No matter how amazing your kitchen looks, it won't mean a thing if you open your pantry to a jumble of cans and boxes that leave you feeling like there's nothing to eat. Been there? If so, you'd be amazed by what a difference a little organization can bring to the table.
Here's how to organize a pantry so that you always have your staples within reach and you're actually inspired to cook.
Clean the shelves
Remove everything from the pantry and scrub the shelves well.
"Set aside any unopened boxed foods or canned goods you're definitely not going to eat and donate them if they haven't expired," says Mim King, a professional organizer in St. Paul, MN. Next, make a single row. "The ideal pantry is one item deep -- this way nothing gets lost in the back," explains Darla DeMorrow, a professional organizer with HeartWork Organizing in Wayne, PA.
-- -- --
Streamline containers
Amy Bell, owner of Red Chair Home Interiors in Cary, NC, doesn't bother transferring cereal and pasta into resealable boxes (they get eaten up too quickly), but she does like space-saving storage containers for baking ingredients such as flour and sugar. And use an easy-to-reach basket to hold individually wrapped bags of chips and granola bars so your kids won't tear apart the pantry looking for them, suggests Emma Gordon, an organizing pro at Clutter.com.
-- -- --
Find a system
It doesn't matter which one -- just stick to it. You could line up cans on one row and boxes on another, and stash potatoes, onions, lemons, and limes in their own wire bins. Or group foods that go together (cereal and oatmeal, rice and beans, pasta with sauces, oils and vinegars). Other categories include dry goods (rice, coffee, grains), baking supplies (sugars, flour, chocolate chips), spices and condiments, says Julie Coraccio, lifestyle expert at Reawaken Your Brilliance in Raleigh, NC. Labeling each shelf is also an option -- as in "breakfast," "dinner," and "kids."
-- -- --
Use the door
Mount a spice rack -- and then alphabetize it. Or install over-the-door shelving for oils, vinegars, and other condiments. Coraccio has one row just for frequently used baking spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, and puts more unusual ones (turmeric, mace) on a higher row. A towel rack can store shopping bags and soft coolers on the back of your pantry door, adds Gordon.
-- -- --
Clear the floor
Want mice, ants, and pesky moths? Of course not, so don't store food on the pantry floor. Instead, use rolling bins to keep edibles safe and maximize space, says DeMorrow. The exception to the floor rule might be a large bin of pet kibble; cases of seltzer, soda, or wine; and devices you use often (blender, stand mixer). But infrequently used appliances do not get prime pantry real estate, including the ice cream maker, Thanksgiving roasting pan, pressure cooker, and waffle iron, says Gordon.
-- -- -- --
Watch: 4 Pets You Never Know You Could Have in Your Home