8 Ideas for Organizing a Small Kitchen Pantry

A small kitchen pantry doesn’t have to feel cluttered or claustrophobic. You can find many different ways to create a neatly organized pantry that looks more spacious and provides enough room for your nonperishable foods, utensils, appliances, and other supplies.

Here are a few ideas to help you get started in reorganizing your pantry. 

Stock your small pantry the same way your local grocery store stocks its shelves. Group all of your essentials together, oils with oils, pasta with pasta, etc. This will make it easier to find what you want quickly.

Additionally, be sure that all ingredients are arranged according to expiration dates. Food that is a week or two away from expiring should be kept towards the front to ensure that it's eaten first. Maintaining this type of system will ensure that your food supply doesn't go bad before it's consumed. 

Use containers that include airtight lids to help keep pests out of your pantry. Mason jars & plastic containers with sealable lids, and other airtight containers are great storage options for bulk food since they will seal the scent of the food inside. This means pests, such as ants and cockroaches, won’t be as easily attracted to your pantry.

Since these storage options are usually transparent, they also make it easy to identify specific food or ingredients. For better clarification, use a dry erase marker to label each container with its contents.

Not only are airtight containers effective for bulk food storage, but you can even find them in stackable options.  This will help you further maximize space, especially if you lack extra shelves. Simply stack the food containers in this area by building both horizontal and vertical stacks. Again, use dry-erase markers to label the contents, making the hunt for dried lentils & Basmati rice oh so much easier.

Straw bins are both decorative and useful when you add them to any size pantry. You can use them to add an extra layer of protection when storing items on the bottom shelf or on the floor.

They can hold extra silverware and other kitchen utensils, or they can be used to hold napkins, table cloths, and other decorative items that you alternate from season to season. Throw a small linen washcloth or towel over each basket for additional protection.

The experts at House Beautiful suggest affixing a wooden pegboard on a spare wall in your pantry. It can even be secured to the back of the pantry door to keep it useful, yet hidden. You can use it to hang kitchen towels, large cooking utensils, or coffee mugs. By setting a board on top of a couple of pegs, you’ll have a temporary shelf for storing spices and other small containers as well. Fill them with tea bags, coffee filters, or packets of sugar.

Create mobile storage with a slim storage cart. There are plenty of styles available to suit any budget. You can use your cart to store fresh fruits and vegetables, dishware, and jars of processed food. Since the cart has wheels, it can be moved out of the way when necessary. If you have condiments that don’t need to be refrigerated, storing them on a kitchen cart will make them easily accessible.

Have any old wooden crates or cigar boxes stored in the attic? Don't you think it's time they got put to good use? Wipe them down, give them a rinse, and if you're feeling extra creative, paint them a fun color. These types of old boxes are great for storing cleaning supplies, rags, and other similar items. Smaller boxes, such as cigar boxes, can be used to keep prepackaged condiments together.

There are some things that you will always use together, such as baking supplies for cupcakes and cakes. Family Handyman suggests using a plastic pencil box for this purpose. These are plastic containers that are divided into a variety of compartments. They also feature lids that snap easily into place to ensure the box is closed, perfect for storing paper cupcake cups, birthday candles, and frosting tubes.

You can use a separate organizer for rubber bands and toothpicks. Since these organizers often come in a variety of colors, you’ll also find it easy to color-code your supplies.

Don’t be afraid to be inventive in redesigning your small kitchen pantry. If you try something out and it doesn’t work as well as planned, you can always change it. Implementing new ideas can help you create a more organized pantry that provides easier access to everything you need.

• https://www.familyhandyman.com/list/no-pantry-solutions-on-a-budget/
• https://www.housebeautiful.com/lifestyle/organizing-tips/g3036/pantry-organization-ideas/