4 steps to Gain & Maintain Control of Your Kitchen Pantry

Is your current pantry system (or lack there-of) just not working? Do you have items strewn about haphazardly on any shelf and you’re not able to find what you’re looking for easily? You probably don’t know what you need to shop for either since items aren’t really grouped together in a logical way. Today, I'm going to share 4 steps that we take to transform a pantry from cluttered chaos to a clean and orderly space with a simple system that is easy to maintain.

STEP #1: Remove, sort & edit all pantry Items

At Organized by Meg (and in my own home) we use my signature R.E.A.L. organizing process with every project including pantries which is to: Remove, Edit, Assign, and Label.  We start with Removing every item from the pantry while sorting them into categories. We use large amounts of your countertop space, your kitchen island, and often add a folding table to assist with this process. 

As we remove your items, we also start the Editing phase - by immediately throwing away the trash— anything that was left open and is stale. We check expiration dates on items and use our best judgment in these “toss” decisions because our clients are often not with us. While removing the items, we also separate them into general categories using your counter space as well as empty boxes and baskets for sorting. We label the categories with painter’s tape (post-its also work well) using names like: breakfast, snacks, meals, baking, produce, bread, sweets, kids, cans and condiments, drinks, and other non-food-related items like disposable goods.

We continue the Editing phase here by removing anything that doesn’t belong in the pantry (or you otherwise no longer eat or use for whatever reason). While we use general categories for sorting, we also have methods to get to know your household in more detail and learn how your unique family uses its pantry items and daily food routines so that we can Edit for you before we space plan. This includes your daily breakfast and lunch routines, cooking dinner versus dining out, who lives in your house and how tall they are, determine if kids need their own access, learn if there are any allergies in the house, and any other special diet concerns or behaviors. This ensures that we set up a customized system for you that will work long term - not some generic one-size-fits-all approach.

Lastly, we hand vacuum and wipe down all of your shelves and the floor so that we start with a clean slate.

step #2: SPACE PLAN the pantry & Keep Like Items Together

The next step we take is to Assign a home within your pantry space for all of the categories of items we have sorted. We can now be as specific as needed or desired in the breakdown of your categories beyond what we did when we were removing them from your space. We may need to break out things like protein and supplements from breakfast, pasta and rice from meals, and onions, potatoes and garlic from produce. We can designate a kids-only section where they can reach their own snacks but we may place the sweets up higher where mom and dad have more control. Using painter’s tape again as temporary labels, we visualize the entire pantry and start to plug in the categories like we are completing a puzzle. The temporary tape allows us to “plug and play” and move things around as we see fit. We can then determine if we have room for a refill section and other non-food items after prioritizing your space and “prime real estate” according to foods you use the most.

Whatever makes sense for your family to keep up this pantry space in the easiest way possible is how we plan out your system. If you don’t want the maintenance of decanting (pouring food into other containers) than we don’t do it - we’ll always have a conversation about it if you think that’s what you want. We keep simplicity in mind always and strive for both aesthetics and functionality (because, really, who has time for high maintenance?!)

step #3: Select Storage Solutions to complete the system

Once we have space planned your pantry according to your lifestyle, we decide first of all if the existing structural system is good enough to work with or if its something that needs to be tweaked with small additions or changes, or if its a system that you would like to implement a new customized closet system entirely (which we would likely talk about up front before even starting the project) . Oftentimes we are working with what you have and we add what we feel is necessary - like extra shelves and brackets, adding drawer units, and very often back of the door organizing systems to utilize more of your hidden, vertical space.

Sometimes we simply need to change shelf heights on your adjustable closet system (which many people don’t even realize). Beyond that, we determine what kind of containers we need to contain and keep the categories separate - like bins, baskets, turntables, shelf risers, etc. We can create a P-interest or Instagram worthy pantry of your dreams but that will cost you in product. Keeping in mind that we go for simple, we start with less expensive and clear items, upgrading as we see fit and to complete a look you may be going for - like bamboo, black and gold, etc. We are also able to work with any products you have as long as we feel they work well in the space. We do love to repurpose items and spend money only when necessary or when its very visible.

As professional organizers, we know where to place different categories at different heights, and then within those, how to best contain the items - considering clear or closed containers, closed or open top bins, how to maximize tight corners, your family member’s heights, ease of access, and of course ease of maintenance.

Lastly, one all organizing products are implemented and the pantry items are contained, we Label to maintain your system! This is where we ditch the temporary painter's tape and use a label maker or custom vinyl labels to put the finishing (and beautiful) touches on your system. We can label the bins, baskets with bin clips, or directly on each shelf - whatever is going to make the most sense in YOUR system. 

Labels in a pantry are especially important because when any given category is empty - someone in your house, (it might even be you), will place anything there because it is a convenient open spot. So having it say what it is supposed to be allows you to see not only what category is empty, but it prevents you from filing it with something else, which will get the system all out of whack. We recommend more general category labels and only going specific where it is really needed, or else you risk over-organizing which can stress you out and easily screw up the system.

STEP #4: Create a Regular Maintenance Plan

Now that your pantry is all clean and organized to near-perfection (functionality is the goal - not perfection), a small mindset shift and habit formation will keep your pantry in tip-top shape. We will go over the new system with you so that you can also inform your family and any other visitors or helpers who may be in your home and frequently access the space.  We explain the zones that have been set up and where you can find refills and any other category of goods plus any tips unique to your family. Our work is complete and now your work comes in (it’s minor, I promise).

Each week when you food shop, first shop in your pantry. Go through each zone to see what you are low on just like you would in your refrigerator.  Then after you shop, put your goods away immediately - it will be quick since everything will have a place. In some systems, this will require you to empty a larger box of smaller snacks into its designated bin. Easy peasy - but it does take a few minutes to remove the packaging then place it in the recycling bin.   Removing the excess cardboard and plastic maximizes your space, looks neater, and enables you to more easily see what you have. 

Even with weekly upkeep including putting things away in their proper place and shopping from your pantry first, you will need a periodic reset. Quarterly is a good goal if you can’t keep up with a deeper monthly clean out. You’ll want to toss expired goods, foods your kids decide they no longer like, and near empty condiment bottles. Restore items to their proper place if its gotten a bit messy. These periodic resets help you make room for new items by getting rid of the junk or excess and helps prevent excessive build-up over time (you don’t want to get to the point of no return!).

A Pantry that Works Hard for You

It is possible to have a pantry with a system you are proud of and that actually functions well for your family (and it does NOT have to be P-interest perfect). The key is setting it up right from the start, taking into account your family's specific needs, and considering how much maintenance you are willing to devote to it.

The bins and containers should serve as visuals for how much you can bring into that zone. Just like a water cup overflowing under a running faucet, your contents will start to spill out and over their bins and overtake other zones in the pantry, creating clutter and a breakdown in the system. 

Keep it simple but ensure that you’ve created a system with storage solutions that make sense for all of you (hint: easy).  Commit to cleaning it out now and again, putting things away quickly, and removing packaging without procrastinating.

Looking for more insight into how Organized by Meg will transform your Denver area home and life? Join our mailing list to learn more, get inspired, and grab your behind-the-scenes guide here.

And if you’re looking for more pantry inspiration specifically, check out more of our work.

All my best,

Meg 🙂