27 Small Pantry Organisation Hacks That Actually Make Life Easier
Looking for small pantry organisation hacks that are effective? These hacks can help reduce clutter, organise your pantry so you can find what you need quickly, and create a more functional kitchen – without spending too much money.
When it comes to small pantries, chaos can erupt very quickly. One moment, everything is neat and orderly, the next moment it resembles an explosion at your local supermarket.
I’ve experienced this enough times to know it’s frustrating – opening three half-empty pasta bags only to discover that I purchased a new set of spices because I couldn’t see my existing spices.
I became passionate about figuring out how to improve the function of small pantries without any fancy or costly solutions, just practical solutions to make cooking from them, each and every day, much easier!
Implementing organisation, labelling and proper containers is key in alleviating any stress associated with cooking in smaller sized pantry spaces!
After using these techniques, opening a small pantry door feels good, and I wonder how I ever survived without them!
1. Label everything
This way your pantry will continue to be organized for the long term! You will not have to guess where things belong nor will your family members! Labels will allow you to reset your pantry after busy weeks!
2. Use Clear Containers
Transparent storage containers are a great way to see what you have in your pantry.
You can see what you have left until you need to restock. Also, they keep your pantry looking nice and neat!
By using these types of containers allows the items to be placed in a similar manner, which creates a larger appearance within your pantry.
3. Group Similar Items
Keeping the pantry more organized by group all foods together that are similar (e.g., all snacks in one area, all baking items together, all canned items together). It make shopping for groceries and cooking meals easier.
4. Always rotate food so you consume older food first
Prioritizing consuming older (or unused) food before you purchase new food helps reduce waste and makes food stay fresher longer.
In addition, the more you use your pantry, the better you are at managing which items you are using vs. those that are sitting around collecting dust.
5. Use lazy Susans or trays for sauces and oils
Lazy Susans or trays for sauces and oils are a great addition!
This allows you to grab all of your sauces and oils from one place without knocking everything over to reach for a single item. Plus, it helps prevent excess clutter on your shelves!
6. Create a ventilated storage bin for root vegetables
Root vegetables like garlic, onion, and potatoes require airflow to maintain their freshness.
If they aren‘t protected from molds and sprouting, a ventilated bin is an effective way to keep root vegetables fresh.
A reasonable use of countertop space will provide a longer storage life because you can put your products on the countertop for better air circulation.
7. Store bulk items in stackable bins
Store bulk items in stackable bins. Stackable bins allow you to utilize your vertical space which is extremely important when dealing with a small pantry!
Stackable bins are great for storing large snack bags, dry goods and pantry staples. With stackable bins, everything has its home!
8. Install a spice rack
A spice rack gives a great visual aid to organize your spices and should be installed in a location that is easily accessible while you are preparing your meals.
A spice rack will take up less space on your shelves, as small jars will not be left on shelves anymore.
Wall-mounted or countertop racks will provide better organization of the spices you use regularly.
9. Color-code items
Color coding is a simple and efficient way to categorize the items in your pantry. Items can be sorted by type of food, type of container, or color of label.
Color coding your pantry can be helpful for keeping your pantry organized!
10. Place a wallpaper on the wall
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Wallpaper makes a great background for pantries and provides character.
With its unique design, wallpaper adds purpose to your pantry and is sure to brighten up your day every time you pull it out of the cupboard.
If you select a wallpaper with a design or light colors, it will brighten dark pantries and provide additional visibility on dark shelves.
11. Invest in a rice dispenser
If you frequently use rice, consider using a rice dispenser. The rice dispenser allows you to store and measure rice without removing bulky packaging and minimizing spills when scooping.
In addition, rice dispensers typically look good and can help store larger quantities of rice in a more efficient manner.
12. Add rattan storage baskets
Rattan storage baskets are a great addition to any pantry. The natural feel and look of rattan give a warm and inviting look to your pantry.
Rattan storage baskets can easily hide awkwardly shaped packages or snacks you may not want to display openly.
Additionally, rattan baskets are durable, easy to move and clean, and can keep all your pantry items organized.
13. Use the pantry door for storage
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The pantry door is an additional area for storage. There is usually wasted space above all of the typical pantry shelves that can easily be turned into an additional area for storage with a door rack.
The door rack is the same as using shelves in that it creates a more spacious feel to the pantry. However, it does not require as much complicated work to set up this area.
You can use this area for storing spices, wraps, snacks, or baking supplies.
14. Add expiry date at the bottom of containers
Label your containers with their expiration dates so that you know when to throw out items that have become stale or forgotten.
Labels for expiration dates also provide an easy way to keep track of your pantry‘s inventory, while minimizing waste and ensuring an organized pantry each day.
15. Install a pull-out drawer system
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Installing a pull-out drawer will give you complete access to the depth of a shelf, making organization in a small pantry simple.
No bending or digging around; simply look at all your items as one goes down the line and take advantage of every inch of space.
Using these drawers makes it easier to access your pantry and reduces the amount of time needed to sort through your items when you need something.
16. Line up appliances together
Group your electric appliances together so that it looks nice and organized.
This way you do not have to search through multiple shelves or locations to find what you need; the grouped items are all together in one area.
Creating a tidy and coordinated look with your appliances will greatly reduce visual clutter in your pantry.
17. Create Snack Zones
By creating a snack basket or similar container you will keep all the small packets of snacks in one central location so children can easily find what prompt you for each snack.
The simplicity of having a designated snack area will make it very easy to keep the pantry organized.
18. Use clear containers for snacks
Clear containers create a visual barrier between you and your snacks which means there won‘t be any digging involved!
With clear containers you‘ll be able to keep items from going stale due to half-open bags of stuff.
In addition, using these types of containers will instantly improve your shelves!
19. Create an L-shaped layout
The L-shaped layout maximizes both the corner space as well as the vertical space in your pantry and makes it feel larger than it is.
You can easily designate natural lines or regions for different categories of items.
In addition, this type of layout keeps your items easily accessible while allowing you to see them from various angles.
20. Use wire dividers
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Wire dividers provide an easy and inexpensive method to keep items separated by category; i.e., if you have a tray or cutting board, you can use a wire divider to separate the two, so when you go to move them, they do not fall over or get mixed together.
Using these types of dividers will allow you to have more order to your pantry.
21. Create a snack pantry
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Designating a snack section in your pantry makes “grab-and-go” foods easy for kids or busy mornings to find, and keeps those little snack items from spreading everywhere else in the pantry.
Bins or baskets make them even easier to find. (Try labeling bags, too!)
22. Put the most used items at eye level
Keeping the items you use all the time at eye level makes cooking, packing lunches, and other daily tasks seamless.
Not to mention it saves you from constantly shuffling things around trying to remember where all the items that aren’t in common use “usually” go.
The stuff you use less often can go on a lower or higher shelf.
23. Uses a combination of storage systems
Combining clear containers with glass jars, baskets, and canisters brings a good mix when organizing a pantry.
Each kind of container serves a different purpose, so you get the freedom to choose what works best for the items you’re storing.
It’s also a great way to add a bit of texture and style for a more curated aesthetic.
24. Store items in mesh baskets
Mesh baskets offer the structure and division of a bin, but with a little less bulk and more visibility from the outside.
They also allow for air circulation, if that might be a concern. Smaller mesh baskets are great for snacks, produce, or whatever odd-shaped things you keep in your pantry.
They’re also lightweight, which helps if your pantry requires a quick reshuffle and cleaning session.
25. Use different container sizes
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Not everything needs the increased real estate of a gigantic container, so using jars and baskets of different sizes helps to maximize shelf space.
Smaller jars, spice jars, or bags are perfect for pop, nuts, or spices, and larger bins help tidy up bulk cereals, baking soda, or bags of pasta.
Storing things proportionately keeps everything from feeling overcrowded.
26. Add shelf risers
Wall shelf risers essentially double your vertical space and allow you to see things that would ordinarily be shoved to the back.
These are perfect for cans, jars, or just smaller containers. Such a simple little addition really makes the pantry feel bigger!
27. Install a wall-mount dish rack
A wall-mount dish rack is a great resource for easily being able to sort cutting boards, smaller trays, or lids.
It works great to keep things neat and upright while minimizing the space they take on a shelf (great in a narrow pantry such as this one).
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