Deep Pantry Organization: Step-by-Step Guide and Essential Tools for a Tidy and Efficient Space

I have a large, deep closet that we converted into a pantry. I was going insane trying to figure out ways to organize it. I tried it all and redid it so many times that I can’t even tell you! I was about to give up and just let there be a chaotic mess in the pantry until all the kids moved out. Then one day I decided I would give it one more try. I researched and looked, and no one seemed to have this deep pantry problem like I did. So, I took everything out of the pantry and stood there staring for a while. Then I hit Amazon and found products to try to create some order to this mess. I ordered a bunch of options and patiently waited for them to come so that I can see what is going to work and what is not. I am happy to report that I think I have finally found a solution to my messy pantry with out-of-pantry options to help organize snacks and drinks for my kids.

I wanted to share what worked for me to get us to somewhat stay organized. It is not the picture-perfect pantry of Instagram, but it is functional, and I love it. Here is what I did and a list of products that I used from Amazon that worked to make this space usable and clutter-free.

1. First, you want to take everything out of the pantry, and I mean EVERYTHING! It will be a mess, and you are not going to love it, but it will actually show you the space you are working with as well as give you an idea of what you are actually storing in your pantry. I am ashamed to admit it, but I found things from a LONG time ago that needed to get thrown away, just taking up precious space.

2. Go through everything that you just pulled out and make some piles. Yes, piles! Try to group things according to how you would like them stored together. For example, I have snacks, drinks, cereals, chips, baking needs, noodles, and so on. Once you have a visual, then you can decide how you would like to store everything.

I used to think that I would just know what was in there, and easily find it. NOPE! I also used to think that unpacking and repackaging items into storage containers was a waste of time and wouldn’t help. I am here to tell you that I was wrong. I have found that repackaging in see-through containers allows me and my children to find things easier and lets us know what we need to replenish. It takes a bit of time upfront, but trust me, you will not regret it.

3. Once you have thrown out all the old stuff and grouped the things you want to keep, it is time to get to work. I will list all the products that I used during this step, and hopefully, they will work for you as well.

· Airtight food containers - these worked wonderfully to store baking supplies, cereals, snacks, and other products that I wanted to easily identify. I love these because you can stack them to save even more room. Because I have a deep pantry, I put the tall ones with items I don’t use as often in the back and the smaller ones or often used products in the front. Now we can easily see what we have and if we need to replenish. Bonus, these containers help keep the food fresh for much longer than their original packaging did.

· Stackable pantry wire baskets and plastic baskets - I love these as stacking allows me to use the vertical space in my pantry, and I can group items together in each basket. My kids can see what snacks we have and grab them on their own.

· Serving cart - I did go ahead and splurged a little on this, but I have to say my kids LOVE this. We organize our drinks, and they think it is fun to restock them. They call it their “store.” And instead of taking up space in the pantry, the drinks are easily accessible and off the floor!

· Water bottle organizer - I never thought I would be the proud owner of what feels like a million water bottles. With the kids all doing sports and running around, we do indeed need them. Unfortunately, they take up space, and I never knew what to do with them. So, I invested in this, and I actually love it! All the water bottles have a home now; if I even need more space, I can order another one and stack them.

· Undershelf wire baskets - now, if you have very tall pantry shelves like I do, then I highly suggest these. They will allow you to get even more space, and you can place things like crackers, tea, and cookies in there for everyone to see and easily access.

· Over-the-door storage - with four kids, there are a lot of pantry items, and I needed to find as much space as possible to store everything. This over-the-door storage is amazing as it utilizes extra space that would otherwise be useless.

· Stackable wire rolling cart - I use this for extra storage and to keep things we need readily available that I don’t want to pick through the pantry for.

4. Now you are at the last step! Put everything where you want it and enjoy your clutter-free space!

I hope that this has helped you a bit in motivating and encouraging you in the organization process of your pantry. It will take time and effort, but I think it is well worth it! And remember, it has to be your way, not the Instagram way (unless, of course, you want that, lol). Make it work for your space and your family.

As always, if you have any questions, comments, or ideas, please feel free to reach out!