Allow me to introduce you to my pantry:
I am both irritated and embarrassed by it. But let's move past that, because this isn't about me. It's about my pantry. In my opinion, this pantry is too small for a Mormon, because Mormons are into food storage. Not because we're zealots and we want to make sure there's plenty of canned corn on hand should Jesus stop by unannounced, but because it just makes sense. Particularly in this economy, you never know what may happen, and wouldn't you want to be able to provide for your family at all times? But I'm digressing. Again. Back to the pantry.
I want this to be better than it is. I want my kids to be able to navigate it independently, knowing that each item has a place it belongs. I want it to be functional, yet attractive. I also want to stay within a decent budget... say a couple hundred bucks. So I've been looking around to see what's out there, and nothing is really hitting me.
I went to Home Depot, and snapped this image off their display chart. Obviously, my pantry is not wide enough to accommodate this system, but the delightful saleslady told me they can cut these wire shelves to any size you want. I don't really love the wire shelves, because I feel like things are harder to stack. But I do like the flexibility of cutting the shelves to whatever size I want.
I did a Google Image search for "pantry organizers", and found this simple approach (ironically, by a woman from UTAH. Those crazy Mormons and their food hoarding...):
The following image represents the granddaddy of pantry organizers. I heart it so much. It is streamlined, clean, functional, tidy, and basically awesome. I guess it's just wooden shelves built in to the closet area. I imagine this would be more expensive, although with my existing shelves, could I just install dividers or drawers? I don't know.
Lastly, this little number is sort of like what I have now (only larger, and yes I do have size envy). The main difference is that these are on adjustable brackets, and they have the drawer unit at the bottom. Also, I realize this photo is staged for advertising purposes, but I have to ask... where is all of these people's food?? I daresay if you cram in 9 jars of jam, 14 boxes of cold cereal, untold amounts of canned tuna, and my bulk bag of jasmine rice, you would seriously upset their color-coordinated display of items-nobody-uses. But my point is this: could I somehow adapt this system to my current pantry??
I am really open to suggestions. Do I do a total makeover? Do I just try to get baskets and containers to hold everything on my existing shelves? Wire shelves? Wood? Drawers? No drawers?
14 comments:
I am drooling over this assignment!!!! PLEASE save it so I can visit!!!!! use what you have with basic organizers (like the can stacker). All the bells and whistles of little 'areas' and dividers don't work for most people. I am noticing you have cleaning stuff in there too? I would recommend getting a behind the door clip system for this stuff somewhere else. Use plastic containers for the rice and 'odd bagged' stuff for ease of fit and more room, etc... Find a company you like and stick with it so they all fit together. Did you forget I was a CPO (certified professional organizer) !!!! The whole do over should be less than $150 mostly spent on storage bins for the dry goods. I'll be sure to pack my label maker!
no cleaning supplies in there. just vinegar.
well, i guess the broom counts as a cleaning supply...
You don't want to see my pantry. However, in my defense...I organize it every 6 months or so ;-)
Are you opposed to buying attractive cabinets with doors that close that can go in different (if you have any, "dead space") in your kitchen or in a nearby hallway? I'm not sure if you have room for something like that. I am toying with the idea of getting several. I just need more space in general and the closets and cabinets are too narrow to set up a good system.
...You make me laugh. I love that you are thoughtful enough to keep canned corn on hand for Jesus.
I want those rolling can organizers so badly...covet. covet. covet...
Is it weird that I covet can organizers, not diamonds.
Don't answer that...
I feel your pain. My pantry is similar. You might have a few inches on me. I have no wisdom about special shelving and whatnot. However, I think a few baskets might help you out. A while ago, I added a couple of baskets to the pantry-- one is for snack type items (granola bars, raisins, fruit snacks, etc) which makes it easy for the kids to find what they are looking for. Also these things are usually small and would just get jumbled if placed alone on a shelf. My other basket I put at the very bottom and this is for items I already have one of-- ketchup, jam, etc. I think the clear containers are functional and makes it easy to see what you have, but I think you will be happier with something prettier like a basket or fabric bin. I think the baskets should be retangular or they will eat up space. I suggest cleaning out the pantry and evaluating what items are getting lost/ looking most messy in there. Then make up a category for them and give them a basket home. That's all I've got for you. :)
We used the cut your own wire shelving. I love it because you can customize how wide your shelves are, so you have a cereal shelf, a soup can shelf, ect.. no more stacking you just leave a 2" space above the tallest item between each shelf. They also sell pre made wire shelves that screw onto your pantry door for smaller items that would get lost. I see the space between the bottom of one shelf and the top of the tallest item on the one below it and cringe, that could be soup cans, ect... I also like the wire because it makes it a lot harder for ants to get to your food! good luck!
The problem with the rolling can organizers is that you can only put the same item on each organizer ex. all corn etc. Maybe if you use the wire shelves on all three walls so that you have a U shape it might be more efficient. The shelves would not be as deep, but you would be able to get to the items without having to move everything on the shelf. At the bottom you could put some of those wire baskets like the ones in the last picture you show. These could hold things like potatoes or snacks. Have you ever seen the organizers that are like shelves that go in sideways instead of straight across? They are like a narrow box that has shelves along the width. They pull out one shelving unit at a time. Your closet is so narrow that not all options would work well or make the best use of the space.
Ha! I just did a post on the pantry as well. I actually have a fairly large pantry but it gets messy pretty fast. But, I do enjoy organizing it. Send me a plane ticket and I will come out and do yours:)
I will say, wood shelving is messy, I have it. Wire shelving doesn't hold everything because it has holes in it but you can use something to place small items on like one of those shelf lazy suzannes, I have a few of those. I put all my bulk in different containers, I ordered those pretty french terrine jars with the cool lids for my baking supplies as such. The container store is awesome, do you have one there? We don't, they sent me some stuff that was smashed:(
Okay, my favorite food storage item would not fit in your little closet pantry, but it is such a dream as far as holding a TON-o-stuff, while rotating it at the same time. It is called "Shelf Reliance" They have all different sizes. I think ours is the "harvest" or something. It holds ridiculous amounts of food. They come in various sizes. We have been super happy with it. Good luck! Can't wait to see the finished product in all it's organized glory!
Don't forget to save a place for your canned chicken along side your tuna.
I do not like wire shelving. Have done that at my past two houses. I love the wood for its sturdiness and stack-ablility ease. Drawers look fun and ideal but do not offer as much storage space as shelves. I would add a few more shelves between your existing shelves that allow you to store shorter items like canned goods more efficiently. Keep a couple of tall shelves for cereal and such.
Actually there are liners that you can place over the wire shelving that bypasses the problem of small items. Plus, they are cheaper than wood and do not need to be dusted!
I love what Amy said. That is what I did in my pantry which is the size of yours. I'm pretty sure you can do it for less than $100. I want to jump in my car and go do it for you!
So, did you get this done? I (along with most everyone else, apparently) wish I lived closer. I want to come help. I eat this stuff up. (Not literally. Though that would solve a lot of your problems if I just came and ate up all your food!) I have friends who invite me over when they need to organize and dejunk. I'm good at throwing stuff out. That is my idea of a fun Friday night.
PLEASE post pics when it is done.
P.S. Most of my advice is the same as everyone elses. I like everything to be in some sort of container and I would marry my labeler if I could. As soon as the gay rights laws all pass, I think we should work on inanimate objects next!
I'm late to the party, but I would never tear out wood shelving in favor of wire. I had wire shelves in our last house (pantry and all closets) and HATED HATED HATED them. Cans would get pushed, carch an edge, and fall over all the time, plus things would fall through. I say keep what you have, use some open bins and a label maker and group by type of food. I would also try to hang the brooms on a wall holder, and if you have space between the door and the shelves store something on the back of your door, unless that is where you hide your job charts. Good luck!
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