11 Organization Tricks That Make a Pantry Feel Twice as Big
Never lose your favorite spice blend behind your boxes of cereal again.
Never lose your favorite spice blend behind your boxes of cereal again.
Invest in Clear Containers
Don't hunt through mountains of cardboard boxes. Instead, take a few minutes to transfer ingredients and snacks into clear canisters so you can skip reading labels – and inspire a uniform tidiness. Plus, you'll keep mice away from your cookies and crackers.
Add Lazy Susans
Show us an organization problem, and we'll show you a lazy Susan. The corner in your pantry usually ends up being the black hole where cans or bags go to be lost forever — but when you install spinners in this space instead, nothing will be forgotten again.
Hack IKEA Boxes for Canned Food Storage
Those stylish boxes with label holders from IKEA are a favorite in offices everywhere. But when you cut a hole into one of the sides, you can stack canned foods by category (tomato sauces, vegetables) without lifting a lid to retrieve 'em.
Use Slim Bins to Store More
Move dry goods into tall, skiny containers so you can pack more items onto the shelf. Plus, these matching storage bins look way more organized and orderly compared to your usually multicolored chaos.
Make Your Own Chip Hanger
You've probably passed by these nifty racks in the grocery store — by they're just as handy at home and will only cost you a few bucks to create.
Sneak Spices Into Wasted Space
That area between the end of your shelf and the door frame shouldn't just be for show. Narrow cubbies fit snugly there, and are the perfect size for your paprika and garlic salt shakers.
Utilize Baskets for Stacked Storage
When you use baskets with labels in your pantry, you can pile items on top of each other without worrying that they'll topple over onto the floor the next time you open the door.
Hang Snacks Onto Wire Shelves
This is the ultimate double whammy: Those plastic skirt hangers will make sure your snacks don't go stale, and make extra storage space appear out of thin air.
Hang Pots on a Peg Board
Instead of stacking heavy pots and pans on top of each other (and using up valuable shelf space) just install peg board on a free wall. Suddenly your heavy-duty items are on display and easy to grab.
Add Pull-Out Drawers
Drawers that pull out allow you to pack your pantry full of food without having to worry about losing your pasta sauce into the far back corner you can't reach.
Throw a Shoe Organizer on Your Door
Nope, they're not just for sneakers. Spices, sprays, and spreads find a home in the different slots and, as a whole, the organizer probably adds at least a shelf's worth of extra storage to your pantry.
Lauren is a senior editor at Hearst. She was previously the senior editor at WomansDay.com and the home editor at GoodHousekeeping.com and HouseBeautiful.com. Her book club, ramen, and jean jackets are a few of her favorite things.
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