My Organized Pantry

In my quest to simplify life, I recently set out to organize my home. There isn't an area that won't {eventually} get touched. And while taking on this colossal task is anything but simple, I can feel my stress level dissipate with every project I complete.

Our pantry was a prime example of wasted space. My husband and I discovered an extra three feet behind the back wall and set out on a mission to expand the space into a glorious walk-in pantry. Here's a look at what we started with.

After much toil the expansion is complete and I turned my focus on maximizing the square footage. I started by clearing out the pantry, which gave me a clean slate. I went through all the food, categorizing and clearing out expired items. Then I analyzed the space, coming up with a comprehensive list of my needs, to ensure the organizational tools I implemented would increase the functionality. Organizing products aren't cheap and the cost can quickly add up. I wanted to avoid expensive missteps. The end result was a truly custom solution using mostly off-the-shelf {lol} organization tools. Let me give you the grand tour.

I maximized storage by taking full advantage of the vertical space and bringing the shelving all the way up to the ceiling. A step stool makes it easy to access items on the upper shelves. We chose wire shelving by ClosetMaid because the shelves can be adjusted to suit our changing needs.

On the top shelf I placed several Lazy Susans. I love using Lazy Susans on upper shelves because it allows me to effectively utilize the difficult to reach space towards the back of the shelf. No more fumbling for items stuck in the back, tipping things over in the process or knocking them to the floor. I contemplated putting infrequently used items in baskets, but I find it awkward to pull down sometimes-heavy baskets from that height. I can now access the entire shelf with one spin of the turn table. And these Lazy Susans by Oxo are especially nice because the deep ledge helps keep items from flying off. Three 11-inch Lazy Susans that hold my oils, vinegars, and cooking wines, and two 16-inch Lazy Susans hold our collection of adult beverages. I also keep extra paper towel rolls up here.

On the second shelf I have my pastas and rice in air-tight containers, as well as boxed side dishes. Two large storage bins with handles hold bagged side dishes and soups.

On every shelf I utilize a large Lazy Susan in the corner so I can easily access every item including those stored in the back that would normally by "lost" in the deep corner. This one holds my pasta sauce, bread crumbs, and salad accoutrements.

On the third shelf I keep two small storage bins with handles for packaged gravies, sauces and marinades. A three-tiered, non-skid shelf organizer allows me to easily see my canned goods. A storage bin from an office supply store houses packets of tuna. This shelf is where I also keep the boxed meals. The Lazy Susan holds peanut products and honey.

The next shelf holds large cookie jars filled with various cookies, snack crackers and pretzels. The clear containers enable me to see exactly how much I have left of these often-used items so I know when to buy more. A repurposed coffee container holds straws and cans of soda are on a rack nearby. I opted for open baskets to corral random snacks that we don't have much of. I got these baskets {which came in various shades of pastel} on steep after-Easter clearance from Michaels. I spray painted them red for a uniform look.

On the next shelf I used more small, storage bins with handles to hold fruit snacks and packaged crackers and cookies. Like all our snacks, these are stored low so the kids can access them. They love how easy it is to get to and are so proud to get food for themselves without my help. While I recognize this set-up wouldn't work for every family, I'm fortunate to have kids that don't abuse the privilege. They always ask before grabbing a snack. Additionally, having them easily accessible in open containers makes packing school lunches a breeze.

Also on this shelf are all my baking items, such as flour and sugar, in air-tight containers. Baked goods can attract bugs if not stored properly and these Lock & Lock containers really do the trick. The uniform sizes and square profile make them easy to stack and keep organized.

The bottom shelf is mostly dedicated to breakfast items. I have four tall, narrow containers to store cereal. Whimsically, I enhanced the containers with giant vinyl letters identifying the contents, as well as chalkboard labels to specify what kind of cereal is within. Stackable storage bins from an office supply store hold individual outmeal packets and bags of pop tarts. I converted a spagetti container to store cupcake liners. 

Also on this shelf is a large woven basket, spray painted red, holds breakfast bars and muffin mixes. The Lazy Susan in the corner has syrup and a container of oatmeal. A three-drawer plastic organizer is used to store baking chocolate, cake decorating tools and sprinkles. Finally a simple magazine holder was put to great use storing my plastic wrap, wax paper and aluminum foil.

Large plastic storage bins corral like items {like chips, crackers and totes} and keep everything off the floor.

I wanted to utilize every square inch of space, so my husband and I built a custom spice rack between two wall studs. The shallow shelves keep everything front and center and the hitching post-style toe rails keep items in place. I added shelf-liner to the back to make it "pretty". It's my favorite part of the pantry. Isn't it beautiful!?!

I took advantage of the unused wall space by hanging a magnetic whiteboard for weekly meal planning. Below it is a shower organizer that I converted to a note station. The large "basket", meant for shampoo/conditioner, was the perfect size for 4x6 index cards. These are ideal for jotting down notes and grocery lists. The smaller "basket", meant for soap, has a marker and eraser. The two hooks, meant for towels, are where I will hang the aprons.

And if that wasn't enough, I installed a magnetic strip to place bag clips and spice tins, which I used to hold elastic bands and box tops.

Finally, I finished the space by adding labels to practically everything even though it wasn't always necessarily. It helps make the pantry look even more organized and pretty. I used a combination of custom-made labels, repositionable labels, chalkboard labels, tags, and bookplates.

I increased the cuteness factor by placing vintage food advertisements in simple frames {spray painted red to match the rest of the room} and adding them to the unusable wall space above the spice rack.

It took a lot of hard work and late nights by both my husband and I, but I have the most amazing pantry. It's one of those spaces I find it difficult to believe is actually mine, even when I'm standing right in front of it. Now for the rest of the house. {sigh}

Here's a side-by-side look of the before, during, and after.