Small Pantry Organization Ideas - Oh Happy Joy! (2024)

Keeping a well-organized pantry can be a daunting task, especially if you have limited space. When designing the pantry shelves, I had scoured the internet for the shelving and organization ideas. With the right tips and tricks, you can transform your small pantry into a functional and efficient storage space! After much research, here are some of my favorite ideas for maximizing space and keeping your pantry organized and clutter-free.

Tips on Organizing A Small Pantry

Start With Taking Everything Out

One of the first steps to organizing a small pantry is to declutter and get rid of any expired or unused items. This is such an important step as this will not only create more space but also make it easier to find what you need. Once you've cleared out the clutter, you can start utilizing some of these small pantry organization ideas.

Use Clear Containers for Storage

Clear containers are a MUST in organizing your pantry. Instead of a regular basket, clear containers help you see what's inside quickly without having to rummage through shelves or bins. Clear containers are also a great solution for storing dry goods like rice, pasta, and cereal in a small pantry. You can easily keep track of your food inventory and know when it's time to restock.

Small Pantry Organization Ideas - Oh Happy Joy! (1)

Source: @homestylebytess

Small Pantry Organization Ideas - Oh Happy Joy! (2)

Source: @home_puzzle

Small Pantry Organization Ideas - Oh Happy Joy! (3)
Small Pantry Organization Ideas - Oh Happy Joy! (4)

Source: @getneat_withlisa

My Favorite Clear Bins:

Small Pantry Organization Ideas - Oh Happy Joy! (5)

My Favorite Clear Plastic Canisters:

I love OXO good grips clear canisters. Ideally, get a set and save money, or you can get them on sale from places like Home Goods or Costco.

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Use Vertical Space & Doors

Don't forget to utilize the space on your pantry doors and walls. Install hooks, racks, or shelves to hang items like aprons, measuring cups, or spices. You can also use an over-the-door shoe organizer to store small items like packets of seasonings or snack bars. This will not only free up shelf space but also make it easier to see and access your items.

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Source: @sortedandstyledtampa

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Small Pantry Organization Ideas - Oh Happy Joy! (9)

Source: @a.simple.start

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Source: Naptime Decorator

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Source: Everyday Laura

My Favorite Door Organizer:

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Group Similar Items Together

One of the easiest ways to maintain an organized pantry is by grouping similar items together. For example, keep all baking supplies in one area, all canned goods in another, and snacks in a separate section. This will not only make it easier to find what you need but also help you keep track of your inventory and avoid buying duplicate items.

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Small Pantry Organization Ideas - Oh Happy Joy! (14)

Source: @littlecornerof_joy

Maximize Under-Shelf Space

Make use of the often overlooked space under your shelves by adding baskets or bins. This is a great way to store small items like kitchen linens, packets, or snack bags. You can also label these bins for easy identification and to keep things organized.

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Source: Hunker

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Source: BuzzFeed

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Source: The Container Store

My Favorite Undershelf Drawer Basket:

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Invest in Shelf Risers

By using shelf risers, you can create additional layers of storage and utilize the vertical space in your pantry. This is especially useful for storing canned goods or jars that tend to take up a lot of space on shelves.

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Small Pantry Organization Ideas - Oh Happy Joy! (20)

Source: @crosswellorganizing

Small Pantry Organization Ideas - Oh Happy Joy! (21)

Source: @agv_my_lifestyle

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Source: Sharon Rowley

My Favorite Shelf Risers:

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Tiered shelf risers are great to have visibility of everything that you have in your pantry. They are great when it comes to organizing canned goods or spices.

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Label Things Clearly

Labels make everything uber organized. I like to label my containers and bins so that I can easily find what each bin holds. Even with the clear bins, it makes a difference when multiple people are opening and using the pantry and know exactly where things go. You can use stickers, chalkboard labels, or a label maker for a more polished look.

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Small Pantry Organization Ideas - Oh Happy Joy! (26)

Source: @organisedsimplicity

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Source: The Kitchn

My Favorite Labels:

I love things simple and minimalistic looks. These are my favorite minimalistic look labels you can use to organize your bins and storage.

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Small Pantry Organization Ideas - Oh Happy Joy! (29)

Use Lazy Susan's

A Lazy Susan is a rotating tray that can be placed on shelves for easy access to items. This is particularly useful for deep and corner shelves, where it may be difficult to reach items at the back. I also love using these for small snack items that you can stand and rotate to find. Use Lazy Susan's to store spices, oils, or bottles of vinegar and keep them within arm's reach.

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Small Pantry Organization Ideas - Oh Happy Joy! (31)

Source: @righton_target

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Source: BuzzFeed

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Source: Domino Magazine

My Favorite Lazy Susan’s:

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Regularly Purge & Reorganize

To maintain a well-organized pantry, it's important to regularly purge and reorganize your items. This will not only prevent clutter from building up but also help you use up older items before they expire. Take some time every few months to go through your pantry, check expiration dates, and declutter any unnecessary or expired items.

By following these small pantry organization ideas, you can make the most out of your limited space while keeping everything neat and easily accessible. Remember to be creative with your storage solutions and regularly maintain your pantry to ensure it stays organized. With these tips, you'll have a pantry that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing in no time. Happy organizing!

List of Products You Might Want to Organize:

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As an expert in organizing and maximizing space in small pantries, I can provide you with valuable tips and tricks to keep your pantry well-organized and clutter-free. I have extensive knowledge in this area and can offer insights based on my experience and research.

Tips on Organizing a Small Pantry

1. Start With Taking Everything Out: The first step in organizing a small pantry is to declutter and get rid of any expired or unused items. This will create more space and make it easier to find what you need.

2. Use Clear Containers for Storage: Clear containers are essential for organizing your pantry. They allow you to quickly see what's inside without rummaging through shelves or bins. Clear containers are particularly useful for storing dry goods like rice, pasta, and cereal in a small pantry.

3. Use Vertical Space & Doors: Utilize the space on your pantry doors and walls by installing hooks, racks, or shelves. These can be used to hang items like aprons, measuring cups, or spices. Over-the-door shoe organizers are also great for storing small items like seasoning packets or snack bars, freeing up shelf space and making items more accessible.

4. Group Similar Items Together: Maintain an organized pantry by grouping similar items together. For example, keep all baking supplies in one area, canned goods in another, and snacks in a separate section. This makes it easier to find what you need and helps you keep track of your inventory .

5. Maximize Under-Shelf Space: Make use of the often overlooked space under your shelves by adding baskets or bins. This is a great way to store small items like kitchen linens, packets, or snack bags. Labeling these bins can help with easy identification and organization.

6. Invest in Shelf Risers: Shelf risers are a great tool for creating additional layers of storage and utilizing the vertical space in your pantry. They are especially useful for storing canned goods or jars that take up a lot of space on shelves.

7. Label Things Clearly: Labels are essential for maintaining an organized pantry. They help you easily find what each container or bin holds. You can use stickers, chalkboard labels, or a label maker for a more polished look.

8. Use Lazy Susans: Lazy Susans are rotating trays that can be placed on shelves for easy access to items. They are particularly useful for deep and corner shelves where it may be difficult to reach items at the back. Lazy Susans can be used to store spices, oils, or bottles of vinegar, keeping them within arm's reach.

9. Regularly Purge & Reorganize: To maintain a well-organized pantry, it's important to regularly purge and reorganize your items. This prevents clutter from building up and helps you use up older items before they expire. Take some time every few months to go through your pantry, check expiration dates, and declutter any unnecessary or expired items .

By following these small pantry organization ideas, you can make the most out of your limited space while keeping everything neat and easily accessible. Remember to be creative with your storage solutions and regularly maintain your pantry to ensure it stays organized. With these tips, you'll have a pantry that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing in no time.

Please note that the information provided above is based on my expertise and research in organizing small pantries.

Small Pantry Organization Ideas - Oh Happy Joy! (2024)

FAQs

In what order should a pantry be organized? ›

maintain food zones

First, no matter how small your food storage location is, you need to keep food zones separated and organized. Keep your canned foods in one spot, your dry goods in another, and the snacks in another. Here are some more small kitchen tips that will help you keep everything organized.

How do you organize pantry so you can see everything? ›

Keep dry ingredients in clear, airtight containers that stack neatly so you can see when your stock is low. Place mixes, frostings, and other ingredients on a nearby shelf. You can use pantry shelf risers ($11, The Container Store) to stack ingredients on top of each other in an organized fashion.

How can I organize my pantry with no money? ›

Go through your house and find boxes, baskets, glass jars, and clear canisters Use them to store snacks and open bags of chips. Mix and match and rearrange your food storage containers until you find a configuration that works! This is the key step in organizing your pantry without spending any money.

How do you optimize a small pantry? ›

Clear containers, sliding shelves, and Lazy Susans are all effective storage solutions for small pantry organization. Each one can help you save space and maximize efficiency. These solutions can help you keep your pantry tidy and make it easier to find what you need.

How do you organize a beautiful pantry? ›

Place Like Items Together. Have a lot of stuff you want to look visually clutter-free? Group multiples of the same item like in a grocery store. This not only helps you locate things faster, but it also looks cleaner and more organized without using any organizers.

What do you put on the bottom shelf of a pantry? ›

7. Make a Kid-Friendly Spot. Fill a bottom shelf with water bottles, snack bins and cereal dispensers, so your kiddos can help put away groceries and grab something to eat.

How do you organize a pantry functionally? ›

Pantry Organization Ideas

Group items by frequency of use to help keep the items you use most often within easy reach. Store items in clear containers/storage bins that make it easy to see what's inside and help you avoid buying duplicate items.

How do you organize a modern pantry? ›

A storage space with more shelving is the most efficient configuration for ingredients. Drawers or slide-out shelves also help tremendously with visibility. Store everything you can in clear containers.

How can I organize without buying anything? ›

How to organize without spending any money
  1. Begin by decluttering. (Image credit: Interior by Prescott Design / photograph Amy Bartlam) ...
  2. Go digital. ...
  3. Repurpose old jars. ...
  4. Stick to your 'space budget' ...
  5. Ask friends and family. ...
  6. Create a coffee station. ...
  7. Reuse boxes. ...
  8. Give everything a home.
Apr 21, 2023

Is pantry organization worth it? ›

Using bins to keep your pantry organized isn't just for looks. Transferring dry goods into sealed storage containers can help keep food fresh longer, reduce food waste, and even prevent an infestation of grain-chomping pests.

How do you organize an awkward cabinet? ›

How to organize corner cabinets
  1. Avoid overfilling. ...
  2. Make it an appliance garage. ...
  3. Stow other bulky items. ...
  4. Reserve it for lightweight items. ...
  5. Install pull-out shelves. ...
  6. Keep food in stackable bins. ...
  7. Maximize Lazy Susans. ...
  8. Try space-saving organizers.
May 19, 2023

How do I organize my awkward kitchen cabinets? ›

Lazy Susan: This is a classic solution for corner cabinets, especially upper cabinets. A large lazy Susan allows you to spin the shelves around, bringing everything to the front for easy grabbing. Bins and Baskets: Use shallow, clear bins with handles to sort and store items, especially in lower cabinets.

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