That is my first walk-in pantry, and I’ve had such a good time organizing it. Listed below are some walk-in pantry group concepts rounded up into one nice checklist of how to maintain your pantry neat and tidy.
I’ve had a variety of totally different pantries in my time:
- A kitchen cupboard in my first condo
- A full-length kitchen cupboard plus a nook of the storage in my first home (I received 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 goals 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. However, 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 received a tiny bit greater. Till now, 20 years later, I lastly have my dream walk-in pantry!
Relating to having your pantry inside a kitchen cupboard, there are a variety of sensible methods to make the most of the cupboard space. I’ve written about Kitchen Cupboard Area Saver Concepts and My Favourite Kitchen Group Equipment. Fact be instructed, one of the best ways to maintain a small pantry organized is to retailer fewer issues.
In the present day’s publish is targeted on the walk-in pantry
An organized pantry isn’t solely visually interesting but additionally extremely useful. It saves you useful time and power by offering quick access to all of your cooking necessities. From meal planning to grocery procuring, an organized pantry retains you on prime of your stock.
I’ve shared ours already on this publish specializing in 30 Pantry Group Bins previous to our transfer in and in my Dwelling Tour. Thomas’s aunt Layton is a skilled organizer and helped us manage our pantry prime 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!
Listed below are some organizing concepts on methods to unlock your pantry’s full potential, accomodate an array of things, and preserve your meals shops as organized, environment friendly, and clutter-free as attainable.
26 Stroll-in pantry group concepts
Listed below are 26 walk-in pantry group concepts that will help you maximize house, cut back litter, and preserve your pantry useful! Not all of those will apply to your pantry (or mine) however think about them a method to jog concepts.
1. Clear Containers
These OXO bins I received for our oats and flour are so a lot better than coping with luggage! I’m a midway decanter. I like to decant greater issues (oats, flour, sugar) however depart smaller issues (nuts, chips, cereal) of their authentic 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 children attain in a field for a snack…
2. Small Glass Jars
Layton introduced these jars to my group session and they’re excellent for smaller quantities of meals that you simply wish to decant: nuts, candied pecans, chia seeds, flaked salt. Something from the majority bins that you simply 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 prime provides heat. Observe they’re onerous to seek out in shops, so in the event that they’re in inventory on-line purchase them ASAP! These are comparable.
3. Mason Jars
After all the go-to OG meals storage container is the mason jar! Search for vast mouth jars which are 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
Meals that I’m not decanting I want 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 straightforward to convey down to achieve. They’re additionally superb for storing both fairly issues OR a variety of tiny issues you might want to preserve 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, luggage of chips, grains in their very own packaging, containers of mac and cheese, and single serving snacks.
6. Divided Baskets + Packing containers
Whereas clear containers are good for some issues, usually I like opaque containers in a pantry for a extra cohesive look. What you might want to manage will dictate the scale of the dividers. This smaller one is nice for issues like tuna cans or tea, or a bigger one like we now have is sweet for baking components or totally different pastas. I really like a mixture of wooden and hyacinth!
7. Bamboo, Wire or Wood Crates
Wood crates can add a country contact whereas storing fruits, greens, or bigger objects. I exploit classic wood containers on my decrease cabinets for napkins, tablecloths, and wine! I’ve a wire basket in my pantry too to combine up the supplies and preserve the farmhouse vibe going robust.
8. Shelf Risers
I purchased a few shelf risers to make use of for our peanut butters. We use them ceaselessly sufficient that I wished to have the ability to see which one I used to be reaching for vs. having them hidden inside a basket. You need to use these for canned items or oils and vinegars, jams, sauces, and different objects you would possibly solely have one by one. That is the one we now have that’s expandable.
9. Lazy Susans
Use lazy Susans for nook areas or deep cabinets for simple entry. We have now an acrylic one that’s deep to maintain issues from spilling over that we use for further condiments and sauces. It’s excellent within the nook.
10. Canned Meals Organizer
If you’re somebody who has a variety of the identical canned good (beans, tomato sauce, pumpkin (!), and so forth.) then the self dishing out canned items models are nice!
11. Water Bottle Organizer
For those who’ve adopted my Instagram tales, I wrote about buying this cheap water bottle holder and having it in a drawer. However the bottles have been sliding round. Moderately than shopping for extra drawer dividers to include them, I ended up transferring it to the pantry. It’s not as fairly as a drawer since water bottles aren’t uniform, however the slots preserve our further water bottles neat and tidy. I really like that it may well accomodate each massive and small bottles. I made a decision to maintain the 2 cabinets aspect by aspect as an alternative 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 should go to a different flooring to test the wine stash. Tip: you need to use a wine rack to retailer different large bottles, like sodas or further olive oils.
13. Clear Journal 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 over shelf house.
14. Shelf Drawers
Contemplate 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 useful, particularly when you’ve got broadly spaced cabinets.
15. Stackable Bins
These are nice when you might have objects you not often use, equivalent to seasonal objects for baking, picnics, popsicles, and so forth. Group objects collectively and use all of the vertical house you possibly can. Clear ones make it simple 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 simply at all times preserve extras available. Say you might have two open luggage of one thing however preserve unopened ones so that you by no means run out.
16. Hooks
Set up hooks for hanging aprons, oven mitts, cleansing provides (like a brush), or kitchen instruments.
17. Over-the-Door Rack
We have now 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
Equally, when you’ve got wall house, you possibly can cling 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 further spices that received’t slot in a spice cupboard or drawer. These black wire ones are gorg.
19. Outlet
For those who don’t have an outlet in your pantry, think about having an electrician put one in. This could possibly be used for an equipment, vacuum (see beneath) 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. Whereas I do want the vacuum was a bit extra hidden, this has labored nice in our new house.
20. Hand Vac
And with reference to electrical energy, a mini hand vac is so useful to have for crumbs! I don’t learn about you, however someway 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 in case you have an outlet tucked into the cabinets, you possibly can cover the hand vac in a basket.
21. Butler’s Shelf
That is one other a type 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. Whereas we didn’t have house in our kitchen for a full-on butler’s pantry, I wished a shelf that served as counter house for our galvanized “bread basket” and a placeholder for any issues we would have liked to stash for just a few days, like leftover cupcakes. I LOVE this shelf for filling a water bottle with electrolytes or quickly storing issues.
22. Child-Pleasant Zone
Create a decrease shelf or bin for kids’s snacks and lunchbox objects. The 4 baskets on our center shelf are nearly all child meals, and so they can run and seize no matter they want.
23. Labels
The place you don’t have clear containers, labels are a should to shortly establish what’s inside. These are the Goal bin labels Layton loves and acquired for us. Use your finest handwriting with a Sharpie.
24. Shelf Liners
Shelf liners might be good to maintain your cabinets simple to wipe clear. Even if you happen to don’t do them in every single place, a they’re good to have in just a few key spots the place spills or further safety is required. I want cork liners for a pleasant look over the grippy plastic that tends to shift. (However this marble is fairly too!)
25. Stock Record
Preserve an inventory on the pantry door to trace what you might want to restock and what you might have. That is particularly good if you happen to embrace expiration dates!
26. Chalkboard or Bulletin Board
Connect 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 cling one! We have now a spot for small papers in our mudroom as an alternative.
Bonus: A step ladder
Key for shorties like me to achieve the highest shelf in each the pantry and the kitchen. This step stool is from Amazon and is AWESOME!
How To Arrange A Stroll-In Pantry
Purchase containers first
When Layton got here to prepare our pantry, she introduced a automotive 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 would have liked and what labored. That is counter intuitive to what you would possibly assume, however I can’t categorical how useful it was to have the supplies we would have liked whereas we have been sorting slightly than going to the shop on the finish. We did go to the shop on the finish to return just a few issues that didn’t work and purchase just a few extra of those I cherished essentially the most, however the bulk of the group occurred abruptly with the bins available. So first cease: purchase a wide range of totally different containers and sizes earlier than you get began!!
Declutter First
Earlier than organizing your pantry, undergo your pantry and take away expired or unused objects. It will make the group course of extra environment friendly.
Categorize
Group comparable objects collectively. Frequent classes embrace 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 proper container for the invoice.
Put the prettiest objects within the entrance and middle
When placing the containers again in your pantry, put colourful objects in hidden areas and the prettiest /most cohesive entrance and middle. We selected to place our baskets and classic decor the place you possibly can see it from the kitchen and our “messiest” litter hidden within the nook out of sight.
Contemplate the burden of things
I usually want to place the larger, heavier objects on the decrease cabinets. Retailer small home equipment, like blenders, meals processors, and stand mixers, on decrease cabinets and lighter issues like paper towels up excessive.
Label Every part
As soon as the whole lot is in place and also you’re pleased with each what’s within the containers and the place they’re, label all of it!
Preserve 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. While you restock your pantry, place newer objects behind older ones. This helps be certain that you utilize objects earlier than they expire.
Seasonal Rotation
Rotate your pantry objects seasonally. Transfer holiday-specific objects to the entrance throughout their respective seasons so they’re simply accessible. Throughout baking season you may want your sugar and flour on a decrease shelf than in the summertime when smoothie making components get the prime spot.
