How to Create an Organized Pantry in 5 Simple Steps

how to Start the New year fresh with an organized pantry!

Get ready to declutter and re-organize your cluttered pantry for good. We’re here to help you get organized for the New Year and get one step closer to achieving your organizing goals.

When we think of the New Year, we think of resolutions and organization. They go hand in hand like champagne and New Year’s Eve. It’s only natural to want to begin your new year with a fresh start, and this often begins by getting our homes organized. Capitalizing on this almost instinctive motivation, Jodie and I are getting straight to work. Today we are going to show you an important reorganization project: The Pantry. Using our step-by-step tips and tricks, plus perfect product suggestions we are going to show you just how easy it is to create an organized pantry.

Jodie and I are SUPER excited and honored to be part of the BHG Live Better Influencer Network. We are compensated when sharing our favorite finds from Better Homes & Gardens at Walmart. As always, our opinions are our own. Affiliate links for product sources are included for your shopping convenience.

Be sure to check out more affordable organizing solutions from the talented bloggers at the BHG Live Better Influencer Network.

Before: Cluttered/Disorganized Pantry

Here’s a quick peek at what Jodie’s pantry looked like before. You might think, wow, it’s great! It’s HUGE and fabulous. However, with the size comes unique challenges, the main one being that everything but the kitchen sink tends to end up in here. Last year, it became increasingly obvious that her pantry needed an overhaul. No matter the size of your pantry, this hub of family activity is a common challenge spot and therefore a great place for us to start our New Year Organization.

After: Organized Pantry

Step One: Declutter to Create an Organized Pantry

In any organization project, the first task is to evaluate inventory. Here is a breakdown of steps we use to declutter:

1. Take everything out.
2. Organize into piles. Put like items together so you can see how many you have. This is important so you can decide how many you really need in each category.
3. Designate three bags: trash, recycle and charity.
4. Go item by item and ask yourself if you really need it.
5. If you haven’t used it in a full year get rid of it.
6. Continue until you’ve made it through everything in your pantry.

Step Two: Planning to Create Your Organized Pantry

Now that you can see all that you have, you are ready to PLAN out your organized pantry.

1. First, decide if all the categories belong in this area based on space available and daily use.
2. Next, determine if everything will fit and how. You may decide at this point to get rid of more.
3. Next, visualize configuration possibilities.
4. Now, imagine what types of storage containers would work best based on space and type of items.
5. Take measurements of shelf space etc.
6. Now is a good time to visit Walmart.com where you will find a huge (and exciting) selection of solutions. This will help you in the planning of your space.

Step Three: Shopping for Your Organized Pantry

Now that you’ve organized, decluttered, visualized, measured and planned you are ready for to shop for your organized pantry.

Of course, you can always head to Walmart, but we find it even easier at this point to hop on the computer and shop at walmart.com. The benefits include:

• conveniently located
• a larger selection
• while in your space you can go back and forth visualizing, measuring etc.
• saves time and money (no gas, no running around)

 

 

Organized Pantry Containers

You can click on the item to go directly to Walmart.com and shop. How convenient is that? These are affiliate links and Jodie and I always appreciate when you support our blog and shop with us.

Gray Fabric Storage Bins – I used these for floor storage because of their large size. They are perfect for items like paper towels, water bottles and any bulk items.

1/2 Size Gray Fabric Storage Bins – I used these to display my collection of recipe books.

Plastic Flip Tight Food containers – These are perfect for food items like cereal, cookies, crackers and nuts. They are especially good if you have kids. They solve the problem of poorly closed boxes and stale food. If you buy in bulk these are fabulous. If you haven’t bought in bulk before these will help you start. Good for you, the environment, and your pocketbook.

Small Galvanized Bins – I used these for small pantry items like pasta, rice and baking supplies.

Medium-Sized Storage Bins – These I filled with bottles of vinegar, oils,

Organized Pantry: Labeling

• Labeling your bins and containers is always a good idea.
• Extra important when the container is opaque and the contents cannot be seen easily.
• Great way to achieve “compliance” from family members (and visitors) to keep things organized.
• I used some small wooden chalkboard tags to label my bins and containers for easy access.
• Chalkboard tags are a great idea because they can easily be changed if you decide to move things.
• They are easy to find at your local craft store.

Other ideas for labels:

• An old fashion label maker is still easy to use, inexpensive and can add a fun retro flare.
• Gift tags that match your color scheme can be attached by a small piece of twine or a small clothes pin.
• Cut and make your own out of card stock or recycled cards. Punch with a whole punch and add a fun ribbon.
•  

 

Step Four: Make Your Organized Pantry Pretty

When you are planning and making your organizing decisions, keep these tips in mind:

• Start by making the background pretty by adding self-stick wallpaper, contact paper or painting.
• Next, consider using a pretty contact paper for the shelves.
• Choose a color and/or style theme and carry it through all your design choices.
• Make sure you have opaque containers for the items that you want to hide.
• If you want to show off what’s inside, use clear containers for your organized pantry.

For my organized pantry, I chose gray as my theme color and decided to include a small pop of navy blue. I chose a gray chevron pattern to add a bit of interest. As you can see, I used mostly opaque containers. I wanted to hide all the messier looking stuff.

Some style themes/ideas include:

• multi-colored modern
• rustic farmhouse neutrals
• modern neutrals
• all white
• you can opt to match your kitchen color scheme, etc.
• or you can use this opportunity to “play” with a fun, new pop of color like yellow or turquoise

 

Step Five: Final Touches to Your Organized Pantry

We think this is the real fun: putting it all together. Here is where all your time and hard work pays off. As your organized pantry begins to emerge, have fun getting things just right.  Play around with different arrangements until it looks great. Think about the realities of everyday use:

• Hide things that will tend to get messy with use.
• Put kid snacks where they can reach them.
• Put things you don’t want the kids to reach hidden and/or out of reach.
• Consider putting labels on bins, baskets and containers to help stay organized
• Place heavy items in spots that are easy to access.
• Give a final consideration to balance, colors and aesthetics to really make your organized pantry shine!

For more inspirational organization projects, check out our take on the Marie Kondo method of tidying up.

For my organized pantry, I decided to keep the small cart counter top for purely aesthetic purposes and brought in some faux flowers, a galvanized watering can (that matches the galvanized theme), a glass vase and a pretty candle. I love having candles in here in case the garbage ever has an odor. Isn’t it amazing what a difference a bit of natural beauty makes the overall look?

Pro Tip: Even in a functional space it’s always worth saving a bit of space for decor. The prettier it is the more motivating it will be to keep it that way.

You Have an Organized Pantry

Now it’s time to congratulate yourself and show it off to the family. Be sure to give them “a tour” of your new organized pantry, so everyone knows where things belong. It’s a team effort to keep things organized. If everyone is on board, you’ll have a much better chance of your new organized pantry staying that way.

Next Steps for Your Organized Pantry

How good does it feel to have an organized pantry? We know, right? It feels amazing. Well, we recommend using this success to motivate you to continue onward and upward, Friends! You can use this same step-by-step process for all your storage areas: closets, cupboards, even drawers in your home.

For more pantry organization tips, read this blog post from The Turquoise Home. 

Pro Tip: Make an organizing calendar and set a goal to organize one area a week.

Can you imagine how great you would feel? The more you do the easier it gets, even addictive. Now we’re talking about a great transformation. You’ve got this. Leave us a comment and tell us how you do. We can’t wait to hear about your successes.

Jodie and I would like to say a special thank you to our friends at Better Homes & Gardens at Walmart for partnering with us for 2018. We will be bringing you a new challenge every month as part of the Better Homes & Gardens Live Better Influencer Network. You can find the Better Homes & Gardens brand line carried exclusively by Walmart. Follow BHG on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Have you caught a bit of the “organizing bug”? Good. It just so happens that we have friends who can help you continue. Check out these other fabulously inspiring bloggers and their organizing tips and projects.

Good luck and Happy Organizing!

For more budget-friendly organizing solutions, visit the Better Homes and Gardens website.