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    Home » Home Decor » Kitchen

    Small Pantry Organization Ideas

    Published: Feb 21, 2023 · Modified: Apr 18, 2023 by Christina Dennis · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads · 19 Comments

    I FINALLY organized the small pantry in our kitchen! This project has been hanging over my head for quite some time, and I'm SO excited that it's done and looks a million times better than before. Come see the transformation, plus get some pantry organization ideas so you can organize your own small pantry!

    Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. When you purchase an item via these links, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

    This blog post is part of an organization themed blog hop I'm joining today. Make sure to visit all of the links at the bottom of this post for more organization ideas for your home!

    Don't barf, but here's how the small pantry in our kitchen looked just last week:

    Budget Friendly Small Pantry Organization Ideas

    It was a mish-mash of packages with not much rhyme or reason to where things went. I *kind of* had the baking ingredients at the bottom and the snacks at the top of the pantry, but it looked absolutely terrible and it was so hard to find and grab anything quickly.

    Spaces behind closed doors seem to be the last places I clean and organize because it's so much easier to hide them! With a fresh new year, I thought there was no time like the present to tackle this disorganized pantry and make it functional and pretty for our family. I wanted to figure out how to maximize all my shelf space and create easy access storage for all the canned goods and other things that live in this pantry.

    Here's how our small pantry looks now:

    Budget Friendly Small Pantry Organization Ideas

    It's so much better, right? I love that it's functional and budget-friendly, but it still looks cute with all of the pretty baskets, canisters, glass jars and labels.

    We originally built our pantry using the older IKEA kitchen cabinet line, and I still love the pull out shelves that we got with it. I moved one pull-out up, and then placed some baskets on the stationary support shelf beneath it to maximize this pantry space.

    Budget Friendly Small Pantry Organization Ideas

    Watch my YouTube video on how I organized our small pantry from start to finish:

    Links mentioned in video:

    • How to make labels with a Cricut
    • The font I used is called Bohemian and it's in this font bundle: https://creativemarket.com/kaitlynn.albani/3921104-The-Designers-Font-BUNDLE?u=thediymommy
    • The paper pantry labels (and some blank ones!) are FREE for you to download by clicking right here

    Here are some tips on how to organize a small pantry like ours:

    Budget Friendly Small Pantry Organization Ideas

    Take everything OUT.

    That's right - start your pantry organization by removing every single item, putting them in a big pile on your counter or floor, and giving your pantry a wipe-down. This is such an easy trick that makes the rest of the process much easier!  It's easier to see all of your food items when they're out of your cupboard, and then you can go through everything, toss what's past its expiration date, and take an inventory of what you have. I love doing this and then making some grocery lists of the items I'm missing so I know that when I'm all finished, my pantry will be stocked and ready!

    Budget Friendly Small Pantry Organization Ideas

    Measure your pantry & bring your measuring tape to your favourite container store.

    I knew I needed more bins and baskets and food storage containers to organize this  space, so I measured the width and depth of our pull-out shelves and headed to a couple of my favourite container stores (IKEA and Dollar Tree) to source perfectly sized containers for everything. I ended up buying some IKEA 365+ plastic bins for our sugar, flour, and rice. Larger bins were purchased for the cereals, and it felt so good to get rid of the messy cereal boxes! I picked up some IKEA metal mesh baskets for other loose items, and some Dollar Tree baskets for snacks and baking essentials.

    Budget Friendly Small Pantry Organization Ideas

    Don't be afraid to reduce, reuse & recycle.

    While purging the contents of our pantry, I was able to collapse many boxes and send them to recycling. Instead of buying new for every container I needed, I used clean pasta sauce and pickle jars to store foods like chocolate chips, flax seed, popcorn, pasta and bread crumbs. 

    This really cut down on the clutter and made my storage space so much more efficient. My plan is to focus on reducing our single-use plastic even more this year, and this pantry definitely needed some attention in that regard! There's a store here in Canada called Bulk Barn that allows you to bring your own containers for their bulk pantry items, so I'm heading there next time I need a refill on my dry goods!

    Budget Friendly Small Pantry Organization Ideas

    Label, label, label. Did I say label?!

    Nothing helps maintain organization (especially in a big family!) better than labeling everything. I made some paper labels for my baskets, and some labels with my Cricut for my jars and plastic bins.

    Would you like to print off these turquoise paper pantry labels for yourself? These pantry labels (and some blank ones!) are FREE for you to download by clicking right here.

    I'm so happy with how these small pantry organization ideas turned out! I no longer feel the need to slam the pantry doors shut when someone comes over to hide the mess and chaos. I hope you found some ideas that will work for you too.

    Pin Me!

    A small pantry is organized using pull-out shelves, bins, and containers.

    Now come see what organization projects my blogging friends are sharing today!

    Click on each link to visit each post.

    9 Tips For Kitchen Organization - Happy Happy Nester || Bathroom Organization Ideas - Lolly Jane // Textured Polka Dot Utensil Holder - Craftberry Bush // Turn a Closet into a Pantry - Tatertots & Jello

    Organizing Your Party Planning - My 100 Year Old Home // Organizing Laundry Supplies - Zevy Joy // Spice Drawer Organization - Finding Lovely // How to Declutter and Decorate a Beautiful Home - So Much Better With Age

    How To Organize Kitchen Drawers - Modern Glam // How I Keep My Home Organized - My Sweet Savannah // Whole Home Organization Ideas to Declutter Your Life - Grace In My Space // Medicine Cabinet Organization Ideas and Tips - Twelve On Main

    10 Week Organizing Challenge - The Happy House // Fridge Organization and Storage - Inspiration for Moms // How to Organize Your Pantry - The Handmade Home // A Budget Friendly Linen Closet Makeover - The Tattered Pew 

    Mudroom Lockers Organization - Two Twenty One // Small Pantry Organization Ideas - The DIY Mommy // How to Organize Kids' Rooms - Cassie Bustamante // 5 Easy Steps To Create An Organized Junk Drawer - She Gave It A Go // Organizing Tips for Traveling with Kids - Pink Peppermint Designs12 Amazing DIY Organization Ideas for Your Home

    More Inspiration

    • Clever tiny house kitchen storage ideas to maximize space
    • The Best Clear Organizing Bins
      The Best Clear Organizing Bins of 2023
    • Budget Friendly White and Mint Lake House Kitchen Design
      10 Best Kitchen Countertop Organization Ideas (Easy!)
    • Small Laundry Room Organization & Decor Ideas
      10 Ideas for SMALL LAUNDRY ROOM Organization & Decor

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jamie

      January 09, 2020 at 3:32 pm

      Looks so good, Christina! I totally need to organized my pantry!
      Hugs, Jamie

      Reply
    2. Ann

      January 10, 2020 at 1:16 pm

      I'm just working on organizing my pantry now! I need some small airtight containers to organize the baking stuff, nuts, seeds, etc. I didn't realize we can take our own containers to Bulk Barn! That's great! Did you know that London Drugs has a recycling program for flexible plastic packaging? It's so great! We became aware of it during the Halloween season and took all of our candy wrappers there! It also includes potato chip bags, fruit net bags, bubble wrap, stand up plastic pouches, etc.! Just thought I'd share. 🙂

      Reply
    3. Jennifer S. Hadfield

      January 10, 2020 at 2:04 pm

      That's such a great transformation Christina! I saved this to my organizing board for inspiration when we start building our new pantry!

      xoxo

      Reply
    4. cassie bustamante

      January 12, 2020 at 7:10 am

      it looks so good! i need to do our pantry and i am saving these ideas!

      Reply
    5. kyle townsend

      January 12, 2020 at 2:32 pm

      Love how organized. I know they weren't new this time, but where did you get the pull out drawers. I believe they make the pantry so you can reach every thing.

      Reply
    6. Cindy

      March 17, 2020 at 1:28 pm

      LOVE IT! Where can I find the pull outs??? I'm in desperate need of some!

      Reply
    7. Roxana

      September 14, 2020 at 9:13 am

      Great ideas! Moving in to a house with similar pantry situation and would like to install pull out drawers. More info on where you got these from would be appreciated. Live in Canada too (Calgary, AB).

      Reply
      • Sarah - The DIY Mommy

        September 15, 2020 at 6:52 am

        They're from IKEA!

        Reply
    8. Jennifer Dynys

      January 06, 2021 at 6:39 am

      Uggh I need to do this! Thanks for the inspiration! I just recently got a cutting machine, and I am so intimidated by it! I must make it a goal for this year! I want to make all the labels and things! Thank you for sharing with us at Embracing Home and Family!

      Reply
    9. Kaycee

      April 18, 2022 at 6:53 am

      Love your organization tips! Where did you get the containers that house the potatoes?
      Thanks!

      Reply
      • The DIY Mommy

        April 18, 2022 at 2:39 pm

        They are these containers from IKEA. https://www.ikea.com/ca/en/p/risatorp-wire-basket-white-90281618/

        Reply

    Trackbacks

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    Christina Dennis, The DIY Mommy

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