operation: pantry organization

My latest Pinterest inspiration was to organize our pantry. A project that has been long over due. Armed with an organizational strategy, I made my inaugural trip to The Container Store. I was instantly grateful for my list and put on my imaginary blinders, as I’m sure I could have easily talked myself into buying at least one of everything in that store without them. What can I say, I’m a sucker for organization.

I spent the afternoon removing packaging material and stickers, as well as hand washing everything. I then made a trip to the grocery store to stock up. I think this is actually the first time ever that Matt and I have had a fully stocked pantry. We still need to do some work in the canned good section, but it’s definitely a step in the right direction.

Here are the before and after shots:

   

Let’s break it down…

First of all, I’m in love with the Oxo Good Grip POP containers I went with. They come in a variety of sizes, have fantastic lids that seal shut to provide an air-tight barrier, and they are stackable. The only downside is that they aren’t cheap. That said, I think they are definitely worth the investment.

On the top shelf, I put our key staple ingredients – flour, sugar, and bisquick. We don’t use the bisquick much now, but we always have plenty on hand, and I feel it will become more of a breakfast tradition down the road. I also bought some storage containers with pour spouts for cereal (although I can’t find the link for them online).

The next shelf is now home to the rest of our dry ingredients. I opted not to put labels on those as the contents may change a lot of more frequently than the three staples above. Flexibility is key. Our canned good collection will also be housed on this shelf. As I mentioned, it could use some work. But at least there will be a spot for them as we start to procure more of these items. I bought an Expand-A-Shelf which I love because you can make it as long as it needs to be and the tiered capability allows for easier visibility of everything. Again, this will be very useful once our canned good collection has expanded.

Pinterest gave me the idea to use a baking sheet as the platform for all of those “sticky” items in the pantry…you know, the syrup, honey, vegetable oil, etc. It’s a great way to keep the pantry clean and all of those items corralled together. Next to those, I placed 3 clear baskets (also from The Container Store) which I’m using to store odds and ends like fruit snacks, granola bars, popcorn, and packaged goods. Down the road, I love the idea of using one of those to house pre-bagged snack items that we can easily grab as we are running the kids out the door or packing a lunch.

For the bottom shelf, I bought 3 woven baskets. I like the different color and texture they give to the space. The goal is to use one for chips and bread, one for boxed dinners, and one for miscellaneous baking items like shortening, baking powder, and bread crumbs. Currently, our miscellaneous items are taking up 2 full baskets, so I’d love to weed those down over time and make more room for the boxed dinner items that will likely become more of a staple as we start making family dinners.

The floor space is unchanged. It is home to the dog food and big pots that don’t fit in our other cabinets.

I absolutely love how it turned out. I foresee it making my life so much easier, especially as I start to become busier raising kids. Yes, it takes a little longer after grocery shopping to empty everything and keep it clean, but it will save me time and money in the long run since I can easily see what we have and need.

Plus, did I mention that it makes me happy to look in it?! I know it’s just a pantry, but sometimes it’s the little things that make me smile.

<jenna>