5 Small Pantry Organization Tips and Tricks (Pantry Makeover)

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small pantry organization

small pantry organization

Pantry organization is finally done! Today’s blog post marks the beginning of a 4-part ‘stay home’ series with my friends at Bed Bath & Beyond. I hope these posts inspire you to jump in on the fun. It’s beyond (pun intended, haha) satisfying to see the transformation, and bonus: kids can help, too! First up, pantry. I really hope you don’t judge me for the ‘before’ pic — although, I’m sure many of you can relate.

Below, I’m sharing my favorite small pantry organization tips/tricks to maximize space and to simplify your everyday life. I am so proud of how everything turned out. Shop my pantry below, and don’t forget to follow along on Instagram. I’ll be sharing fridge organization soon! Oh, adulting, you win.

**CLICK IMAGE PRODUCT TO SHOP** 


Ugh, let’s get this over with: cue the BEFORE PANTRY ORGANIZATION photos. YIKES (and yes, this is real life) Will share in detail what I did below!

PS: I added white shelving (removed the wire rack) for under $16 a pop. These are my exact shelves I picked up along with the brackets. It made such a difference to the space! I also added peel and stick wallpaper to the back, Bed Bath & Beyond has a large selection here. Took under 30 minutes and totally transformed this little space!

SMALL PANTRY ORGANIZATION BEFORE AND AFTER

small pantry organization

HOW DO I ORGANIZE MY SMALL PANTRY?


SMALL PANTRY ORGANIZATION TIP #1

TAKE EVERYTHING OUT AND THROW AWAY EXPIRED/UNWANTED ITEMS

This is your time to shine! Start with a clean slate and remove all unwanted items. I’m talking everything. Get it out! This will help prepare you for sorting/organizing later on. 

Definitely the hardest part (most worth it) because your house will become a crime scene, and it just takes awhile to sort through the junk! Stay strong! It’s amazing how much unused food got lost in the back. Such a waste. 

SMALL PANTRY ORGANIZATION TIP #2

INVEST IN PANTRY STORAGE SOLUTIONS 

Last time I organized the pantry, I stocked up on wicker baskets. While they look nice, they are the opposite of functional. Food started getting hidden resulting in unnecessary waste. I purchased the OXO Pop Top containers and, ummm, where have these been all my life? I got the 5-piece set, and 10-piece set – truthfully, I wish I got more. They’re SO good. These alone have completely transformed the space.

For smaller pantries like myself, you can stack these containers on top of each other allowing even more space for food. These containers also keep food fresh for longer. These are key for small pantries! Maximize space whenever you can! 

  • Additionally, we got wire baskets to hold jars and excess items to keep things contained and at an eye level. Again, you can easily see what’s inside which is key.
  • These clear containers from the iDesign collection are some of my favorites, too! They have a bunch of different sizes for specific items. We got them for macaroni and cheese (a staple in our household) and jars. They do sell jar dispensers, but I didn’t like them for our space.
  • Not even sure how I lived without this lazy suzan before! I store all of Harlow’s snacks in here (granola bars, apple sauce, trail mix, etc) for easy grabbing. Plus, I can hide the fruit snacks by spinning it around to the back. Parenting win.
  • Probably my favorite item from the haul: these gorgeous Anchor Hocking Montana Jars with a wooden lid. I just love how they look in my space! I got the 64oz and 96oz size which are very generous and fit all of the yummy things!
  • Additionally, this Pyrex set of 3 is another stunner to match the theme! I keep them in the fridge with leftovers and cheese. Will fill you in more on the next series: fridge. Stay tuned! Although, they’d look just as great in the pantry! The suction lid is next level.
  • These OXO brand jars are so cute for candy/snacks. Easy access and beyond chic for any space alike. I wish I had room!

OK, so, I know I mentioned in the beginning that wicker storage was a no-go, BUT: They do hide clutter. We use these for bags of chips, bulky items and baking goods (that don’t get used regularly). With a small space, it’s important to hide clutter or you’ll defeat the point of organizing.

I got some small wicker baskets for the shelves, and one larger one to store appliances/paper towels. I have these in almost every room of the house — I love them!

SMALL PANTRY ORGANIZATION TIP #3

UTILIZE EVERY INCH OF SPACE! FIND STORAGE SOLUTIONS FOR THE FLOOR AND DOOR

Our pantry is moderately sized, but the bottom half wasn’t getting utilized much at all. This turned into a ‘dumping station’ and it was a pain to clean out! We purchased an extra shelf to get appliances off the floor and it made every bit of difference. This 3-tier shelf is so cute (didn’t see it when I ordered everything the first time, bummer!) You can even remove shelves from your pantry to utilize extra storage, etc. That’s what we ended up doing here! The air fryer and Margaritaville mixer never looked so good!

We have a wire rack on the side of the pantry, but you could also install one on the back of your door. This helps maximize your small space efficiently and effectively. PS: If an item is out of stock, just click the ‘notify’ button and you’ll receive an email. Bed Bath & Beyond is notorious for restocking!

We also got a new garbage can that fits perfectly inside the pantry! So many rave reviews on the ‘Simple Human’ brand so that’s what we went with. They have multiple colors to choose from, and it looks so chic in the kitchen!

SMALL PANTRY ORGANIZATION TIP #4

LABEL YOUR ITEMS! 

I know I haven’t labeled my items yet, but waiting for them to arrive! This will ensure that items have a placeholder and will make for efficient organizing moving forward. No more chucking stuff in the pantry, but actually putting it where it belongs. I promise you this will help keep things organized moving forward! 

SMALL PANTRY ORGANIZATION TIP #5

TIDY UP EVERYDAY AND MAKE ROOM FOR NEW ADDITIONS!

Life happens, I’m the first to admit it! I always take about 10 minutes everyday to tidy up the space. Toss expired items, keep package labels facing out, wipe down anything that got dirty, etc. These 5-10 minutes everyday will save you HOURS in the long run. Trust me, this pantry of mine was not a delight to clean out. I learned my lesson big time! I am hoping these small pantry organization tips will help me KEEP things this way! 

Also make sure you leave some room in your pantry for new items that will definitely find their way back to you! 

BONUS TIP: HAVE SOME FUN WITH DECOR!

I added in some extra cuteness — faux flower, wooden utensils (isn’t the utensil holder adorable?) and glassware.

small pantry organization

small pantry organization

small pantry organization


small pantry organization

 

small pantry organization

small pantry organization

 

small pantry organization

pantry organization, small pantry organization

 

 

small pantry organization

How do you keep your small pantry organized?


You can find everything Happily Inspired home here.  

Thank you to my wonderful friends at Bed Bath & Beyond for partnering with Happily Inspired on this ‘stay home’ series!


About Arin

It’s lovely to meet you! I’m a thirty-something mama who loves all things interiors. Within these pages, you’ll discover a treasure trove of home decor insights, furniture reccs, painting endeavors, design advice, and much more—all aimed at enhancing your cozy abode!

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