Let the pantry party begin! I never expected that organizing a small closet-like space that’s closed most of the time could feel so rewarding, but working on this pantry with Sherry has made our entire kitchen—and really the whole house—feel more useful and efficient. The transformation has been unexpectedly uplifting.
We started by adding an outlet, rearranging a few shelves, and moving the microwave into the pantry. We also relocated the trash can to free up floor space, then gave the walls and shelving a fresh finish with primer and paint.
We tossed around the idea of a bold or cheerful color for the walls or shelves, but with so many colorful food packages stored in a pantry, we decided to keep the room bright and calm with white paint. Since there’s no built-in light in the pantry, a light color keeps the back corners from feeling gloomy and improves visibility.
To paint the shelves, we removed them and lined them up in the dining room, using a strip of painter’s tape to keep them from scuffing the wall. One coat of Kilz Premium primer and three coats of Benjamin Moore Advance in Simply White—left over from our kitchen cabinet project—did the trick. Most of the painting was done with a small foam roller and a brush for trim and corners.
After everything dried, we reassembled the shelving and rehung the pantry door (we had removed it to make painting easier). Each shelf originally used two boards; after experimenting we decided to use a single board for the two upper shelves. Making those shelves shallower prevents items from getting lost in the back out of sight and reach.
To maximize the door, we installed an affordable back-of-door wire organizer. It’s designed to hang over the door, but we chose to screw it directly into the door (using anchors where necessary) so there are no hooks visible when the door is closed. This added valuable surface area for smaller items.
With the door organizer in place, we turned our attention to the lower portion of the pantry. Now that the trash can isn’t consuming the space, we wanted the floor and lower shelves to work harder. Before installing anything permanent, we restocked the shelves to see exactly what storage solutions were actually needed.
We considered vertical dividers or stackable bins but settled on adding another shelf for now. Luckily we had two spare boards from the earlier shelf adjustments that were already primed and painted, so adding a shelf was quick. I attached wood supports to the walls and installed the board, creating a tidy spot for paper towels and cloth napkins.
To make the most of each shelf we added two under-shelf wire baskets from a small organizer set. These slide on and off easily and let us divide space without installing permanent fixtures. The baskets help compartmentalize items and can be moved or removed as our needs change.
Right now the pantry looks a little sparse because we need to restock groceries soon—but it also feels like we suddenly have a lot more usable space. After the reorganization, we were both eager to go shopping just to see how much more we could pack in.
Organization by shelf: the top shelf holds baking and meal staples like breadcrumbs, boxed rice, brown sugar, and baking soda, plus a small box of sprinkles and icing for decorating. The next shelf down stores snacks and cereals—oatmeal, granola, and crackers. A narrow shelf holds shorter items such as jars and cans of soup, salsa, peanut butter, and tuna, arranged so nothing gets lost in the back.
The 5-piece organizer set that includes the under-shelf baskets also provided a small wall-mounted wire basket, which we screwed into the side wall to hold spare plastic bags. It’s a much neater solution than the large bin we previously kept on the floor.
We debated using clear containers like those commonly featured on Pinterest, and while we have some clear canisters, we decided that most pantry items are used quickly enough that keeping them in their original packaging is more practical for daily life. The pretty containers would look nice but wouldn’t necessarily match our habits.
The wall across from the bag bin is currently empty but offers a future spot for another hanging organizer if we find a specific need. You’ll also see some deliberately empty shelf space in front of the cans—this protects the top of the microwave from anything that might fall and gives a handy staging area while we organize or search for items.
The narrower upper shelves make it easy to see and reach canned goods because like items are grouped together in the front. That way nothing hides in the back and gets forgotten.
We used the door-hanging baskets for items that fit best in a narrow space—mostly tea- and coffee-related items, nuts and small snacks, boxes of pasta, and single-serve bars. We left a bit of vertical clearance on one shelf so long pasta boxes can be removed without bumping another shelf above them.
One lower shelf is dedicated to Clara’s snacks at her height so she can grab a treat independently. Having a kid-friendly snack zone has been a hit—she already helps herself to carrots and small hummus tubs—and it makes packing preschool snacks quicker in the morning.
The pantry floor will probably continue to evolve. For now we placed a basket to corral bulky items and temporarily set a few tall cereal boxes on the floor. This area will serve well for occasional bulk purchases and provides a little breathing room as our stock grows.
We consider the pantry makeover a success for now—aside from fine-tuning the floor area after a big grocery trip. The space feels more functional, accessible, and pleasant to use. Now I’m itching to organize another spot in the house—nesting, perhaps?
How about you—did you spend the weekend reorganizing a closet or cabinet? If you were stuck inside by weather or just in the mood to tidy, pantry projects are a great place to start. No judgment if this article made you crave Nutella or dried cranberries—those little cravings happen to the best of us.
Psst— Curious about items featured in this makeover? The image below highlights some of the products and organizers we used.
