Our Go-To Pantry Formula
The pantry is arguably one of the most visited rooms in a home, especially during these summer months when the kids are home more. And with school starting soon, now is a great time to organize and create a space that will best serve your family and help with those back-to-school routines.
An optimally organized pantry will save you money, maximize your space and make even the busiest weeknight meal times much more pleasant! To help guide you, we’re breaking down the pantry into an easy-to-follow formula and sharing our favorite products to use.
ITEMS YOU USE THE LEAST GO UP TOP
The top shelf of your pantry is a great place to store items you use on a yearly basis (holiday-specific items), as well as seldom-used appliances and servingware (a roasting pan that is only used for the Thanksgiving turkey).
CAN RISERS AND DECANTED ITEMS ARE AT EYE LEVEL
Using can risers for sauces and cans allows for full visibility by utilizing what is often wasted vertical space.
Decanting is great for baking items (flour and sugar) and frequently-used dry pastas, rice and loose snacks (nuts, crackers, pretzels, etc.) to help reduce the amount of boxes and bags that can drag a space down. This will also allow you to easily assess what you have and what you need.
PRO TIP: Cut the cooking instructions off of the box and tape it to the back or bottom of your canister for a quick reference. We also recommend writing the expiration date on the back with a dry erase marker.
COOKBOOKS AND INSPIRATION GO FRONT AND CENTER
This is also a great spot for beautiful servingware that deserves to be seen!
OILS & VINEGARS ARE MOST ACCESSIBLE ON TURNTABLES
Turntables offer easy access for sauces, spreads, oils, vinegars and other tall bottles.
PRO TIP: You should be able to get 5 or more items on the turntable, otherwise you may not be utilizing your space efficiently. For more turntable tips, check out this post!
BASKETS WITH EVERYDAY ITEMS COME NEXT
Baskets are great for corralling baking mixes, condiments or larger bagged snacks.
PRO TIP: Measure your shelves before you purchase baskets to ensure your product will fit!
KIDS’ SNACKS ARE WITHIN REACH ON LOWER SHELVES
Empower your kids by having their snacks clearly categorized and easily accessible.
OVERFLOW ITEMS GO BELOW
This is a great spot for all those items you purchased during your last Costco run, including trash bags, paper towels and other frequently-used overflow items.
