Anyone have pantry storage suggestions

[krisim]

I'm reorganizing our pantry/laundry room/mud room this weekend (it's a very multifunctional room).

Our pantry is double-folding door size with about 5 6-foot long shelves, so it's not puny. I'd like it to look neat and be accessible, but I don't have a lot of money to buy fancy baskets to store everything in. We mostly store cereals, baking goods, paper products and servingware (pitchers, platters, large bowls in it).

Anyone have any pantry/food storage recommendations?

[livinitup]

If you just want to use boxes and bins you already have, a great storage trick is to take a picture of the item you want to typcially store inside and put the photo on the front of the box. It works better than labels.

[ddi741]

I recently reorganized my pantry. I google pantry pics and used some of those ideas.
Mine is not ideal but it's so much better than it was. I bought double decker Lazy susans from target and ordered a few shelving things from Miles Kimbell and just those litle things helped a lot!

eta to fix spelling mistakes

[definitelyO]

I would just start by organzing all your stuff into the same area - all cereal in one spot, etc.... then if you have things that you think would be better in baskets (bags of beans, rice, snack packages) you can do it cheap by just taking a cardboard box (in my case a wine box cut down or boot box and then take white paper and wrap the box - then write on the outside what is in it. cheap and easy. I make sure that my box isn't too high that I have to pull it out every time to get something but that I can still reach in but without all the tiny bags of pretzels, goldfish and fruit roll ups laying around.

I also store some of my beans/rice, etc.. in large mason jars. which I usually have around the house but if not they are cheap at the store and even cheaper at good will.

[genet313]

I hate to admit this, but something that really helps me stay organized is to (i) categorize and (ii) alphabetize. So you put like products in like sections of the pantry and then alphabetize those products.

This is particularly useful with spices.

If I don't alphabetize, I like to organize by height/size.

I have real issues. But it helps me stay uncluttered.

[definitelyO]

Jan 9, 2013 18:21:03 GMT -5 genet313 said:

I hate to admit this, but something that really helps me stay organized is to categorize and (ii) alphabetize. So you put like products in like sections of the pantry and then alphabetize those products.

This is particularly useful with spices.

If I don't alphabetize, I like to organize by height/size.

I have real issues. But it helps me stay uncluttered.

my spice cabinet is in alpabetical order.

[goaskalice]

These are my favorite cost effective (cheap) baskets for the pantry: from Container Store, www.containerstore.com/shop?productId=10022155&N=&Ns=p_sort_default

And definitely categorize your food. It's the easiest way to make your pantry look organized. There is nothing better than opening up the pantry and know you'll easily be able to find what you need!

[lys]

You can use shoe boxes and other cardboard boxes that are covered in old wall paper, gift wrap etc.
Store like items with like items.

[hlke]

Do you have a Family Dollar nearby? I've gotten baskets there for insanely cheap. Make sure you measure the depth and height of the shelves - when I eyeball the size, I'm always over by an inch.

[jackie011]

The best thing I ever did was put all of my baking supplies into snap lock containers. I have one for flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, etc. I think I spent $20 or so on containers at Bed, Bath & Beyond. I made labels on my computer and just used clear packing tape to attach each label to the container. I love it! They all stack up nicely and it's so easy to access exactly what I need for baking.

MIL buys really heavy duty boxes at Christmas time (from Hobby Lobby, maybe?) for a lot of our gifts. They are really sturdy cardboard and we have so many that I started using them to corral some of the packets of mixes and gravies. We also put our individually wrapped snacks in a different box, making it easier to pack lunches and get out the door in the morning.

[Muddled]

I thought you needed suggestions for panty storage.

No?

Carry on then, carry on.