Real Life Pantry Organization

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Even though I don’t have a traditional pantry, I’m thankful to have this wide set of cabinets that function as one! The way I organize them hasn’t really changed over the years. It takes daily maintenance and a periodic clean-out to keep them in good order.

I grabbed a picture from my Instagram Stories archives to show you how those shelves looked a couple weeks ago:

Not horrible, but also not the best. I took 30 minutes to pull everything out, throw away expired or unneeded items, wipe the shelves and put everything back in an orderly fashion. Here’s how it looks today, just a couple days after a large grocery haul.

Here are things that really help to keep the pantry organized:

• Make sure you can easily access the things you use often. That’s why the tall bottle of Crisco spray is in the front – I use it all the time and don’t want to move a bunch of stuff when I need it.
• Store things in glass jars – baking soda, cocoa and taco seasoning all come in ugly containers that often don’t close tightly. Keeping them in a glass jar makes it easy to see how much you have and keeps the powdery mess at a minimum. Tip: write the expiration date or the instructions on the label.
• Use wire shelves from Dollar Tree to maximize space.
• Put things back where they belong.

These waterproof chalkboard labels and chalkboard markers are awesome! It’s a simple way to make your pantry look more uniform. I also used them on the cereal boxes I store in the laundry room.

I did the same organization process in the bottom half of my pantry. Here’s the before and after from that project:

I take things out of boxes if it saves space – this works with things like granola bars or oatmeal packets.

It’s always a good idea to line your shelves so they are protected from leaks and spills. The top shelves are lined with contact paper, but I just used Dollar Tree placemats on the bottom. Super easy!

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Could your pantry use 30 minutes of decluttering and organization? You won’t regret it!

If you’re looking for more tips on home organization, visit my Organization Index. I have posts on how to organize just about every area in your home!

Read More:

• Real Life Laundry Room Makeover
• Decorating Closet Organization: Before and After
• How To Organize Paper Products