Keeping a pantry organized can feel like a never-ending task. It's one of the most frequently used spaces in your home, which means it can quickly become cluttered and chaotic.
Whether you have a small, shallow pantry or a deep, spacious one, it requires regular attention to maintain order.
But today, we're focusing on those deep pantries that can seem overwhelming because they tend to swallow up items, making them hard to find when you need them.
If you've got a deep pantry that needs some love, follow along with these five easy steps to transform it into a functional, organized space.
Step 1: Set Clear Goals for Your Pantry
Before you start pulling things off the shelves, it’s important to set some goals. Trust me, a little planning goes a long way. My friend had struggled with her previous pantry because items kept getting lost in the back. This is a common issue with deep pantries, so our goals were simple:
Increase Visibility: We wanted to make sure everything in the pantry was easy to see and reach.
Strategic Placement: Items should be placed where they make the most sense for the family. For example, putting snacks at kid level so they can grab what they need.
Maintainability: The system needed to be easy to maintain so the homeowner could keep it organized long-term.
By setting these goals upfront, you’ll have a roadmap to guide your organization process.
Step 2: Clean and Take Inventory
Now that you have your goals, it’s time to get started. The first thing you need to do is empty your pantry completely. Yes, everything has to come out so you can start with a clean slate.
Once the shelves are empty, give them a good wipe-down or vacuum up any crumbs.
Next, take inventory of what you have. As you do this, group similar items together. For instance, I sorted everything in this pantry into categories like:
Snacks
Breakfast Foods
Breads
Canned Goods
Dry Goods
Baking Supplies
Drinks
You might have different categories depending on what you store in your pantry. The key is to narrow it down so you can easily see what you have and what you might need to restock.
Step 3: Create Zones for Easy Access
With your inventory done, it’s time to think about where things should go. Dividing your pantry into zones makes it easier to find what you need and keeps everything organized. Here’s how I set up the zones in my pantry:
Zone 1: Snacks went on the lower left shelves where the youngest family member could easily reach them. Items that needed to be out of reach, like treats for mom and dad, were stored on the top left shelf.
Zone 2: Breakfast items and bread were placed on the lower right shelves so the kids could grab their own breakfast in the morning.
Zone 3: Cooking essentials like canned goods, baking supplies, and dry goods were kept at eye level. This way, everything was within easy reach while cooking.
Zone 4: Bulk items and seasonal items went on the top shelves since they aren’t needed as often.
By organizing the pantry into zones, you’ll create a system that’s easy to maintain and works for your family’s daily routine.
Step 4: Declutter as You Go
As you’re putting things back into the pantry, take a moment to declutter. Check the expiration dates and toss anything that’s expired or that you know you won’t use. If your kitchen had limited storage, this will free up many of your space.
Decluttering as you go ensures that you’re only keeping what’s fresh and usable, making your pantry more efficient.
Step 5: Organize and Optimize Space
Finally, it’s time to put everything back in its place. But before you do, measure your shelves so you can optimize your space with the right organizing products. Deep shelves can be tricky, but here are a few tips that worked wonders:
Increase Visibility: Use shelf risers or a shelf riser-turntable combo so that items in the back are still easy to see.
Maximize Vertical Space: Adjustable shelves are a game-changer. Take advantage of them to create more storage by stacking items vertically.
Use the Right Containers: Tall containers are great for the back of deep shelves, while stackable containers work well at the front. I recommend OXO or Flip-Tite containers for keeping things neat and accessible.
By following these steps, you can turn even the most chaotic deep pantry into a well-organized space that works for you and your family.
Remember, the key is to create a system that’s easy to maintain so you don’t have to keep reorganizing every few months.
So, there you have it! These are my five simple steps to organizing a deep pantry. Whether you’re starting from scratch or just need to refresh your current setup, these tips should help you get things in order and keep them that way.
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