A well-stocked and organised pantry will save you time, money, minimise food waste, and let’s face it, make you feel pretty pleased with yourself. Not only a place to store non-perishable food, the humble kitchen pantry can be one of the hardest-working spaces in your home, helping keep your kitchen clean, tidy and clutter-free.
And with the prospect of guests to cater for, you’ll want to be fully stocked without having piles of snacks and extra supplies on benchtops and falling out of overstuffed cupboards in desperate need of a declutter. “In a well-functioning kitchen, the pantry will serve as the main storage hub,” says Briony Mikrou, marketing communications manager for Kaboodle Kitchen. “It’s where you keep everyday items out of sight but within arm’s reach, and in some instances, a place to store appliances and get food prep done.”
If your pantry has reached the point where a declutter is long overdue, we’re sharing five simple tips from professional organisers and decluttering experts to help you create a beautifully organised space once and for all.
In this article
- Selecting the right pantry containers.
- Using your pantry space efficiently.
- Pantry lighting ideas.
- The best pantry storage and accessories to shop.
1. Store like with like
Professional organisers, Emma and Michelle from Tidee, suggest creating zones for similar items, such as grains, snacks, spices, baking items and so on. Keep frequently used items at eye level, low-use items up top and bulky items down low.
2. Select your pantry storage containers
Decant dry goods into clear, airtight containers – they look great, stack well, keep food fresh for longer and allow you to see what items need replenishing. We’re a little obsessed with the clear glass ‘Barossa’ canisters from Country Road in both the small and medium sizes.
Then you’ll need to label each container and include its use-by date. For an easy DIY result, the Cricut Joy 2 is the perfect tool to create your very own custom labels. Read the quick start guide here for everything you need to know about this very clever machine.
3. Use every inch of pantry space
If your pantry permits, utilise the back of the door as extra storage space. Everything from spices to paper towel rolls, shopping bags or aprons can be hung from hooks on a door.
“Adjustable shelves allow you to move items to different heights and utilise every inch of space,” shares interior designer Lauren Mahoney of Studio Trio. In her kitchen designs, Lauren likes to include baskets for onions and potatoes. “Häfele makes a great system of wicker joinery baskets on runners to store these items,” she says.
“You may even like to personalise your pantry with an organiser wall for recipes, notes and kids’ artworks or a whiteboard or chalkboard to jot down items as you use them up. “I like to add some hooks to hang an apron, tea towels and shopping bags,” Lauren adds.
4. Invest in handy pantry accessories
Increase the visibility of small items like canned goods and condiments with some handy accessories. We love a tiered shelf organiser for cans and turntables for easy access to sauces, condiments and spices.
For new and existing pantries, companies like Blum, Häfele and Tansel offer a range of space-savvy solutions, such as wire shelf helpers for a second tier of storage, rotating units for corner cabinets, pull-out drawers and slender pull-out pantries that are accessible and can be viewed from both sides. Lauren also swears by the Blum Space Tower for small kitchens. “It’s a series of high-sided, extension drawers with glass sides, which makes it so easy to see what you have inside,” she explains.
5. Pantry lighting
One of the aims of organising a pantry is to increase the visibility of every item. Lighting the space, be it naturally via a skylight or with LED strip sensor lights that turn on as you open the door, will help you see exactly what you’re looking for.
Best pantry organising items
Barossa small canister,
$39.95 Country Road
Barossa medium canister,
$49.95, Country Road
White mesh storage basket,
from $14, Spotlight
Cricut Joy 2 Essential bundle,
$219, Cricut
Extendable 3-tier shelf in bamboo,
$33.99, Amazon
Clear storage turntable,$7, Target
14.5cm European beechwood scoop,
$12.95, Harris Scarfe
Blue Italian spice jar set,
$110.69, Amazon
