Spring Organizing with Great Day Connecticut: Pantry

Week 1 of our Spring Organizing Series, as seen on WFSB-TV’s Great Day Connecticut.

We shared several of our projects with Great Day Connecticut as part of our Spring Organizing Series collaboration to showcase how we organize main living spaces in the home. Watch part one and part two of the segments below, to see how we organized the space along with our best tips and tricks that apply to any home. In Week 1, we’re touring the pantry.

Pantry Organization

In Week One, we’re organizing our clients’ pantry using simple but effective methods using just three types of materials throughout the space.

The first step is to remove all the dry goods from your space, then sort and categorize them by group before tossing anything expired. Most pantries have the following categories: Snacks, breakfast, wellness, cooking, dinner and baking/sweets.

Next, measure your shelves, devise your layout by space planning and purchase any necessary pantry organization containers. In general, we like to set up a pantry that coincides with the progression of the day; for instance, we typically place breakfast towards the bottom, and placing dinner towards the top. Deciding exactly which of those pantry storage solutions you need, will be determined by the size of your space and the types of food you typically store.

Tip: If one of your goals is to encourage independence with your children, designate the snack and breakfast drawer as low and accessible as possible.

If your pantry is a cabinet: One of the trickiest types of pantries to organize is located in the small upper cabinets of a kitchen. A kitchen pantry storage cabinet is typically shallow, which can make it difficult to find the best pantry storage containers for the space. Utilize small baskets, turntables, and canisters to maximize space.

If your pantry is a reach-in: Small closet pantry organization can be mastered with the use of a few standard pantry storage solutions. Start with baskets to contain your most commonly used categories, then add a riser at eye level for any canned goods or bottled items. Low on space? Utilize the back of your door by adding a kitchen closet organizer. Don't forget the floor. Oversized baskets are one of the best pantry organization containers for corralling non-food items at ground level.

If your pantry is a walk-in: The hardest task when implementing pantry organization in a large space, is planning the layout of your pantry storage containers. Decide on your focal point - canisters are a great one - and place it at eye level. Ground your pantry storage with one or two rows of baskets and use turntables for oils and vinegars to make use of awkward corners. Don't forget to add labels! They are key to keeping everyone in your home on the same page and ensuring your pantry organization system will last.