This past Christmas I gave my mom the gift of organization. Three gifts really: a pantry makeover in January, cabinet organization in February, and a laundry room makeover in March.
So before the blizzard of 2014 hit, I got in the first makeover… HER PANTRY!
My mom has a small folding door pantry in her kitchen behind the counter (you might remember the layout from when I painted her kitchen cabinets last year).
Well what’s behind those doors wasn’t so pretty…
But after a couple hours and the purchase of some new baskets and bins, I turned her pantry into this…
To begin this project I had to empty everything out of her pantry. Good thing she has a lot of counter space. Yeah, I couldn’t believe how much food she had shoved in that little pantry space.
Once I washed and vacuumed out the pantry it was time to reline the shelves with new contact paper that I purchased from the local discount store.
Then I was ready to put back all of the food and start organizing.
Easy before & after, huh?
I organized as I placed things back in her pantry, trying to keep to a zone system.
Most of the bins I purchased from the Dollar Store.
And the tags were from Michael’s in the clearance section.
I like the use of labels and tags as a quick way to see where everything is.
The larger baskets at the bottom are now used for chips and diet foods (purchased from Michael’s at 50% off). And the middle blue stackable containers from the Dollar Store are filled with little packs of peanut butter and jelly for lunches. I love how my mom buys the restaurant-style packs to help count calories and control your portions (you can get them from Amazon here
I might go back in the near future to add another small shelf to give her just a little more storage, and maybe I should cover that old flowered wallpaper, but overall I’m thinking this organized pantry is pretty practical and well… pretty.
Judy I, St. Louis MO says
January 6, 2014 at 6:42 amGreat makeover. Thanks for the detailed pictures.
howtonestforless says
January 6, 2014 at 11:40 amThanks Judy!
Stephanie says
January 6, 2014 at 7:15 amWow, what can I do to get you to makeover my pantry? 😉 Mine is organized by shelf, but not nearly as pretty as this. I love this makeover!
howtonestforless says
January 6, 2014 at 11:40 amThanks Stephanie! And I’ll be right over 😉
DebZorn says
January 6, 2014 at 9:23 amI cleaned out cupboards, this weekend.(I don’t have a pantry.) I discovered I have “rice alzheimers. I had five boxes of rice! We are “empty nesters” – I’m pretty sure this will last at least a couple of years. Your mom’s pantry looks great. Thanks for sharing.
howtonestforless says
January 6, 2014 at 11:41 amHaha, too funny! I think you’ll be searching the web later for new recipes with a certain ingredient 🙂
Megan says
January 6, 2014 at 9:49 amLooks great! But I bet Dad can’t find a thing 🙂
howtonestforless says
January 6, 2014 at 11:41 amHa, you know it!
Kayre says
January 6, 2014 at 2:24 pmI revamped my pantry this weekend, too! Your baskets look nicer than my recycled red boxes from Target…but, since red is a target color in my house…they look nice! I used my new labeler to make everything easy to find!
howtonestforless says
January 6, 2014 at 3:11 pmAwesome! Ooh, and I love a labeler 😉
Artzzle says
January 6, 2014 at 5:20 pmLucky Mom to receive gifts like that! It always feels wonderful to accomplish a big project like this … probably even more so when it’s done for you! Great job!
howtonestforless says
January 7, 2014 at 3:54 pmThank you so much! Feels good to help others get organized 😉
Wendie Waldman says
January 6, 2014 at 8:23 pmWow, what a lucky mom you have! Giving me some encouragement to dive into my pantry tomorrow!
howtonestforless says
January 7, 2014 at 3:54 pmGood luck Wendie!
Carla says
January 7, 2014 at 8:51 amThat pantry looks awesome. My doesn’t look too bad but your mom’s pantry looks so neat and pretty. I have just odd and end baskets in it for mixes. Maybe I need to get more that match and add some color.
Something I saw in my new neighbors pantry that I thought was cool…. the shelf for can goods was slanted. You lay the cans on their sides and when you remove a can the others roll down and you can see all the cans and labels. I’m trying to think of a way to revamp my shelves now. mmmm
Thanks for sharing. Now if you ever get to Houston You can come help me organize. LOL
howtonestforless says
January 7, 2014 at 3:55 pmOoh, I wonder if I could build something like that. Pretty cool idea!! THanks for sharing.
Gisele Coulter says
January 7, 2014 at 9:04 pmThat’s very inspiring!! Now I want to do the same with my pantry, but I’m afraid it will take a bit longer than yours! lol
Ann says
February 7, 2014 at 5:17 amDo you have any suggestions on deep shelves. I have canned vegetables on those shelves. The canned vegetables are to heavy to put in boxes and remove the boxes to see what is in the back. Help.
howtonestforless says
February 7, 2014 at 8:35 amWhat about some type of risers, like seen here: http://raisingethan.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/009.jpg
Or lazy susans?
Anita says
May 2, 2014 at 7:11 amLooks amazing, I converted our hall closet into a pantry last year. In the process got shoe box size bins with lids so they can stack (and keep critters out, we live in the bush so get one or two in the fall). I am currently converting all my spices to “mason” jars (125ml, 250ml, 500ml) to help in the organization.
Paula B says
October 18, 2014 at 10:07 pmBut where did her books (cook books?) get put? I don’t see them in the “after”.
howtonestforless says
October 20, 2014 at 12:29 pmWe actually found room in another cupboard for those, a place where she can reach them with ease!
Sherri says
July 5, 2015 at 9:57 pmThis looks great! Love the way you put the healthy snacks at eye level and the potato chips on the bottom. – smart thinking 🙂 I’m going to tackle mine this week.
Shari says
November 20, 2015 at 6:09 amWow! I would love to do this with my pantry. Very inspiring!!!
Shari says
November 20, 2015 at 6:10 amWow!! Extremely inspiring!!!
ALICE J NOLAN says
March 21, 2016 at 9:06 pmWow…I just wish that’s all the space I needed for canned goods!!
Helen says
April 14, 2016 at 5:14 pmFantastic work, inspired me to do my own
Jackie says
January 20, 2018 at 11:51 amLove the inspiration and thank you! I do have suggestion that hopefully is helpful to you and your readers. All the baking items and spices should be kept on the lower shelves for heat reasons. The heat, whether its from summer temperatures, with or without central air, or the heater that runs during cold months, should be considered to keep spices, flours,cornmeals, oats and dried fruits from drying out or even get ” bugs” in the flours,etc…You get the pont! Thanks for all your help!
Jackie from Berea
howtonestforless says
January 24, 2018 at 5:29 pmThanks for the tip, Jackie!