Pantry Organization

I've found that about once a year I need to revisit the organizational functionality of the high traffic areas in our house. I've found that about once a year is often enough to purge, rearrange, and assess how efficient are such high use areas in our house as the pantry, the bathroom, and the linen closet. After having a baby recently and living with the controlled chaos that ensued as we caught our breath, our pantry was in dire need of some attention. I really wish I had taken a picture of just how crazy it was. Not only were items starting to invade the countertops, just because there was no space left in the pantry, but because I could not see what I already had, I found myself buying multiples. It was time for a change!

I found inspiration from some of my favorite blogs. I love Elementary Organization's finished pantry as well as I Heart Organizing's pantry. I also found this great label template from Better Homes & Gardens.

With my inspiration in mind, I purchased these Avery address labels that fit the template:

 

 

I have also been accumulating Oxo pop containers for a while to use for this project. The best deal I have found on them is the 12 piece set at Sam's Club.

 

After emptying the pantry, purging it of anything expired, and filling up my containers I came up with this:  

 

 

 

On the top shelf I put all unopened boxes with their labels clearly visible.

 



One thing I have always found challenging about our pantry is how deep it is- 2 feet!

Items always seem to get lost at the back so I had to get creative with my placement system. I decided to put the tallest boxes at the back with their labels visible. I also got a under shelf rack to make the most of the vertical space.



On the next shelf I put all of our canned goods on a 3-tier expanding shelf. Since we don't use our canned goods too often I put our cereal containers right in front because we access them every morning and a little basket with snacks. I've found when organizing spaces it is important to keep the things the hubs uses front and center. The labels also help him find what he is looking for.

 

The next shelf down has all of my bulk baking  goods such as flour and sugar, as well as a basket with all of our oils and sauces.

 

There you have it! I love this system, because everything has a designated space and the hubs can actually find what he is looking for!

What pantry organization techniques do you use for your family? Do you find you have to reorganize high traffic spaces often to improve on your system?