Helpful Small Pantry Organization Ideas • Craving Some Creativity

How to organize a small pantry with tips and tricks about food storage, pantry bins, and pantry organization ideas.

Clear labeled canisters keep dry goods handy. Wide labeled flats keep snacks, canned goods and other items organized on shelves.

Table of Contents

My husband told me this weekend that he would marry me all over again…if only for my pantry organization.

He’s a keeper.

Keeping a small pantry organized can be work. Our small, messy kitchen pantry got a major makeover, and now the space is super organized and efficient.

How To Organize a Small Pantry

One of my goals this year was to get the closets organized, tidy, and maybe a bit pretty. I hate, hate not being able to find something I need. We organized the linen closet here along with the Christmas decor and you can see our laundry room makeover from earlier this year.

Before you get started organizing your pantry you should decide what is going to go inside of it. Will you be storing small appliances in there? Large appliances? Strictly food items such as dry goods?

Once you decide what your core pantry items are going to be, then you can move on to the actual project itself!

Start with a Clean and Fresh Space

Our pantry has several wood shelves with a coating on them. After cleaning it thoroughly, I painted the shelves with 2 coats of durable cabinet and trim paint.

This would be a good time to lay down shelf liners, whcih further protect against stains and scratches.

While you may not need to repaint, I recommend clearing everything out to start with a clear space. This will make purging and cleaning much easier.

The Pantry Organization Product Source list is at the bottom of this post.

Full size shot of organized pantry. Over-the-door storage rack for spices. Labeled uniform bins on shelves.

Use a Pantry Door Organizer

Doors are the best way to maximize small pantry organization and offer easy access to the things you’d be looking for quickly such as spices, baking ingredients, and syrups for coffee.

I love my door hanger. This one is budget-friendly and has adjustable heights between shelves. Another option that goes through the entire door is this door organizer that you can adjust and includes different shelves.

The back of the door is also a great place to hang your aprons or even small kitchen utensils.

Check out our list of Clever Ideas for Cabinet Organization.

Over-the-door wire rack keeps spices, cooking oils and baking items organized and handy.

How to Layout Pantry Storage

There are several methods to how you should organize a pantry for maximum effectiveness, and I have many considerations. A well-organized pantry starts with a good layout.

Once you have figured out your kitchen essentials, plan out where they will go. Here is a good guide:

Put heavier items on lower shelves.
Put healthy snacks at eye level or in easier reach than treats.
Rarely used items or backups go up higher than eye level on top shelf.
Start with figuring out where your big items are going to go and follow them with the smaller items.
Don’t put food on the floor, but you can add baskets under the bottom shelf that hang in the air.
If you buy groceries in bulk from the grocery store, make sure you have a system for rotating to avoid food expiration. Always pay attention to expiration dates!
Pair similar items together. For example, all dried goods such as sugar and flour or pasta and rice. This is a great way to make your pantry space even more functional!

For example, my husband happens to be 15 inches taller than me. Of course, he always gets the top shelf since I can’t reach it!

How to Choose Food Storage Containers

Oh, the fun stuff! I use a few different varieties of containers, but whichever you choose, food containers should always be:

Easy to Clean (food-grade plastic) – I generally avoid those cute hyacinth baskets. Wire baskets are okay for sealed items like canned goods.
Buy a few extra bins – storage items regularly change so I get a few extra or try to get items that are continually available.
Keep uniformity by using as few different container styles as possible. The more different containers you have, the more cluttered it will look.
Label everything.
Clear containers. Utilize clear containers for things like cereal so that you can see when you are running low on them.

CONTAINER TIP: If you are placing bulk items in a container, be sure to label their expiration date! I use painter’s tape on the back, but sticky notes or dry erase labels might work.

Your storage solutions should make sense. For example, an open-top bin makes sense for things like cans and grab-and-go snacks. However, a closed container might make sense for bulk items like oatmeal and cereal. I have a large basket type for chips/root vegetables, a medium basket type, pourable containers for cereal, and large dry food storage containers.

Labeled clear canisters lined up neatly on counter top show case contents. — I have collected these OXO containers slowly for over 10 years because they are more expensive but easy to clean and they last well.

Do Not Overfill Containers

If you find that you have nearly filled a container, consider getting a second one. One month you may want to take advantage of a great sale or maybe you’re a big Costco buyer.

I don’t fill pantry bins more than 70% when overhauling an organization system. In fact, I have two snack bins, 3 bins for canned goods, and 3 unlabeled bins for overflow.

Clear labeled canisters keep staples like rice, flour and oatmeal orderly on pantry shelves. Clear plastic pour bins keep cereal fresh on the bottom shelf.

Best Sealed Jars with Lids for Dry Goods

It took me a few years to fill my collection of canisters. I also have these large glass jars for grains and sugars. Make sure these food storage containers are clear for ease of use and repurchasing!

List of Pantry Labels for Jars

Baking Items (Cocoa Powder / Cornstarch / Baking soda)
Flour (All- purpose / Bread Flour / Whole Wheat Flour / Oatmeal /Specialty Flours)
Sugar (Granulated / Brown / Powdered)
Rice (Brown / White)
Pasta (Spaghetti / Penne / shells / macaroni)
Dried Fruits and Nuts (Raisins / Cranberries / dry beans)
Pre-made mixes (Cookie Mix / Pancake Mix / Soup Mix)
Cereals

We have some handy printable spice labels (for FREE!) and more tips in my post on organizing spices in your kitchen.

Pull Out Shelves

It doesn’t work well in this corner pantry, I admit. However, I added pull-out shelves like these to my mother’s kitchen pantry which is more like a large cabinet with deep shelves. She loves them!

You can DIY this project or get a custom-made system that has nice pull-out shelves.

Bonus Small Walk-In Pantry Organization Tips

You have a pretty good guide of where to go with your upcoming pantry makeover, but here are a few bonus tips to get you going:

Stick to bins and larger storage solutions if you have wire shelving.
Food does not go on the floor but you can make use of floor space by placing kitchen appliances or cleaning products down there.
The floor could also be a great place to keep bulkier items such as sealed water bottles and vases.
Don’t place glass storage containers high up. Keep them at eye level or below as a precaution.
If you have wall space, consider simple wall storage solutions to further maximize space.
A space saving fold-able step stool like this one is a must-have kitchen tool.
Got deep corners? Lazy Susans offer an awesome storage solution for tight spaces.

More Kitchen Organization Ideas

After the pantry comes the rest of the kitchen. I have put together a huge list of organization ideas for your cabinets that pair well with the pantry organization ideas mentioned in this post!

In that post you will find:

how to organize kitchen drawers
how to maximize cabinet space
how to organize under the sink
& how to organize your bigger items in the kitchen

Plus, I have even more!

Good luck with your pantry project!

Frequently asked questions

How should I get started organizing the pantry?

The pantry area can easily become overwhelming, especially if you haven’t organized it in a while. First start by pulling everything out and cleaning and lining the shelves. Go through all your items and take inventory, categorize items by what makes the most sense to you. Keeping it organized is much more attainable when it’s accessible to your own needs. Assess your available space and budget before choosing containers.

How can I keep inventory of what I have and avoid unnecessary purchases?

The age of technology comes in very handy here! There are so many apps out there to help keep you organized and on top of daily tasks. We like to use the Cozi app for groceries and lists. It’s one less thing I have to remember and is so convenient.

How can I organize a small pantry on a budget?

The biggest way to cut costs is by finding budget-friendly containers. Look for sales, discount stores, and inexpensive containers like mason jars or IKEA bins. Some of the sturdier systems (OXO good grips or Elfa System) have been around for years so you can buy a little at a time.

Pull Out Shelves for the pantry organization

>>Shop Pantry Storage<<

(click on photo for source)

Weekend DIY project. A pegboard organizer in the craft room above the desk workspace.

More Home Organization Projects

PS I love seeing your creations! Be sure to take a photo and tag #cravingcreative on Instagram! You can also stay in touch with me through following me on Instagram, Pinterest, and subscribing to the newsletter!