How to Organize a Pantry

The pantry is an area that can get really messy, really quickly with all the day-to-day-use, with tons of stuff thrown in with no rhyme or reason. Learn how to organize a pantry in this Lowe’s video:

The first step is to take everything out of the pantry. Place all items in an open area where you’ll have plenty of time to sort later.

Once everything is out, you can give the inside of the pantry a new paint job (optional), and then install a new shelving system. Cut wooden shelves down to size to fit the pantry, then install a simple ledger board on each wall for the shelves to sit on top. Secure the ledger boards into studs (a stud finder is a great tool to help you find them). Remember to measure and vary the spacing between the shelves so you’re able to accommodate taller and shorter items. These shelves will make it easier to store bins and organizers on an even flat surface and will be able to hold more weight. Add a pull-out drawer organizer at the bottom for storage.

Before putting anything back into the pantry, take a look at your items and make sure nothing is stale or expired; if so, toss them out. Sort items into baskets and bins by category and designate areas of your pantry for various food items. As a rule of thumb, the items that you use the most should be kept at eye level. Kids’ snacks should be in an easy to reach area so they can help themselves.

Once you assign a place for everything in your pantry, label it as a visual reminder of where everything belongs. For items in clear containers, just print the words out in your favorite font on plain paper, slip it into the canister, and trace on the outside with a chalk marker. It not only looks cute, but you can also wash it and swap it out as needed.

One area you might not think to utilize is on the inside of the pantry door. Mounted door shelves are a great place to add extra storage. Just make sure you have enough clearance inside your pantry so that the door can still close.