31 Ways to Maximize Your Pantry Space
When cupboards are a jumbled mess, finding ingredients can take as long as cooking dinner. Keep even the smallest pantry organized with these clever storage tips and smart, space-saving products.
Try a Pegboard
If your utility closet and pantry are one and the same, you need storage options that maximize space while keeping your food and cleaning items safely separated. A pegboard is a great way to create more vertical storage, and it can change with your needs without any additional installation. Just shift the pegs around to store mops, brooms, dustpans and more. Pegboards are also perfect for storing aprons, oven mitts and pot holders if you’re short on kitchen drawers.
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Think Outside the Box
Who says living room storage can't be used in the kitchen? This chic, rattan-style storage ottoman looks great at the bottom of this open-shelf pantry.
Upcycle Storage You Already Have
Before you go out and buy new stuff, take a look at storage items you're not using around the house. If you've gone digital, you might have some old magazine holders lying around. And these stands make terrific storage bins for produce in the pantry such as potatoes or garlic.
Keep Canned Goods Contained
Canned goods have a way of disappearing into the back of a shelf never to be seen for years. Keep go-to cans within reach with a can corral. These racks store cans horizontally instead of vertically so that every time you pull a can out, the next can will automatically roll forward. This also keeps cans easily in sight so you don't forget an item and waste it.
Use a Lazy Susan
Lazy Susans are synonymous with entertaining and big buffet spreads, but they're also super handy in the pantry. Not only do these spinning wonders keep lots of small bottles and tins contained, but they also keep ingredients organized by theme. Store similar ingredients such as sauces and spices in each quadrant so you never misplace an item. Lazy Susans are also super helpful in corner cabinets where items tend to get pushed to the back and out of sight.
Invest in Pro Shelving
When you think about a professional kitchen, you probably think about investing in luxe, gourmet appliances and artisanal ingredients. But a true chef's kitchen also has a pro pantry. Transform a closet near the kitchen into a picture-perfect food storage space by installing a store-bought shelving unit like the one seen here.
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Build a Built-In
If you don't have a dedicated pantry with a door, you can turn a nook in the kitchen into a bonafide pantry area with opening shelving. Built-ins are a great way to utilize the exact space you have while making open shelving look attractive and intentional. And if you don't have the budget for a built-in, you can fake it with painted beadboard and floating shelves.
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Go Old-School With Canning Jars
Weck canning jars have been a pantry staple for more than 100 years. The company's classic tulip design is pretty enough to bring straight from the kitchen to the table when entertaining. But these little, stackable jars can be used for so much more than homemade jams. The airtight seal is perfect for dry goods such as rice, beans and oatmeal.
Consider Horseshoe Shelves
There's just something about a walk-in pantry that feels extra fancy. That something might just be the sheer ability to see and reach every item at the same time. If you don't have a deep pantry, you can fake a walk-in with horseshoe shelves. These floating shelves create a U-shaped indention that will allow you to take a step or peek inside — even if you can't completely walk in.
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Opt for Cubbies Over Large Shelves
Large, expansive shelves can hold tons of pantry items, but they don’t do a great job of organizing or keeping items in sight. If you break down big shelves into smaller cubbies, you can organize items by theme, height or meal type — whatever works for you and your family. And you don’t need to buy a bunch of wood to make this happen. You could even use filing cabinet dividers or cookbooks to fake cubbies.
Label Your Heart Out
Clear bins with airtight seals are a great way to prevent food such as cereal from going stale as well as ensuring no bags — such as sugar sacks — leak and attract pests. But a shelf full of matching bins can make it difficult to locate ingredients quickly. Enter the beloved label maker. Labels make it easy to see and grab exactly what you need. Plus, a pantry full of well-organized and labeled items just gives us warm fuzzies. We’ve even created some special fonts you can download for free to make your labels extra fancy.
Pull Out Your Pantry
If you don’t have a closet or a cabinet to create a pantry, take a look at the thin slivers of space between your kitchen appliances. All you need is a couple of inches to create a full pantry with pull-out shelving. These pull-out racks magically give you tons of storage in a spot that would otherwise be empty. Plus, pull-outs make it incredibly easy to see and find ingredients.
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Take It to the Next Level
To squeeze every last square inch out of your cupboards — and still be able to easily access what’s in back — install a tiered shelf, like this bamboo option from The Container Store that expands to fit the width.
Put Your Stamp on Spice Storage
Not enough room in the cupboard for all of your spices? Put them on display! Stylist Janna Lufkin and organizer Elizabeth Goodsell discovered that a vintage stamp holder perfectly fits the small jars.
Corral Beverages
Sometimes bottles and cans won’t store upright. If that’s the case, turn to horizontal storage such as this clear rack from The Container Store or the Fridge Monkey, a rubber mat with a series of grooves that keep stacked cylinders from rolling away.
Sort by Category
Gathering like items guarantees you’ll be able to find what you need, advise the organizing pros behind Neat Method. Start with basic groups like baking, breakfast, grains and snacks.
Pick a Clear Winner
The pro organizers over at Neat Method can’t get enough of OXO containers. "They help you use the full height of your shelf, ensure food stays fresh, and did we mention they're dishwasher safe?!" Transfer items like granola bars and wrapped crackers into labeled bins. Or, shop in the bulk section when possible to skip cardboard boxes altogether. To track expiration dates, apply stickers to the bottoms.
Add a Base Layer
Here’s a trick for making the most of deep shelves from Clea Shearer, cofounder of The Home Edit: Line up boxes and jars of food on top of a bin, basket or serving tray that’s not in everyday rotation. “Pull out the whole container to access anything in the back,” she says.
Go for High Visibility
Mesh baskets keep all your cans and bottles visible, eliminating the eternal question, "Where did I put that can of tomato sauce?" The organizers also take the frustration out of creating a shopping list. When you can see what you have, you know instantly what you need and avoid duplicating pantry items. Bonus: These baskets keep smaller items like extract bottles from getting lost in cabinets or falling through wire shelves.
Build a Snack Station
A narrow strip of wall space is the ideal spot for single-serving bags. To create her custom holder, Christy at 11 Magnolia Lane glued curtain hooks (minus the rings) to a strip of painted wood.