Top 5 Must-Haves for a Functional, Organized Pantry

If you're anything like me, you know that aesthetically-pleasing-anything motivates you to live a more fulfilling, functional life.

When I wake up, I make the bed because seeing those cozy blankets tucked along the sides gives me a sense of accomplishment and motivates me to take on whatever else is thrown at me during the day. Having a clean kitchen makes me want to cook. Clean office space -- let's get to work! Being real here, if the sunscreen is in a box next to the door, I'm more likely to put it on before heading out. Okay, I could go on and on, but you get the point... 

The bigger picture is that having things in order in a way that brings you joy or convenience for your lifestyle (whether that's organized chaos or simply organized, no judgment here-- whatever works for you), can motivate you to do better in your everyday life. 

I always say that the kitchen is the heart of the home, because it brings people together. From morning till night, breakfast and coffee, midday chatting with your significant other, or midnight snacking; whatever it is, the kitchen is high traffic. Where traffic is high, typically so are the remnants of said-traffic's presence. Sometimes, that means clutter -- piled papers, lunch boxes, kid's toys, excess reusable bags and bulk items, you name it. Unfortunately for the kitchen, when life gets busy, we don't always make time to declutter the excess, and we find ourselves shoving it in places it shouldn't be. Cue, the pantry!

The pantry. Comes in all sizes, usually within reach, hold lots of stuff.

I remember when my husband and I first lived together, in Okinawa, Japan, and our pantry was basically a small closet in between the kitchen and small dining room. There was zero organization and to be honest, the food that filled it was not stored properly for the climate or norms that come with island-living (hello weevils). In the next house in Okinawa, the pantry was bigger, so naturally I stored anything kitchen related in it, along with whatever else we needed tucked away. The next house in North Carolina, we had a tall cabinet for a pantry, but this time I kept like-foods together at the very least. Then we bought our first home in Florida, mid-size, wire shelves, bi-fold door. I knew it needed an upgrade, but it wasn't high on our priority list. What did I do? 

Well, I started with research. Lots of scrolling Pinterest for inspiration, lots of organizing TV shows, and reading books. Sure, they each taught me something new, but at the end of the day, I needed to do what made the most sense for our lifestyle and what would be the most cost effective for right now. 

Mistakes I Made: 

• I didn't measure the storage size. 
• I didn't account for the wire shelving.
• I didn't buy organizational tools in bulk. 
• I had zero system.
• I wanted zero additional plastic (this one depends on how you look at it).

What I learned: 

• Write out your goals - function, look, and lifestyle (i.e. I have kids, so safety and accessibility are key, but I also want to eat more whole, plant-based foods). 
• Measure, measure, measure - so that you ensure you get the correct size containers and shelf-lining (optional, great for wire shelves). 
• Plan to maximize your space - you want your food to breath and not fall off the shelves when you take something out, but you want it to suit your needs (especially if you have a small pantry/space). 
• Aim for light and bright! *Natural containers (hyacinth baskets or bamboo for instance) tend to inspire you to eat "better" food. White/light-colored containers brighten the look. Clear containers allow you to see how much you have left of something. Be mindful of the weight of the container once filled, this will determine placement.
• Buy containers in bulk (*save the receipt). Don't be like me. If I had to redo my pantry, I would buy heaps of containers to ensure I didn't have to make multiple trips back to the store hauling the kids and would much rather make one trip to return excess. Also, stores run out, prices change so getting things that match or flow at the best price is always a bonus. 
• If you have wire-shelving, you have two options -- shelf liner or flat bottom, likely-plastic containers. I opted to purchase shelf liner because it cleans up that dreaded wire look (if you've had wire shelves, they are quick to gain sticky build up that's hard to clean so this decreases/eliminates that hassle) and allow me the freedom to put any type of container on top of them without sticking, sliding, or falling through. It also gives the shelves more traction, so the containers don't slide around. 
• Before organizing, take everything out -- when something isn't organized, it's easy to lose track of expiration dates and stock, so you'll want to toss anything out that is expired or donate any unopened items that may not be the lifestyle you're aiming for (ex. if you are trying to eat more whole foods, maybe the processed snacks don't support that goal - but you do you - remember, no judgment here). 
• Plastic. So as someone who tries to avoid purchasing plastic and buy organic or natural, sustainable products, this was tough. I avoided plastic like the plague and I read and reread packaging on the ones I considered* getting (won't bore/scare you here, but if you're interested look into the resin codes on plastic, micro-plastics, and all-things plastic in general). Anyways, what I have learned though is that while there are many, MANY downsides to plastic, sometimes when the natural option isn't available or within your budget, a good-quality plastic is a durable, reusable alternative for organization. If you take good care of your things, they can last and be reused and maintained in a way that is sustainable to your lifestyle and the planet. 
• Which brings me to this last lesson - be realistic! Buy what suits your lifestyle, your goals, your needs, so that you wont have regrets later. 

So, if you've made it this far, this is the fun part...that is, if you find organizing therapeutic and joyful as I do. I mean, if you would have told me five-ten years ago that sharing my tips on pantry organization in my late 20's would excite me, I probably would have laughed...But you opened this blog, so I know I'm not alone in this matter. 

My Top 5 Must-Haves for a Functional, Organized pantry. 

1. Clear, Sealed Storage Jars - Having tight-sealed, see-through storage jars allows you to keep track of what you have or what you need to buy. Not only that, but food is actually really aesthetically pleasing to look at, whether it's colorful dried fruit, earth-toned nuts and seeds, or rainbow-colored hues for your superfood powders (or candy, there's that too). Personally, I went earthy for my pantry makeover, and opted for the wooden lid jars, because I thought it complimented the black in contrast. Being able to see my ingredients makes cooking fun and encourages me to do it more. 

2. Risers - Risers are good for spices, cans, or jars. They add a multi-level visual of what you have on hand, so nothing ever goes unnoticed or gets lost. Basically, no more searching for that under-utilized turmeric, no more reaching for tomato cans that have long-gone expired or buying doubles of what you couldn't find. If you don't want to dish out the money for risers right now, you could upcycle aluminum or plastic wrap boxes as a second level. 

3. Baskets / Bins - Natural baskets are beautiful to look at but to me, they also feel very earthy, natural, and grounding; so, it makes me want to eat the foods that align with my health goals. However, your goals or lifestyle may be different and clear bins, white bins, or multi-color bins are just as functional and beautiful to look at when done systematically! Opt for clear bins to keep track of stock-items (bulk snack bags, dried goods in boxes, etc.) or even to encourage healthful, intuitive, and independent snacking for the little ones (which is a good tip for the refrigerator too!) Opt for baskets or unclear containers to hide away overstock food items. 

4. Can Dispensers - I would advise keeping these on a lower level due to the weight of bulk cans and no littles will suffer injury from falling or climbing (they're sneaky and fast). These are a great way to organize cans in a way that are easy-to-use and easy-to-find as needed without jammed fingers and digging endlessly throughout the pantry. They come in different heights, layouts, and even materials, so chances are you'll find an option suitable for your cabinet or large pantry alike. I ended up getting a single line, white-coated organization system for mine, because they seem to hold more, and they were more budget-friendly at the time. However, I wish I would have waited and purchased the stackable, tri-layer style because they allow you to build up and out as needed -- space-saving. 

5. Breathable Produce Bags / Dish - This one is helpful for those of you who may have small spaces or just need to truly maximize your space (big families, cook frequently, etc.). Personally, we have a small kitchen and small/mid-size pantry with annoying wire shelves that break easily. So, I opted to hang breathable produce bags on hooks so that I could separately store my potatoes and onions when the shelf/floor space ran out. I use a wooden bowl tucked in between my jars if I have excess fruit or produce that needs to be stored away as well. 

BONUS: Stock up on binder clips so that you can seal overstock, snack bags, etc. before they are used. It's a great way to upcycle those that magically appear in your home too. 

BONUS TIP: Invest in a label maker. I say invest, but don't really mean invest, because you can find a functional, quality label maker for $10 at your local Target, Walmart, or even online. I personally used the same Dymo battery-powered one for years, until it gave out and I found a hand-held, manual Dymo labeler that looked better (aesthetic and therapeutic y'all, even though they don't stick as well). Literally, you open any drawer or cabinet in our kitchen and there's a cute little black label on it... I say it's beneficial for the kids to see the words and what they are, or that it will encourage my husband to help me out, but really, it's just a weird thing that brings me joy, ha-ha. 

Sustainability Tip: You can usually find every single one of the listed must-haves at your local thrift store for half-price. I shopped The Container Store for mine, only to find the same exact ones, in matching sets at my local thrift store shortly after, but for half the price. Just make sure you do a deep clean and sanitizing wash before use. *1:1 ratio Vinegar and baking soda, dish soap, and the sanitizing setting on your dishwasher will do the trick. (If you don't have a dishwasher, an abundance of studies indicate that sunshine and Ultraviolet light kills germs and bacteria).

Above all else, remember that home takes time, so what you need right now and what you have right now might change over time, and that's okay. Not everything happens overnight and by accepting what you have now and progressing forward at the pace you can, is perfectly acceptable. Even mine has evolved since most of these photos were initially taken, and it continues to evolve as I do. 

I hope you find these tips and must-haves useful. If you did, have any questions, or would like to add anything, let me know in the comments below! I love learning just as much as I love sharing. Happy organizing!