Having a small pantry in your kitchen can be difficult. Let us help you learn some expert tips on how to organize a small pantry so you don’t have to start storing your kitchen items elsewhere!
One of the most frustrating places to not have enough space is your kitchen. It’s also one of the most common places to not have enough space.
Even if you have a small pantry, there are plenty of ways to optimize the space that you do have in order to fit as many items as possible in a clean and organized way.
Come with us as we go through some really clever hacks on how to organize a small pantry for you!
This blog post is all about how to organize a small pantry.
Clever Ways To Organize A Small Pantry
1. Declutter your pantry
The first thing, and probably the most important, is to go through your entire pantry. I know, this is quite a task, but it’s worth it! Go through everything you have. Check all of the expiration dates. Throw out anything that has expired or that you don’t need. There are definitely a few items that have either expired or don’t have any business taking up space in your pantry.
2. Remove from original boxes/containers
If you have anything that’s still in its original container, take it out. You can either keep it inside whatever secondary container it came in or put it into smaller containers. Cereal is the perfect example. The boxes that cereal comes in can be quite large in comparison to how much actual product that you have in the box. Removing it from the original container can save a lot of space, allowing you to maximize your pantry’s space.
3. Categorize your items
This is a great idea that can not only help maximize the space that you have in your small pantry, but it also helps you when you’re searching for an item. There’s nothing worse than not being able to find the one snack that your kid is screaming for. The best way to categorize your items is to group similar items together. Items for each different meal of the day should all be in the same area. For example, your items that you use to cook dinner should be close together in the same area, as well as your kids’ snacks!
4. Label everything
This goes without much of an explanation, but make sure that you label everything in your pantry. And this is not just about knowing what item is what. Once you start taking items out of their original packaging, if you’re not keeping track of what they are or when you bought them, that could be trouble. Ensure that you write down all the important nutritional information and any expiration dates when you start storing items in other containers. You don’t have to write the whole back of the box down, but write down what you would want to know. You don’t even have to get a label maker, though, you can just write on the labels below:
5. Put frequently used items at eye-level
One of the best tricks on this list is this one. Is there something that you grab daily? It could be something like your cereal or even what you make your kids’ lunches with. Make sure these items are the easiest to see and grab. These should be at your eye level. You will thank yourself time and time again, especially if they are items that you typically use in the morning. There is nothing worse than digging around in your pantry while you’re late for work or dropping the kids off at school.
6. Organize your pantry items based on use
Even though this might take a little more time than the other tips, this is such a great time saver in the future. This is similar to the one above (see: put frequently used items at eye-level), but it expands on that one. First, put anything that you use daily at eye-level and in the middle. Anything that you use a little less than daily, put those items on the side, but towards the front. The least frequently you use that item, the farther in the back it will go. So we have the most frequently used items in the front and middle, and then the less frequently used on the sides, and then the least frequently used of all in the back.
7. If possible, add pull-out shelves
Adding pull-out shelves can make your life substantially easier when it comes to organizing your small pantry. This will make grabbing anything you need much easier, especially the items at the back of the shelf. If you’re interested in adding shelves like this, make sure that you measure before buying anything. It can get tricky if your pantry is oddly shaped or has uncommon measurements. Unfortunately, if you can only buy pull-out shelves that are smaller than the space in your pantry, you might actually be doing yourself a disservice by limiting the amount of space you can add your items to. Bottom line: measure your pantry well and make an informed choice on whether this would be a good option for you. The ones below expand to a certain point, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t measure!
8. Use clear baskets/containers
Using clear baskets or containers when organizing your small pantry is incredibly helpful. It allows you to be able to see what you have in your pantry at just a glance, especially if you’re not able to label all of the containers properly. One of the best things about these clear baskets or containers is that they’re so versatile. If you think you bought too many, think again. These can go anywhere, from other places in your home, like your bedroom and bathroom, to other places in your kitchen, like the cabinets. Additionally, just like with the shelving, make sure you measure your pantry before buying anything of these containers. You want to ensure that it fits your space. OXO is a great overall brand if you’re looking for quality.
9. Stackable baskets
If your pantry is pretty limited width-wise, make sure you’re utilizing the vertical space that you have. Stackable baskets are a great option as it allows you to neatly stack your items on top of each other. This may call for a different organizational tactic than ones mentioned above, but it doesn’t mean it can’t work! Just ensure that the items that you use the least would be at the bottom of the stack instead of at the top. Labeling would be pretty important when using these stackable baskets. And again, make sure you measure these out before purchasing!
10. Shelf risers
Sticking with the idea of utilizing the vertical space that you do have, if you don’t want to use stackable baskets or if you don’t need that much extra space, these are a great option. With shelf risers, they’re not only easy to clean, but also easier to work with. You don’t have to open any containers to check on the item, which means you don’t have to label them if you don’t want to. There is still the need to measure before you buy any of these to make sure they fit, though.
11. Lazy Susans
Even though lazy Susans are a little outdated, it’s still a great option, especially on the top shelf of your pantry. Sometimes it’s pretty difficult to reach the top shelf of your pantry, let alone the back of the top shelf. This would allow you to just spin it around gently to grab what you need. The word gently is emphasized there for a reason. There are a few downsides to lazy Susans. One being that using one wouldn’t maximize all of your pantry space because of its shape and its need for motion. Additionally, it can get pretty old quickly if your items keep falling down because you or your family spin the lazy Susan a little too hard.
12. Use your door space
If you’re lucky enough to have a door on your pantry, then make sure you use it! A door can hold so much extra space, that it would be such a waste not to use it if your pantry is already small. One of the more popular ideas is to use the back of the pantry door as a spice shelf, instead of a drawer. You can waste a lot of precious space in a kitchen cabinet or drawer by using it for your spices. Just ensure that you measure your door and make sure that you get a supportive mount. You don’t want all of your seasonings crashing down just because you closed the door a little hard.
13. Use your floor space
Okay, so the floor isn’t the most pristine place in the house, but you can’t be too picky when your pantry is already small. Don’t be grossed out, we’re not telling you to put your items without any packaging on the floor. Utilize containers, especially stackable ones, for this space. You can even store your kitchen appliances that you don’t use as often here. Just make sure to keep your pantry floor clean and neat, and you won’t have any issues.
