Keeping a pantry organized is a challenge, to say the least, but with a little bit of time and some smart hacks, you can get the job done in a weekend. Whether your pantry is big or small, we have genius pantry storage ideas for kitchen that will keep your space clean and tidy.
15 Genius Pantry Storage Ideas for Kitchen
1. Lazy Susans
One of our favorite pantry storage ideas for kitchen is Lazy Susans. They make it easy to store a lot of things in one place while still making everything easily accessible. We love this inspiring photo by @organizedbyjm – it looks good and is nicely organized!
This idea works best for pantries with corner shelves, but it can work with just about any pantry if you choose the right size.
We like this Lazy Susan from Amazon because it has a large 18-inch diameter and a non-skid design.
2. Over the Door Organizer
There are so many pantry storage ideas for kitchen out there, but over-the-door organizers are one of the most underrated.
The inside of your pantry door has so much valuable storage space, and an over-the-door organizer (like this one from Amazon) makes it easy to maximize that space.
From spices to paper towels, food storage bags and more, you can store so many things on the back of your pantry door.
You can find organizers in different colors and with different layouts and tiers (6 shelves, 8 shelves, etc.). If you plan to store things like paper towels, make sure that there’s enough space between shelves to store tall items.
3. Wire Baskets for Cans and Jars
Keeping cans organized can be tricky, and stacking may not be an option if you have a smaller pantry. Wire baskets are a great way to keep all of your cans tidy and easily accessible.
The great thing about this storage hack is that it’s inexpensive. You can grab multiple wire baskets from Amazon for around $25.
4. Under-Shelf Organizers
If you have solid pantry shelves, use under-shelf organizers to make the most of the space between each shelf.
You can store things like bread, bagels, tea, seasoning packets and other small, light items that are hard to organize.
You can grab a pair of under-shelf wire baskets on Amazon for just over $20, making this an economical pantry organization idea.
5. Create a Plan to Keep Items Organized
Having a plan for your pantry’s organization will make it easier to find things when you need them and keep your most used items easily accessible.
Here’s an example:
- Store your least used items on the top shelf, so you only need to grab a step stool to reach these items once in a while.
- Group your dinner, lunch and snack items together into bins on the same shelf. This way, you know exactly where to look for meal items.
- Store grains together, like pasta and rice.
- Keep oils, dressings and condiments in one area.
- Group canned goods together, and stack them so that the labels are easy to read.
- Store paper and plastic goods together.
- Use the bottom of the pantry to store large items.
When you create a plan for your pantry, you can keep it organized and tidy throughout the year because everything has a place.
6. Rolling Organizer Carts for Under Shelves
If you have a pantry with a lot of space underneath your bottom shelves, you can maximize this storage space with a rolling cart.
Rolling carts with wire shelves (like this one from Amazon) will make it easy to store items you use regularly.
If you have busy mornings with the kids, you can store their breakfast and lunch items here. In the morning, just wheel out the cart, and the kids can grab what they need on the way out of the door.
Another use for rolling carts is to store small appliances that you want to keep off of your countertops, like stand mixers or air fryers. When you’re ready to use them, simply wheel them out of the pantry.
There are so many ways to make use of rolling carts in your pantry, and they can be a valuable organizational tool in your home.
Related: 15 Best Floating Shelves For Heavy Items
7. Pet Food Bin
If you have pets, one of the best pantry storage ideas for kitchen is a pet food bin. These wheeled bins (like this one from IRIS USA) are airtight and waterproof, and they’re easy to tuck under the bottom shelf.
Make sure that you get the right size for the amount of pet food you typically buy. We also recommend measuring your pantry space to make sure the bin will fit inside.
Look for bins that have lockable lids to ensure that your pet’s food stays fresh and out of reach of your kids.
You can find pet food bins in a variety of sizes to meet your needs, from 12 quarts (10 lbs.) to 69 quarts (50 lbs.).
8. Wall-Mounted Bins for Packet Storage
Packets of oatmeal, drink mixes, cocoa and spices can be difficult to keep organized in the pantry. Wall-mounted bins make it easy to keep these items tidy and within easy reach.
You can hang any type of storage bin you like for this purpose, but you can also find Command organizer caddies, like this one from Amazon, that use heavy-duty adhesives to hang. Some caddies can hold up to 10 pounds, which is way more than enough for storing packets.
9. Dry Food Dispenser
If you buy dry foods, like rice, beans or quinoa, in bulk, a dry food dispenser is a great way to keep your pantry organized. One dispenser can eliminate the need for multiple individual storage containers and bags of dry foods.
Plus, the foods are easy to see, and the dispenser function makes it easy to grab what you need without having to open up containers or bags.
You can find a variety of dispensers, some of which can hold up to 28 pounds of rice. We like this dispenser from Amazon because it’s simple and can be used for dispensing a variety of things.
10. Mason Jars for Cupcake Liners
If you love to bake but get tired of trying to keep your cupcake liners organized, you’ll love this storage idea. Use mason jars to store your liners.
The clear jars will:
- Make it easy to see the liners
- Keep moisture and dust out
- Keep everything tidy
If you already have mason jars at home, then this is an idea that won’t cost you a dime.
11. Use Food Storage Bins
One of the most popular pantry storage ideas for kitchen is to use food storage bins, and it’s easy to see why.
Storage bins make it easy to see the item that’s being stored, and you can typically add labels so that you can find exactly what you need right away.
From cereal to pasta, flour, sugar and more, you can store most dry food items in these containers. They also give your pantry a more organized and uniform look because everything is stored in the same style container.
There are hundreds of options for food storage containers, from glass to BPA-free plastic. We like these containers from Walmart because they come in packs of 12 and have labels that you can change based on what you’re storing.
12. Rolling Crates for Bottom Storage
The floor of the pantry can be a great place to store taller items, like bottles of water, wine or paper towels. But getting to these items can sometimes be a hassle.
Rolling crates (like these ones from Wayfair) are a great option for bottom storage because you can roll them out whenever you need something and don’t have to worry about reaching into a corner to find what you need.
Related: 17 Best Corner Bookcases That Are Full Of Style
13. Chip Rack
Here’s a simple way to keep chip bags organized and fresh. Make your own chip rack with built-in clips to keep your bags organized and out of the way.
Chip bags can take up a lot of valuable shelf space. Getting them off the shelf and onto a rack on the wall will give you more room for dry and canned foods. You can even mount your rack to the inside of your pantry door if you want.
If you’re on a tighter budget or don’t have a lot of wall space, you can make your rack using command hooks and chip clips.
14. Over-the-Door Shoe Organizer for Snacks
If you have kids or pack your own lunch for work, here’s a great way to keep snacks organized. Use an over-the-door shoe organizer to store individual snack packs.
For example, one pouch may have a can of iced tea, a bag of chips and a fruit cup. You can fill each shoe pouch with snacks for each person or day of the week.
This makes it easy for kids or adults to grab snacks on their way out the door or when packing lunch for the day.
15. Use Wide Mouth Jars for Snacks
Wide-mouth, old-fashioned candy jars (like these ones from Amazon) are a great option for storing individually wrapped snacks and bars that kids can grab on the go. They’re angled so that you can easily reach in to get what you need without even having to move the jar from the shelf.
These genius pantry storage ideas are sure to whip your pantry into shape and keep all of your essentials within easy reach. Mix and match these ideas to keep your pantry space tidy.
