.
Try Out Under-Shelf Drawer Organizers
This nifty accessory has gone viral on the internet—and for good reason. It attaches to the base of your pantry shelves, making the most of a space you wouldn't normally use. Talk about strategic storage!
Set Up Baker's Racks
If you've got a large pantry but are running out of shelf space, just set up some more. Industrial wire racks like these baker's racks will give you plenty of room. To soften the look and help with organization, you can add wicker baskets, too.
Create a Hidden Pantry
While reorganizing your pantry is great, giving yourself a second pantry is even better. You can do this by transforming a kitchen hutch or armoire into a space to store food containers, cans, and more. Paint it a pretty color if you want to make it a focal point in your kitchen.
Create a Grab-and-Go Snack Section
Busy families who rely on prepackaged snacks, this hack is for you! Make the bags easier to grab by creating a designated snack section. Buy clear acrylic bins and place them in an easily accessible drawer or shelf. It will make your grocery list easier, too, because you'll see when you're low in stock.
Roll With It
For those of you who lack space in the pantry, but have substantial space elsewhere, try a rolling cart. Bonus: You can wheel it out when you need it and tuck it away when you don't. It's also great to use in a pinch as a bar cart for any events you host.
Invest in a Coffee and Tea Organizer
If you're constantly rummaging through drawers looking for the right coffee pod, then you need an organizer like this adorable one from The Pioneer Woman. Not only is it super cute, it makes managing your morning caffeine craving a breeze.
Repurpose Mason Jars
If you love mason jars, you probably have a lot hanging around unused. Even if you don't, they are relatively cheap to buy in bulk. So rather than investing in expensive storage containers, go for this affordable option instead. They can hold anything from spices and snacks to cereal and candy.
Invest in Cabinets with Pull-Out Shelves
Sliding shelves keep all your canned and nonperishable goods neatly tucked away in a cabinet. It allows easy access without needing to devote an entire closet to your pantry.
See more at Randi Garrett Design.
Organize Your Appliances
Ree also uses her pantry for keeping kitchen appliances tucked away on shelves and off the counter. She made sure the shelves were built tall enough to house her tallest appliance (in this case, her KitchenAid stand mixers).
Go Rustic Chic With a Pegboard
Give any kitchen or pantry wall an organizational makeover with a layer of pegboard. These easy-to-install sheets are speckled with holes so you can hang tons of spice trays, measuring spoons, or your favorite pieces of kitchen art.
See more at Inspired by Charm.
Convert a Nook
Turn a kitchen nook into a pantry by hanging shelves and making custom containers. These wire baskets have homemade leather straps, with DIY steps included so you can make your own.
Get the tutorial at The Merrythought.
Macie Reynolds is the assistant editor of E-Commerce and SEO for The Pioneer Woman.
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