Deep cabinet organizers

10 ways to organize pantry shelves |

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(Image credit: Studio McGee Design / Lucy Call Photography)

By Tara King

published 8 February 2022

Knowing how to organize deep pantry shelves efficiently will make a huge difference to your pantry. One thing deep pantry shelves don’t lack is space – they can house an awful lot of 'stuff'. While this is great in terms of storage, it does mean they can easily descend into a dumping ground for kitchen clutter if not organized properly.

When organizing a kitchen, deep pantry shelves require a little extra planning. Packing them full may feel like a good use of space but trust us when we say taking a minimal approach is the best way to maximize their usefulness.

Having an efficient food storage system in place has its own set of benefits – relaxed cooking and less food waste, for a start – while easy access to other staples (food processors, platters, cake stands, linens, etc) should result in a smoother-running kitchen overall.

If you are looking for pantry ideas that can help you organize deep pantry shelves, we have plenty of expert tips below.

How to organize deep pantry shelves

We’ve spoken to the experts about organizing a pantry and gathered some of the easiest ways to organize deep pantry shelves, from pantry storage ideas to decluttering tips, to help you keep your pantry staples orderly, organized and always close to hand. They’re tips that will prove useful for laundry room organization and organizing a utility room with deep shelves, too.

1. Make a plan

(Image credit: Drew Forsyth)

Start with a clear out of pantry shelving. ‘When organizing deep pantry shelves, decluttering is the best place to start. Go through every tin, packet, jar and bottle and get rid of anything past its sell-by date or that you really won’t use at all (ensuring you recycle what you can). Do the same for kitchen items, too. That way you’re only left with what you need to put back, and you can start to assign locations.

‘I recommend using sticky notes to quickly jot down where you think things might go before you actually replace them, it helps you to get an overall holistic view of your storage situation’, says Heather Hoerzen, design editor at Havenly .

2. Choose pull-out storage

(Image credit: Life Kitchens)

‘If you can upgrade to mounted drawers inside deep pantry shelving, it's a game changer’, says Betsy Moyer, founder of The Estate of Things . ’You'll see so much more of what you store. And we all know the key to succeed in properly utilizing your pantry storage is visibility.’

Or use baskets and bins or transparent containers, including those you’ve set aside as a result of organizing Tupperware – this performs the same function as organizing kitchen drawers, and they have added benefit of being able to pull right out, particularly useful for higher up shelving.

You can then set them down on a counter and have a proper rifle through – essentially a removable drawer,’ says Ann Lightfoot, co-founder of Done & Done Home . They’re ideal for grouping smaller like-items – think organizing spices – that would otherwise get lost at the back of a cabinet.

When organizing pantry drawers, particularly deep ones, use kitchen organizers such as dividers or bespoke inserts to keep everything neatly categorized.

Pantry door ideas, like the one above, can complement deep pantry shelves, allowing you to store smaller items efficiently.

3. Reserve lower shelves for heavier items

(Image credit: Humphery Munson)

Deep pantry shelves are ideal for storing sizeable items of cookware, organizing pots and pans, and stashing appliances or large bags of overfill foods, as the space between top and bottom allows cooks to reach inside easily and access heavier items, reducing the risk of potential accidents.

‘If it’s heavy, store it low, says Richard Davonport, managing director at Davonport . ‘It sounds simple, but you really don’t want to be accessing heavy items overhead.’

When deciding exactly what goes where, assign the heaviest items to shelves that are reachable without stretching up or bending down – similarly to how you would when organizing kitchen cabinets.

4. And store seldom-used items up high

(Image credit: Future)

Higher up deep pantry shelving should be reserved for those items that are rarely used – think cocktail straws for parties, cookie cutters for Christmas, and so on.

Try to avoid putting delicate items such as glass jars or appliances on high shelves to avoid any unnecessary breakages.

5. Enlist pantry helpers

(Image credit: Future)

Deep pantry shelves may offer plenty of space, but they need to be organized properly in order to make the best of it. From wire-racks and bins to carousels and risers, investing pantry organizers can make all the difference. Think about exactly what you want to store on the shelf and which would most benefit you.

‘Tinned food can be placed on a shelf to the back atop risers to allow you to see what you have without digging through several layers of cans, and clear containers stacked underneath are really helpful to easily spot what you need without rummaging’, says Stephanie Nixon, kitchen designer at Neptune .

6. Stack food in height order

(Image credit: Garden Trading)

It’s tempting to put items at the front as you’ve just used them, but this results in smaller items getting lost and forgotten, particularly when organizing deep pantry shelves. Stacking in height order allows you to see what you’ve got clearly and helps you to avoid knocking things over when you’re reaching all the way back.

7. Pay attention to use-by dates

Position items according to how soon they’re due to go off. This is the way it’s done in supermarkets to ensure customers buy the stock going out of date first. Professional organizer Brenda Scott of Tidy My Space refers to this as the ‘FIFO’ method:

‘Think first in first out… when you purchase an item it goes to the back of the grouping so the item with the nearest expiration date always remains at the front,’ she says.

8. Create eye-pleasing displays

(Image credit: Olive Barr)

Decorative kitchen storage ideas can make a huge difference to your pantry’s look and feel, so creating a stylish display is vital when organizing deep pantry shelves, particularly if they’re open or have glass doors.

To keep shelves looking neat, tidy and mindfully arranged, organize them by grouping items into clusters of odd numbers, ideally three items, and add different heights and sizes in each cluster.

Baskets offer a practical way of storing your unsightly pantry items, while maintaining a neat and tidy aesthetic. Similarly, decanting dried goods in neatly labelled glass jars makes for a stylish display, plus you can see when stocks are running low at a quick glance. There’s also no risk of packets opening and spilling everywhere – never an easy clean-up job, and even less so on deep shelves.

Labels aren’t just practical; they add style and character to your pantry, too. Consider chalkboard labels for jars and luggage tags for baskets.

9. Store appliances on deep pantry shelves

When organizing kitchen countertops, minimalism is key, particularly now when dual-purpose kitchen/entertaining spaces are more popular than ever. The fewer appliances you have out on show, the better.

‘Deep pantry shelves are perfect for housing small appliances such as kettles, toasters and coffee machines, freeing up valuable workspace,’ says Will Lyne, lead designer and owner of Christopher Peters Kitchens & Interiors .

Emma Cowburn, kitchen designer at Harvey Jones agrees, and adds: ‘Consider having them fitted with sockets at the back so you can plug and use the appliances where they are, then simply close the doors on any clutter.’

10. Don’t be tempted to overload

By their very nature, deep pantry shelves can house a lot of 'stuff'. It’s tempting to fill the space – particularly if you’re organizing a small kitchen, but it’s not conducive to effective storage overall.

‘Deep pantry shelves are handy for hiding away lots of clutter, but that doesn’t necessarily make them user-friendly,’ advises Richard. ‘If your non-stick frying pan is always hiding underneath five other saucepans of various shapes and sizes it will be frustrating every time you need to use it, so try to give each item its own space, particularly ones you use every day. ’

How do I organize narrow and deep pantry shelves?

Reserve narrow and deep pantry shelves for smaller items and use transparent containers or baskets to group them. Be sure to measure the height and width of the shelf before deciding on pull out storage – you ideally want a snug fit, so you’re not left with dead space at the back. Label each container clearly so you can pull one out – like a removable drawer, find what you need, and slide it back in again.

You could also consider installing a tall, slim rack for wine storage.

How do you organize a deep corner pantry?

Fitting pantry shelves is a brilliant way to make the most of an unused corner in your kitchen – opt for floating styles rather than ones fitted with brackets to utilize space.

Pantry organizers are your best friend in a deep corner pantry. Stack risers along the shelves and store tinned goods on top, with overflows tucked underneath. As you use the tins, always replace the one on top of the riser so you know where you’re looking next time. Make the most of open corner space with carousel storage – easy access to condiments, spices, oils and other bottled items.

Get rid of packaging to save on space and decant dried goods into clear, glass jars that sit snugly side by side. Make sure the taller items go towards the back, so you don’t end up knocking things over as you reach in and keep most frequently used items – and those with closer expiry dates – near the front.

For 10 years, Tara King worked as a Content Editor in the magazine industry, before leaving to become freelance, covering interior design, wellbeing, craft and homemaking. As well as writing for Ideal Home, Style at Home, Country Homes & Interiors, Tara’s keen eye for styling combined with a passion for creating a happy – and functional – family home has led to a series of organization and cleaning features for H&G.

Best Tips for Deep Pantry Organization

Cleaning and Organization | Homemaking

January 8, 2022February 25, 2022

Our kitchen is the hub of our home, which means the pantry needs to be clean and efficient. I’m sharing the best tips for deep pantry organization, but these tips will also work for any pantry organization.

Do you have an area, or cabinet, of you home that tends to get messier faster than any other area?

The pantry and our laundry room are those target areas for my home.

The laundry room is, mostly, used by me. I try to keep that under wraps by tending to it during my normal laundry routine.

A pantry is a different animal because I am not the only one accessing the space.

Everyone in the home has their hand in the pantry throughout the day, so it can get quite messy very quickly.

Let’s tackle your pantry together, shall we? But first, you can take a look at mine and feel better about your own pantry.

Messy Pantry Frustrations

There are many frustrations that come with unorganized spaces.

Having a simple house cleaning schedule can help with that, but what about unseen spaces, such as a pantry?

You can keep your kitchen spotless and then open the pantry and feel like all is lost… literally, things can get lost in there.

It is especially important to keep things organized if you have a prepared pantry in your kitchen or home.

Sometimes, it is helpful to list the reasons you want to clean something in order to help motivate you to get a job done.

Here are a few frustrations that you might experience from having a messy pantry, I know these ring true for me.

Lots of crumbs on the shelves
Opened boxes of cereal and crackers
Food goes to waste because you don’t see it in the back and buy new before using the old food
You have a hard time finding things you know are in the deep pantry because it is a mess
It makes it hard to find a place for new groceries when the pantry is disheveled

How to Begin to Organize your Kitchen Pantry

Beginning a process can be the hardest step because you know that the mess will get worse before it gets better.

The best place to begin to organize your pantry is with removing everything all of the items from your pantry.

Then, you can clean the pantry and add things back in an orderly fashion.

Steps for Organizing a Pantry with Deep Shelves

Remove everything from your pantry– Take everything out and place it on your counter or kitchen table.
Clean the shelves– Vacuum out the crumbs and wipe the dust with a rag.
Categorize what is in your pantry- Create categories for your items so you can put them back in an organized fashion.
Wipe down your pantry items– Before putting them back in the pantry, wipe down your goods so your pantry feels spotless when you’re done.
Create zones in your pantry for similar items– canned goods, snacks, breakfast items, spices, etc. Zones can be easily established by using organizational tools to keep things in place.
Keep regularly used items where they can be accessed easily– Things that are used on a daily basis need to be in the front of the shelf and at eye level so they are easy to get. Other, less used, items can be positioned in the back of the shelf or where they aren’t as easy to get to since they aren’t used as often.

Tops Tips for Organizing your Pantry

Label things to help other family members to keep things tidy
Put items closer to expiration in the front
Get organizational baskets and containers to help you
If you’re space is limited, optimize it by using hanging shelves on the door
Put heavy items on lower shelves and lighter items on the top shelf
Place tall things in the back and keep shorter items in the front
Make sure your pantry helps you stay efficient in the kitchen

Tools for Organization Deep Pantry Shelves

Bins and Baskets for deep shelves– These are great for keeping seasoning packets, small packages of snacks, and stocked spices in.
Best Lazy Susan’s for Pantry Organization– The turntable is a great way to keep things easily accessible.
Door Storage for Pantry Door– Don’t forget that valuable space between the door and shelf of your pantry. You can house small items and even canned goods here.
Containers that work well for Deep Pantries– Having clear containers makes deep pantry organization much easier.
Simple Shelves for Pantry Storage– Shelves are important for deep pantries that have shelves because you can stack items and see what is in the back of your pantry.
Label Maker for your Pantry items– Labels help you and your family keep things tidy.
Pull out drawers– If you have a super deep pantry, installing pull out drawers can be a huge help so you can easily get to those items in the back.

DIY Tips for Deep Pantry Organization

Repurpose Mason Jars for food storage- beans, rice, cereal, popcorn
Old Wooden Crates– These work great to add levels to your shelving. Turn old wooden boxes or crates on their side and stack small items, such as canned goods or spices, on top to add another level in your pantry.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you maximize deep shelves?

To maximize deep pantry shelves, put tall items in the back and shorter items in the front. Always add newer items to the back of the pantry so your older items get used before they expire. Consider adding shelves to give height to those items in the back, making them more visible.

What is an easy solution for managing deep pantry shelves?

A quick solution for deep shelving is to add deep pantry pull out shelves. These drawers make it easy to access the items in the back of the pantry. You may also get simple storage solutions to help with pantry organization.

How do you organize a deep corner pantry?

The best way to keep a deep corner pantry organized is by adding a lazy susan to the cabinet. This simple organizational tool allows you to easily access anything in your corner pantry.

Free Decluttering Guide

If you are needing inspiration and help decluttering your home, be sure to check out this decluttering guide.

There are checklists, tips for preventing overwhelm, and encouragement to help you get started and feel successful.

FREE Decluttering Guide

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Kitchen Necessities

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Deep storage

February 10, 2022 15:15

// Organization of storage in the wardrobe / closet

Most housewives suffer from the same problem - deep shelves. In the depths of which favorite things are often lost. But there is a way out!
And you don't even need to order new furniture. With a little creativity and ingenuity, you can transform the deep shelves of your closet beyond recognition. A competent approach to organizing the space of shelves in the closet will delight you with ease of use, aesthetics and ease of execution. To help hostesses, we have prepared useful tips from our experience.

Unobvious disadvantages of deep shelves

We all understand perfectly well that the depth of a standard closet is quite suitable for hanging clothes. However, the shelves at the same time are very uncomfortable:

things are piled up, and to get access to the distant ones, you need to pull out the nearest ones;
is a constant mess on the shelves, because in search of the right item you have to literally “dig up” a bunch of things. Often we stuff them back at random, and then waste time and fold them again, or the mess never leaves the shelves;
we lose things, because if they are visually inaccessible, then it is very easy to forget about their existence;
we spend extra money, because if the thing is “lost”, we buy the same new one;
we lose useful centimeters. If the shelf is not only deep, but also high, then it is only half filled in order to somehow maintain order and have access to the back rows of things.

And now about ways to turn disadvantages into advantages

There are several options for how to do this. Choose any or combine several at once.

Storage for seasonal or bulky items

Send to deep shelves without hesitation:

bed linen and other household textiles that you take out no more than once a month;
voluminous and seasonal items. This includes blankets, jackets, thick winter sweaters, seasonal sportswear. Send all this to the far wall or put it on a separate shelf;
shoe boxes. They can be placed against the back wall of the cabinet, and things that are used often can be placed in front.

Cells in space

In this case, things are stored in piles, but each of them has its own section.
Suitable for creating compartments:

vertical divider shelves. With their help, it is very easy to create a space designed for one pile;
horizontal divider shelves. You can choose on legs or sliding. With their help, it is easy to organize "staggered" storage, when distant stacks are raised higher for easier access.

Both options are suitable for both wardrobe and kitchen cabinets.

The advantages of using divider shelves are obvious - when looking for things, you do not have to dig the entire shelf, it will be enough to review only one pile, which is faster and easier.

By the way, instead of purchased shelves, you can use boxes. for the same shoes. Put them to the far wall, but not to the full height. And on top you can put those things that you rarely use.

Thus, you raise the far row and access to it will be much easier at times.

Advice! It is not always necessary to sort clothes by color. Especially if it is folded in the far corner of the closet. It is better to use sorting by purpose. And use the color of the thing as a “beacon” to simplify the search.

Going out organizers!

We have already talked about the benefits of organizers more than once. With their help, it is very convenient to sort not only small wardrobe items, but also quite voluminous ones.
For example, a large textile organizer is perfect for storing a warm blanket or winter jacket. And you can put them horizontally or vertically, "sideways" - depending on the size of the shelf.

You can also use rack baskets and boxes - we fill them with rarely used things and send them to the far wall.

Don't forget to measure the shelves before buying to fit the dimensions (more tips on choosing organizers can be found in our last article). Link to the article (active link)

Drawers

Facilitate access to things on high and deep shelves. And for content to be well viewed, use vertical storage. True, as practice shows, it is not very convenient for the upper shelves. But for the middle and lower - quite a working and functional option.

Wire storage systems

Modern, stylish and comfortable. Perfectly solve the problem of increasing usable space. Easy to attach, easy to remove and move. Among the additional advantages is the ability to quickly see what's inside.

For deep shelves, choose:

level - placed inside, allow you to divide the space into several tiers within one high shelf. This means that it is easier to separate clothes according to their intended purpose, for example:

underwear;
in the middle - T-shirts;
top - pajamas.

hanging - with their help you use the entire height of the shelves. In addition, entire retractable modules can be grouped from them. Suitable for all cabinets - from kitchen to dressing rooms.
mini-shelves - allow you to zone the horizontal space, lifting the distant rows of clothes.

Use your health! And if you need the help of a professional space organizer, please contact us!

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10 ideas for competent space optimization — INMYROOM

Tips

Not enough space in the closet? InMyRoom has put together a collection of tips to help you tidy up your closet and make the most of your space.

The dream of every modern fashionista is her own spacious wardrobe where you can not only store your belongings, but also create their new extravagant images. But if you can't boast of having such, this is a selection for you. Tidying up the closet optimize space.

Idea #1: tiered coat hanger

If possible, hang most of your clothes on hangers. At the same time, a great option is to use equally thin hangers: this way you can save space in the closet. Each thing on separate hangers, in no case in layers - this ideal, of course, for many unattainable. There are multi-tiered hangers, they will save a little space in the closet, and at the same time things will remain in sight. Hangers are easy to upgrade and do it yourself - just fasten them with keys from aluminum cans.

Idea #2: one rod is good, but two is better

Try to fix not one, but two hanger rods in two rows. Hang skirts, trousers, jeans on the lower bar; on the top - blouses, tops, sweaters, cardigans. Can optionally sort clothes by type: blouses to blouses, trousers to trousers. But not forget to leave room for long things - and do not make a bar under them: dresses, maxi skirts, coats, raincoats will be stored here.

Idea No. 3: strict accounting

Smart idea - use for organization space with signs, pictures, sign, hang photos outfits for wardrobe doors.

Search Among the many shoe boxes, the right one is not an easy task. Do photos of each pair of shoes and attach them to the appropriate boxes. Now, when searching, you will not need to turn the entire cabinet upside down.

Idea #4: Laundry organizers

The power of small things is that there are many of them. Small wardrobe items - panties, socks, tights, bras - are not easy to organize, which means a mess in the chest of drawers and extra time to pack. Laundry is best stored in drawers. So that the search for the right thing does not turn into an adventure, you can buy laundry organizers. Their practicality, efficiency and beautiful design will appeal to true connoisseurs of harmony. And socks, tights, stockings can be folded into retractable baskets.

Idea #5: Vacuum bags

When things get really bad in the closet, it makes sense to put things away out of the closet until next fall-winter or spring-summer. The main thing is to understand what things you definitely won't need it. For example, now is the time to put summer things away so that down jackets, fur coats and other warm clothes boldly take their rightful seasonal place in the closet.

Vacuum bags save the day – an incredibly convenient way to compactly store bulky items! It can also be useful to you when traveling when the volume of things is much exceeds the capabilities of a suitcase!

Idea #6: weekly plan

If want to turn your closet into a realm of perfect order, in advance plan what you will wear on a certain day. Place each set of clothes on a separate hanger, accompanied by the appropriate label.

Idea #7: a look for the future

hanger or tailor's mannequin to hang clothes on it the next day. So you will have a look at the image from the side, otherwise there is only one in the mirror, but in the photo then another. Have you noticed this?

You can collect outfits for several days in advance and hang them together, for this there are very interesting design solutions outside closet.

Idea #8: Proper storage of bags

Bags can be stored as outside the cabinet as well as inside it. It must be remembered that the suspension option only suitable for bags that are used quite often (otherwise they will collect dust), and if the bags are fabric. Leather ones quickly lose their shape, stretch handles, especially if the bag is heavy.

It is better to store bags on the shelves, placing them vertically in a row, you can use separators. The most convenient place to store bags is a closet in the hallway. To avoid the situation when you get dressed, put on your shoes and understand that you need another bag for the image, the one that lies in the bedroom in the closet, and there is no desire to go after it.