A pantry is among the most hardworking areas of the home, but without proper skills, it can also turn into the most cluttered. Learning how to organize a kitchen pantry like a pro requires a pro, so we tapped expert organizers to share their best pantry organization tips. Ahead, you’ll find a step-by-step guide to organizing your pantry—and keeping it that way. The process includes decluttering expired items, grouping pantry staples by category, deciding what to place on upper and lower shelves, and utilizing food storage containers and labeled bins. Whether you have a spacious walk-in pantry or you’re working with limited shelf space, use these pantry organization ideas to maximize vertical space, function, and style.
Step 1: Remove everything
Start by removing everything from your pantry. “As you are taking the items out, take note of expiration dates and toss anything that is past its best by date, that is stale, or is no longer edible,” says Megan Barnhart, a professional organizer and founder of Barnhart Home. Since the pantry is rarely empty, take the opportunity to deep-clean it—wipe pull-out shelves, wash pantry storage vessels, and sweep the floor. You can also use this time to place liners or contact paper on the shelves. “Liners prevent damage to the wood and paint and make future clean-ups so much easier,” says Catherine Benson, a cleaning and organization aficionado based in Lexington, Kentucky.
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Step 2: Group items by category
Before you return everything into the pantry, group items by category. There are several ways to do this, and experts recommend choosing the method that best suits you. One idea is to group like items together. “Think of your pantry as your own personal grocery store—canned goods together, pastas together, baking ingredients together,” Barnhart shares.
Another option is to categorize items by how you shop and plan meals. “If you shop with specific meals in mind and like to meal plan, group those ingredients together; for example, create a dinner zone that includes individual categories or bins such as pasta, grains, and soup,” says Lisa Eckerle, a professional organizer and owner of The Designer Organizer. If you shop by stocking up on pantry goods, categories like canned goods, baking supplies, and condiments may make more sense. “We normally use a hybrid approach for most of our clients, creating zones based on activity and categories within the zones based on food type,” Eckerle shares.
