This is my first walk-in pantry, and I’ve had such a good time organizing it. Here are some walk-in pantry group concepts rounded up into one nice listing of how to maintain your pantry neat and tidy.
I’ve had numerous totally different pantries in my time:
- A kitchen cupboard in my first residence
- A full-length kitchen cupboard plus a nook of the storage in my first home (I obtained some bizarre bugs in that storage pantry!)
- A full-length kitchen cupboard plus a nook of the basement in my second home (the microwave was within the basement too – all these stairs!)
- A small cupboard plus open cabinets in my third home (this was after I embraced decanting into mason jars!)
- A reach-in pantry on this home 1.0 (getting greater! See this publish for pics: Pantry Hacks)
- A walk-in pantry of my desires after our house renovation
- A well-organized walk-in pantry can retailer a myriad of things, from the smallest of kitchen devices to the bulkiest of dry items. But, let’s face it – and not using a correct system in place, even essentially the most spacious pantry can succumb to chaos and litter.
With every transfer, my pantry obtained a tiny bit greater. Until now, 20 years later, I lastly have my dream walk-in pantry!
When it involves having your pantry inside a kitchen cupboard, there are numerous sensible methods to make the most of the space for storing. I’ve written about Kitchen Cabinet Space Saver Ideas and My Favorite Kitchen Organization Accessories. Truth be informed, the easiest way to maintain a small pantry organized is to retailer fewer issues.
Today’s publish is concentrated on the walk-in pantry
An organized pantry just isn’t solely visually interesting but additionally extremely practical. It saves you invaluable time and vitality by offering quick access to all of your cooking necessities. From meal planning to grocery purchasing, an organized pantry retains you on high of your stock.
I’ve shared ours already on this publish specializing in 30 Pantry Organization Bins previous to our transfer in and in my Home Tour. Thomas’s aunt Layton is a skilled organizer and helped us set up our pantry high to backside. She introduced containers along with her that I purchased from her, and we returned something we didn’t use. She labored MAGIC and lives in Richmond, VA if any of you locals want some organizing assist!
Here are some organizing concepts on the right way to unlock your pantry’s full potential, accomodate an array of things, and maintain your meals shops as organized, environment friendly, and clutter-free as attainable.
26 Walk-in pantry group concepts
Here are 26 walk-in pantry group concepts that can assist you maximize house, scale back litter, and maintain your pantry practical! Not all of those will apply to your pantry (or mine) however think about them a approach to jog concepts.
1. Clear Containers
These OXO bins I obtained for our oats and flour are so a lot better than coping with baggage! I’m a midway decanter. I like to decant greater issues (oats, flour, sugar) however depart smaller issues (nuts, chips, cereal) of their unique container, particularly these with a faster turnover like cereal. I’ll say that decanted meals is SO a lot simpler to scoop and pour, so that you’ll have much less mess upon use. These OXO containers have a built-in scoop that lives within the lid! And they’re air tight. I can’t say the identical about when my youngsters attain in a field for a snack…
2. Small Glass Jars
Layton introduced these jars to my group session and they’re good for smaller quantities of meals that you just need to decant: nuts, candied pecans, chia seeds, flaked salt. Anything from the majority bins that you just would possibly come house with in a bag or that is available in a store-bought bag that isn’t completely resealable. I really like that they’re stackable and the wood high provides heat. Note they’re arduous to search out in shops, so in the event that they’re in inventory on-line purchase them ASAP! These are comparable.
3. Mason Jars
Of course the go-to OG meals storage container is the mason jar! Look for vast mouth jars which might be simpler to fill and scoop out of. A silicone funnel is useful to fill them up. I’ve used mason jars for grains, granola, beans, seeds, nuts, and extra.
4. Baskets
Foods that I’m not decanting I desire to cover in baskets. This retains a uniform, cohesive look. I really like hyacinth baskets as a result of they’re light-weight and ethereal. These are nice as a result of they arrive with labels!
5. Acrylic Bins
I really like clear acrylic bins as a result of they’re light-weight and simple to convey down to succeed in. They’re additionally supreme for storing both fairly issues OR numerous tiny issues you’ll want to maintain collectively, like dietary supplements. We use them out of sight to retailer small dietary supplements and in sight to include stunning cans of wine. Use them for storing all types of individually wrapped or small bundle meals like child pouches, granola bars, baggage of chips, grains in their very own packaging, bins of mac and cheese, and single serving snacks.
6. Divided Baskets + Boxes
While clear containers are good for some issues, usually I like opaque containers in a pantry for a extra cohesive look. What you’ll want to set up will dictate the dimensions of the dividers. This smaller one is nice for issues like tuna cans or tea, or a bigger one like we’ve got is good for baking substances or totally different pastas. I really like a mixture of wooden and hyacinth!
7. Bamboo, Wire or Wooden Crates
Wooden crates can add a country contact whereas storing fruits, greens, or bigger objects. I exploit classic wood bins on my decrease cabinets for napkins, tablecloths, and wine! I’ve a wire basket in my pantry too to combine up the supplies and maintain the farmhouse vibe going sturdy.
8. Shelf Risers
I purchased a few shelf risers to make use of for our peanut butters. We use them regularly sufficient that I needed to have the ability to see which one I used to be reaching for vs. having them hidden inside a basket. You can use these for canned items or oils and vinegars, jams, sauces, and different objects you would possibly solely have one by one. This is the one we’ve got that’s expandable.
9. Lazy Susans
Use lazy Susans for nook areas or deep cabinets for straightforward entry. We have an acrylic one that’s deep to maintain issues from spilling over that we use for additional condiments and sauces. It’s good within the nook.
10. Canned Food Organizer
If you’re somebody who has numerous the identical canned good (beans, tomato sauce, pumpkin (!), and so on.) then the self meting out canned items items are nice!
11. Water Bottle Organizer
If you’ve adopted my Instagram tales, I wrote about buying this cheap water bottle holder and having it in a drawer. But the bottles have been sliding round. Rather than shopping for extra drawer dividers to include them, I ended up shifting it to the pantry. It’s not as fairly as a drawer since water bottles will not be uniform, however the slots maintain our additional water bottles neat and tidy. I really like that it may well accomodate each giant and small bottles. I made a decision to maintain the 2 cabinets facet by facet as a substitute of stacking them for simpler entry.
12. Wine Rack
I didn’t assume we’d have room for a wine rack within the pantry, however we did! It’s good to not need to go to a different ground to verify the wine stash. Tip: you need to use a wine rack to retailer different large bottles, like sodas or additional olive oils.
13. Clear Magazine Holders
Repurpose clear plastic journal holders for foil, plastic wrap, or parchment paper. All these lengthy tubes that don’t look nice simply lined up taking on shelf house.
14. Shelf Drawers
Consider pull-out cabinets or drawers for accessing objects on the again and/or using all the peak of your cabinets. These stunning sliding baskets are fairly and practical, particularly you probably have broadly spaced cabinets.
15. Stackable Bins
These are nice when you have got objects you not often use, resembling seasonal objects for baking, picnics, popsicles, and so on. Group objects collectively and use all of the vertical house you may. Clear ones make it straightforward to see what’s inside as do wire ones, or you need to use labels in any other case. I additionally love the stackable bin for objects that you just at all times maintain extras available. Say you have got two open baggage of one thing however maintain unopened ones so that you by no means run out.
16. Hooks
Install hooks for hanging aprons, oven mitts, cleansing provides (like a brush), or kitchen instruments.
17. Over-the-Door Rack
We have a barn door for our pantry that stays open, however if you happen to do have a door that closes, use the again of it for all of the issues! Over-the-door organizers are nice for spices, condiments, packets, or cans. I really like a black wire one.
18. Wall-Mounted Spice Rack
Similarly, you probably have wall house, you may grasp a spice rack. These are skinny in order that they received’t take up a ton of your open walk-in quantity, and sensible for additional spices that received’t slot in a spice cupboard or drawer. These black wire ones are gorg.
19. Outlet
If you don’t have an outlet in your pantry, think about having an electrician put one in. This may very well be used for an equipment, vacuum (see under) or anything electrical. We had our electrician set up a low outlet for our robotic vacuum in order that it may well go out and in of the pantry on schedule. While I do want the vacuum was a bit extra hidden, this has labored nice in our new house.
20. Hand Vac
And with regards to electrical energy, a mini hand vac is so useful to have for crumbs! I don’t find out about you, however in some way my pantry at all times has crumbs from folks strolling in there and snacking on the spot. A fast vac retains them at bay. If you have got an outlet tucked into the cabinets, you may disguise the hand vac in a basket.
21. Butler’s Shelf
This is one other a kind of issues which may not work in your pantry, however if you happen to’re planning to construct on, having what I’d name a “butler’s shelf” was essential for me. While we didn’t have house in our kitchen for a full-on butler’s pantry, I needed a shelf that served as counter house for our galvanized “bread basket” and a placeholder for any issues we wanted to stash for a number of days, like leftover cupcakes. I LOVE this shelf for filling a water bottle with electrolytes or briefly storing issues.
22. Kid-Friendly Zone
Create a decrease shelf or bin for youngsters’s snacks and lunchbox objects. The 4 baskets on our center shelf are virtually all child meals, they usually can run and seize no matter they want.
23. Labels
Where you don’t have clear containers, labels are a should to shortly establish what’s inside. These are the Target bin labels Layton loves and purchased for us. Use your greatest handwriting with a Sharpie.
24. Shelf Liners
Shelf liners could be good to maintain your cabinets straightforward to wipe clear. Even if you happen to don’t do them in every single place, a they’re good to have in a number of key spots the place spills or additional safety is required. I desire cork liners for a pleasant look over the grippy plastic that tends to shift. (But this marble is fairly too!)
25. Inventory List
Keep a listing on the pantry door to trace what you’ll want to restock and what you have got. This is very good if you happen to embody expiration dates!
26. Chalkboard or Bulletin Board
Attach a chalkboard or whiteboard for notes, grocery lists, recipes, or menu planning. I wish to have a bulletin board for reminders and notes too, however due to our electrical panel, we weren’t in a position to grasp one! We have a spot for small papers in our mudroom as a substitute.
Bonus: A step ladder
Key for shorties like me to succeed in the highest shelf in each the pantry and the kitchen. This step stool is from Amazon and is AWESOME!
How To Organize A Walk-In Pantry
Buy containers first
When Layton got here to prepare our pantry, she introduced a automobile stuffed with bins (with the tags on) along with her. We have been in a position to begin placing pantry staples into the bins to shortly decide what we wanted and what labored. This is counter intuitive to what you would possibly assume, however I can’t specific how useful it was to have the supplies we wanted whereas we have been sorting relatively than going to the shop on the finish. We did go to the shop on the finish to return a number of issues that didn’t work and purchase a number of extra of those I beloved essentially the most, however the bulk of the group occurred abruptly with the bins available. So first cease: purchase quite a lot of totally different containers and sizes earlier than you get began!!
Declutter First
Before organizing your pantry, undergo your pantry and take away expired or unused objects. This will make the group course of extra environment friendly.
Categorize
Group comparable objects collectively. Common classes embody canned items, grains, baking provides, snacks, spices, condiments, and cleansing provides. Use the several types of containers you bought to maneuver issues round till you discover the right container for the invoice.
Put the prettiest objects within the entrance and heart
When placing the containers again in your pantry, put colourful objects in hidden areas and the prettiest /most cohesive entrance and heart. We selected to place our baskets and classic decor the place you may see it from the kitchen and our “messiest” litter hidden within the nook out of sight.
Consider the burden of things
I usually desire to place the larger, heavier objects on the decrease cabinets. Store small home equipment, like blenders, meals processors, and stand mixers, on decrease cabinets and lighter issues like paper towels up excessive.
Label Everything
Once all the things is in place and also you’re proud of each what’s within the containers and the place they’re, label all of it!
Maintain with FIFO
FIFO is an accounting time period which means First In, First Out aka at all times use your oldest product first to maintain the age of product at a minimal. When you restock your pantry, place newer objects behind older ones. This helps make sure that you employ objects earlier than they expire.
Seasonal Rotation
Rotate your pantry objects seasonally. Move holiday-specific objects to the entrance throughout their respective seasons so they’re simply accessible. During baking season you may want your sugar and flour on a decrease shelf than in the summertime when smoothie making substances get the prime spot.
