I’m excited to share some easy tips to organize your pantry!

Two Years Ago….

This was mine two years ago ago….yikes!  Hello anxiety.

Part of the issue was that our pantry is not very large, but the bigger issue was that I was not utilizing the space very well.

I feel like I started out with having a place for everything, and then somewhere along the way I just started cramming things in wherever they would fit.  I could not find things I needed or would buy multiples of items, not realizing I already had them!

I got to work and transformed my pantry into this…

Today:

I’ve made a few tweaks but am SO happy to report that I have pretty much been able to maintain this!  

If you can relate to those first messy pics, I hope today’s post is helpful! 

Tip 1:  Start with a Clean Slate

My first tip is to take everything out of your pantry, YES EVERYTHING.  It takes up space and time, but I really think it’s necessary to do the job right!

Throw out anything that has expired and give your pantry a good scrub down.

I actually decided to remove our existing contact paper and give my entire pantry a fresh coat of paint!  It needed it.  I used Sherwin Williams Alabaster.

I then covered the back wall with peel and stick wallpaper.  I stuck wallpaper to the back wall, Will stuck wallpaper to me!  It took a little time, but I love how it turned out!

Once all the clutter was out, I felt like I could make a plan as to what I needed and how items should be arranged.

Tip 2:  Find Affordable Storage Solutions

Once everything was out of the pantry I could really see what I had and could group items to figure out what kind of storage I needed!

I had so much fun shopping!

I tried to find cost effective pieces because filling up a pantry, even one as small as mine, can add up quick!!

I recently added these wire bins that can be stacked if you have larger shelves than I do!  They are very durable and a great space saver if you can stack them!

Find them HERE. 

These white baskets stacked at the very top come in three sizes and were perfect for holding all the seasonal plates, napkins and straws I keep on hand!

Find them HERE.

They are also available in charcoal HERE. 

I also grabbed the bamboo lids HERE that allow them to be stacked!  These are a great storage solution for lots of spaces in your home! 

 

These risers (similar HERE and HERE) help me to see what I have so I’m not buying multiples I don’t need,

and this lazy Susan (HERE and similar HERE) serves the same purpose!

 

Baskets are great for holding paper towels.  Find a similar basket HERE.

Shop all of The Container Store’s kitchen and pantry sale HERE.

Tip 3:  For smaller pantries, utilize the door

This door rack was actually already here when we moved in, and I am thankful for the extra storage it provides!

I just wasn’t utilizing it before.

If you are needing one I found this over the door one that is adjustable and very similar to mine here.

I grabbed these latch jars (similar HERE).  This was a cost effective way to get this space organized.

This door now holds so many ingredients that were taking up space in our crowded pantry.

Tip 4:  Label all the Things

I opted to purchase sturdy white bins for the bottom two shelves.  Find similar ones HERE.   I loved that they had a handle, could be wiped out easily if something spilled and were white so that the labels I purchased would be easy to read.  

 

Labeling the bins and jars makes it very easy to quickly find things, and my six year old is loves reading all the words….bonus!

The labels also helped me to focus on what I had when I was grouping the all the food!

Find lots of label options HERE.

I also love these clip on labels-seen here on the cubes in our playroom!

  They are perfect for labeling all kinds of baskets and bins and you can easily change the paper label if you switch the contents.

Find them in a pack of three HERE. 

Tip 5: Keep it This Way

Sounds easy, right?  Now that everything has a place, I do my very best to take the little bit of extra time to put things where they go, and make sure my boys do the same.  Is it weird that looking at this pantry makes me smile now, instead of feel anxiety!  There are many spaces left to conquer in my house, but giving everything a place and keeping it there really will make cooking, meal time, making lunches, etc. SO much easier!

Before and After Recap

Before:

After:

 

Before:

After:

 

I hope these tips have been helpful and if nothing else, that my mess made you feel better about yours!  I hope it encourages you to tackle that closet, pantry or drawer that is driving you crazy!

You got this!

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This post was sponsored by The Container Store, but all items were selected by me and opinions are my own!