Small Pantry Organization Tips

In this blog post I will be sharing my BEST small pantry organization tips. Even if you have a large, walk-in pantry, these tips can still be quite helpful.

My last rental had a teeny tiny kitchen, so I learned early on that every square inch of space was precious. And when I mean teeny tiny, I REALLY mean teeny tiny!

I recently moved into a new rental with a ton of kitchen cabinets. Unfortunately, the pantry is still a little small, but at least I already know how to organize small spaces.

Tips #1: Organize pantry items by category

It’s always best to organize items by “like” categories. For example, I normally keep all of my tomato and pasta sauces in one area and my beans in another.

When you do this, you’ll know exactly where everything is. This will also make it easier for your family to help with putting groceries away….maybe lol.

Tips #2: Take advantage of vertical space

Most pantries, even the small ones like mine, have vertical space that goes unused. Take advantage of this space by using things like stacking cabinet racks and bins.

During one of my HomeGoods trips, I stumbled upon a really cool item known as an “under shelf basket”. These baskets simply slide onto your shelves and allow you to store items where you would typically have empty space.

Tips #3: Purchase Pantry Organization Containers

Below are some of my favorite and most practical pantry organization containers. There are many more, but these are the ones I found to be the most useful.

• Soda Can Dispenser: I purchased mine from Homegoods. It doesn’t hold too many soda cans, so if I could go back, I would have purchased 2 stackable dispensers.

• Lazy Susan: These are a MUST HAVE for small spaces! They allow you to easily access items that are normally out of reach or hidden. You can purchase Lazy Susans with a small or deep lip. My favorite is this one from iDesign.

• Canned Food Dispenser Rack: Canned food tends to get lost in the back of the cabinet, which means you end up buying the same item AGAIN and waste money. This organizer is inexpensive, it’s simple, and it takes advantage of vertical space. Click here for the one I purchased.

• Clear Acrylic Bins: These allow you to see what you have in stock and help reduce the amount of food wasted due to poor visibility. They come in many shapes and sizes, so purchase what best suits your pantry.

• Mason Jars: I LOVE mason jars. I use them to store spices, baking ingredients, and dried goods. Mason jars are fairly inexpensive and non-toxic, which is a plus. 

Tip #4: Know where to buy organizing containers

I purchased most of my pantry organization containers at Homegoods, Walmart, and Amazon. Organizing containers can be EXPENSIVE! I’m talking $20 per bin if you get them at Bed Bath & Beyond or The Container Store.

Homegoods definitely has the best prices, but unfortunately you never really know what they’re going to have in stock. If you see something you like at Homegoods, you better get it! 

Walmart and Amazon are a little pricier, but their stock is more consistent. If you like a certain product, you can always order more online.

Pin the inspiration for later

I know organizing the kitchen can be a daunting task. To be honest, I put this blog post off because I wanted to wait until my pantry was absolutely PERFECT!

Let me be real, my pantry will NEVER be perfect, but it is organized in a practical way. Hopefully some of my tips helped you get some inspiration on how to organize your pantry. If so, let me know in the comment section below.