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Keeping your pantry organized may not be the top chore on anyone’s list, but it’s an important task all the same. Pantry organization can help you prepare healthy meals and will also help to save you money and keep you from wasting food!
Not everyone has the space for a large pantry with tons of storage and keeping a small pantry from becoming a huge mess can definitely be a challenge. But with the right tools and strategies, it’s possible to make small pantries as organized and functional as you want them to be!
So today, I am sharing practical tips to help you organize a small pantry and make them photo-worthy while being ultra-functional.
Small Pantry Organization
Organizing a pantry may not be everyone’s favorite thing and that’s why I’ve decided to dedicate this post to sharing some helpful tips that have worked for me. There are plenty of easy solutions for organizing and maximizing space in even the smallest pantry spaces!
How To Organize A Small Pantry
Step 1: Clear and Clean your Pantry
You’ll want to start with a clean slate before you start your small pantry organization. So go ahead and clear out everything from those shelves!
Then give everything a good wipe down to ensure it’s all clean and ready for organization.
Step 2: Take Inventory
For the next step of your pantry makeover, you’ll want to take inventory of all the products you removed. Toss the expired, leaking, or almost empty containers and organize the remaining ones into categories!
This is also a great time to write down a list of things that need to be restocked or refilled.
Step 3: Categorize
Now that you’ve taken inventory and checked those pesky expiration dates, you can categorize similar items together. For example, oils, condiments, snacks, or baking essentials can all be separated and placed into their own area.
Also, keep in mind that small appliances should always be placed on lower shelves in order to prevent head injuries!
Step 4: Select Storage Bins and Containers
The next step is to choose the storage options that will work best for your pantry and your family. There are a lot of different options out there so make sure you choose accordingly, and don’t be afraid to use different types of containers for different spots.
I like to remove any packaging that looks too “busy” and replace them with clear containers. Also, dry ingredients can go into clear canisters and any odd-shaped bags can be placed into pantry organization bins rather than sitting on the shelf.
Step 5: Label Everything
Labeling all of the baskets and storage bins is an important step in organizing a small pantry. This way, every guest or member of your family knows where everything is and where it should go.
Not to mention it will also prevent you from making critical mistakes with your baking supplies, like mixing up the sugar container with the salt container! You can purchase a cheap label maker online or try these labels that you can easily apply to clear containers!
4 Small Pantry Organization Ideas
Use Shelf Liners
The best way to make upkeep easy and quick is to use shelf liners. They can prevent dry ingredients from falling through pantry shelving and keep wet ingredients, like oil bottles, from slipping off the shelves.
With just a quick wipe any spills are gone and these liners are also affordable and super easy to install.
Use the Pantry Doors
If you have doors on your pantry cabinet then be sure to utilize this space by hanging up some organizers. This will free up space on your shelves and it’s a great place for pantry staples like canned goods, spices, oils, and glass jars.
This organizational tool works especially well if you have a walk in pantry!
Make a Kid-Friendly Spot
Use a bottom shelf or basket for easy access to water bottles, snacks, juice, or anything else that your kids are approved to eat. This way they can grab snacks themselves and they can also help put those items away after grocery shopping.
Use Extra Wall Space
If you have a small pantry then maximizing space is a key point and using extra wall space is a great pantry organization tip. You can use hooks to hang items like aprons, brooms, reusable grocery bags, or even a wall-mounted bag dispenser to hold trash bags.
4 Small Pantry Organizers
Lazy Susan
A lazy Susan is a great option for keeping oils, condiments, snacks, or baking essentials in one place and easily accessible. This one from The Home Edit Collection at Walmart is a great option and less than $10!
Or you can try out this option from Amazon which comes in several sizes and is super easy to clean!
Clear Canisters
As I’ve mentioned before, clear canisters one of my favorite organizational tools for small pantry organization. You can see exactly what you’re grabbing and you can also easily tell if it needs to be refilled.
This set of 4 clear canisters from Walmart are the perfect size for dry goods like cereals, flour, sugar or any other dry ingredients.
Water Bottle Storage
If you’re like me, then you probably have several water bottles that float around your house without proper storage space. Well, now you can use a water bottle storage system like this one from Amazon!
I love having a designated place for the bottles and it also offers easy access for my kids as well.
Clear Storage Bins
Clear storage bins are a wonderful option for chip bags, boxed goods, or any snack food storage, especially if you have open shelving. Your family members will be able to easily tell what’s in each bin and which ones need to be restocked.
This set of 4 clear storage bins from Amazon is a great option for pantry storage. I love that they have handles for easy transport!
Or you can try this set from The Home Edit at Walmart. I use these in my pantry closet and I love that they’re stackable and super affordable.
