Do you want to spruce up your kitchen pantry? With this advice from the ultimate storage gurus, you can create a clean and tidy space.

Professional pantry organizing tips

Have you ever wondered how a professional would recommend organizing your pantry? If so, click ahead for these tips from Cori Horsch,  buyer for kitchen at The Container Store. She shares how to correct the most common mistakes you might be making. 

Mistake: Mixing categories

Grouping like with like in pantry bins is a basic rule of organizing—and one we should all try to follow according to Horsch. Think in terms of broad categories: contain all baking ingredients together and do the same for beverages, breakfast, canned goods, condiments, grains/pasta, and snack foods. That way “when looking for a specific item, you’ll know right where to go to find it,” Horsch explains.

Mistake: Ignoring minor details.

Customers at the Container Store are enamored with Stasher bags, and for good reason. They’re ideal for storing all of the small items that get misplaced in the pantry, such as seasoning packets and small appliance accessories. Use the clear version for simple visibility, or color-code by category.

Mistake: Wasting space

You might be overlooking valuable pantry storage according to Horsch. Maximize every inch by using a shelf expander to add an extra layer of storage to your existing shelf. And solve those awkward corners with a customer favorite, The Home Edit Divided Lazy Susan. 

Piling instead of filing is a common blunder.

Stacking things is a bad idea; if you pluck something off the bottom, you risk an avalanche. Dividers can be used to break up the space so that you can easily slide things in and out. Try putting pot and pan lids, baking sheets, food storage containers, and even lunch bags in this manner to save time.

Mistake: assuming what’s inside

Horsch proposes a simple solution to the problem of not knowing what’s inside the storage container: use reusable write-on labels. Better still, she suggests using translucent containers for a clean look and to see what you’re doing. They remove the need to estimate what’s inside and how much is remaining. Are you looking for additional ideas?

Mistake: Not unpacking

Horsch’s habit of opening and dumping could not be simpler or more logical. She suggests creating “reach in bins” for items such as protein bars, chocolate, snacks, and single-serve dishes that are easy to grasp.

Mistake: Choosing the incorrect storage containers

Using the incorrect containers can cost you money, effort, and space. If they aren’t airtight, “like the difficult-to-find ProKeeper,” Horsch warns, “you’ll have to re-buy food that gets stale.” If they are not labeled or see-through, you may overbuy or fail to resupply in time, putting you at risk of running out. And if they don’t stack, you’re squandering precious pantry space.

Mistake: Failure to use a step stool.

According to Horsch, less handy locations, such as a fourth shelf, are “ideal for storing back stock (like those extra boxes of chicken broth) or infrequently used things.” However, you may need to use a step stool to safely access it. She recommends keeping a slim, folding step stool in your pantry to effortlessly access those high places.

Mistake: Forgetting to rotate

You risk forgetting to utilize the cans at the back before they expire if you continually restock with the new in front. Horsch recommends employing a gravity can feeder, which simply fills from the top and dispenses from the bottom. This ensures that you always use your backstock first.

Mistake: Skipping the edit

“Once your pantry is set-up and everything has a place, maintaining it will take minimal effort,” Horsch explains. 

1. MAKE THE MOST OF THE CUPBOARDS UNDER THE SINK

The space under our sinks is always awkward, we have those pipes to deal with and the smaller storage area due to the depth of the basin. Putting an extra shelf in can work wonders, this is easily achieved if you buy some runners and a cabinet liner from your local DIY store and it will immediately give you two sections to keep washing powder, cleaning products, pegs and a dustpan and brush all neat and tidy. 

2. ORGANIZE EXTRA KITCHENWARE INTO DISPLAY CABINETS 

If your kitchen cabinets are already full (with many useful things of course) then you could overspill into a display cabinet. Whilst looking gorgeous and stylish, they also, quite rightly offer some fab storage and if you choose one with clear glass you can easily see your tableware, vases and glasses – and a great reason to keep them tidy too! We love this design as it has sliding doors instead of the trad pull out option, making it perfect for smaller spaces. 

3. MAKE USE OF KITCHEN DRAWERS

One can never have too many drawers. These beautifully crafted drawers will store all manner of kitchen paraphernalia, from the kid’s snacks to napkins, linens, table mats and cooking items. The different depths are useful, and always worth opting for if you can during the design process. And the three shelves at the top mean you can put those items you don’t want to be eaten straight away out of the way of hungry hands!

4. IMAGINE THE INSIDES OF YOUR CUPBOARDS

We all yearn for this kind of joy don’t we, to open up our cupboard and find everything in its place, perfectly arranged. Well, you can have this too! All you need is the right tools for the job so to speak – shelving, storage jars, small hanging racks and a desire to keep things neat and tidy. Then, spend an afternoon reorganizing and getting your cupboards in order, it will be worth it! 

5. CREATE A STYLISH CLUTTERED LOOK (THAT’S STILL ORGANIZED)

Although you can close the doors on these cabinets, the tableware and jugs have been stylishly arranged so that they look beautiful when on show. This can be a clever option, as if you do want your pieces to be on display, then you will need to keep them organized – bit of a win win, and they look great contrasting against the navy painted units. 

6. CREATE THE PERFECT SET UP IN YOUR DRAWERS

Oohh, isn’t this just so joyful? Tableware neatly piled up and knives all in a row. You too can create this heavenly view by buying some extra compartment sections to keep your items ship shape. Or, if you’re about to have a newly fitted kitchen then ask your designer to give you some fabulous built-in sections to keep your tableware neat and tidy. 

7. RECONFIGURE INSIDE YOUR CABINETS

We love how the interior of this cabinet is not conventional – no evenly spaced shelving for a start! The zig-zag style wine rack is genius and the glass section is perfect for both wine glasses hanging and tumblers below. The bottom section allows you to use it as a worktop where you can mix and prepare your drinks. 

Learn how to clean kitchen cabinets for a complete makeover.

8. FILL AN AWKWARD SPACE WITH A SLIMLINE CABINET

Kitchen cabinet organization ideas

These slimline units can be a godsend, they use up those awkward nooks and crannies that can be hard to fill and allow you to store away numerous kitchen items like oils and packets of bits and bobs. They are designed so you quickly see what you have in stock and can keep them super-organized so the most used is at the front – definitely worth investing in.

9. MAKE USE OF YOUR CABINET DOORS

What’s fabulous about this cabinet is that you can spend hours organizing it and then shut the doors. Of course, you don’t need to use a space like this just for drinks, it could be for pulses and pasta, and your spices could sit in the side shelving units. Or, if you’re a coffee connoisseur it would be ideal for storing your favorite blends and you might just squeeze in a coffee machine too. 

10. GO FOR ORGANIZED OPEN STORAGE

If you love the open-plan look and don’t care for fitted base units and cabinets then you do need to be super organized. But it can be a fabulous style statement and it does mean you can find items easily. The only rule of thumb is you must keep neat and tidy to make it work – and the pieces you choose will give your space its own character which is a great look to have. 

11. CREATE AN ORGANIZED BREAKFAST CUPBOARD

As mentioned above, these nifty cabinets with folding doors are great for hiding away certain things when you want, or you can open them up for when you’re entertaining and needing that extra bit of worktop space. This fitted cabinet is perfect for keeping the kettle, toaster and coffee out of the way until you need them. 

12. KEEP EVERYTHING ACCESSIBLE

You can organize your kitchen cabinets even if you don’t have doors! For minimalists who love the industrial look this style is perfect for you. Kitchen islands are fab for storing your pots and pans in and it frees up space in your wall and base units for food storage. This clever design allows you to keep your pot lids on the end rack and your pans and bowls in the shelves below. 

13. ADD SHELF INSERTS TO DOUBLE UP ON SPACE

Bring order to your storage chaos with these awesome extra shelves that will sit on your existing shelves to give you that extra bit of space. You can store items on top or underneath so you can squeeze in some extra food tins or packets so you don’t need to put up an extra shelf. They are also stackable so if you have the height you can add upwards and maximize your space in no time.