Storage ideas for deep pantry
14 Easy Tips for Deep Pantry Organization
These tips make the most of deep shelves in the pantry
By
Grace Gallagher
Grace Gallagher
Grace Gallagher is a lifestyle expert and writer with five years of experience covering home furnishings, storage, and organization. She has also written for Greatist, Veracity Selfcare, Brit + Co, and others. Grace also taught creative writing workshops in Portland, Oregon.
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Published on 09/29/22
@lets.sort
When it comes to pantry storage, it's easy to think the bigger the better, especially if you love to collect ingredients or have a lot of mouths to feed. While it's definitely helpful to have a large pantry when it comes to kitchen organization, a pantry with deep shelves can be tricky sometimes, as it's easy to lose track of what's toward the back. These deep pantry storage ideas will help you make the most of your space without letting that additional shelf space go to waste.
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01 of 14
Use a Turntable and Wire Baskets
@tidyclosetsd
When organizing a deep pantry, it's all about labels and bins so you can easily see them. That way, if things get pushed to the back, they're still visible. A turntable works well on a higher shelf, too.
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02 of 14
Try Bins With a Handles
@tidyclosetsd
To make the most of your pantry space, you may need to put one bin in front of the other (otherwise the depth of the shelves kind of goes to waste). Using a clear bin with a cut-out handle helps when it comes time to pull out something specific whether it's because you need that item or whatever is behind it.
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03 of 14
Stack Clear Bins
@simplicity_cleaning_services
Deep pantries are often big all over, which means a lot of space between shelves. If you're wary of stacking bins horizontally one behind the other, then use vertical space. Sure, it may mean things need to shift every now and then, but if you put lesser used items on the bottom row, it shouldn't be a major inconvenience.
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04 of 14
Place Cans on Risers
@simplyorganizedco
There are a few things that are great about these twin pantries—long bins span the depth of the shelves and they can be easily pulled out, risers help you see canned goods, and plastic turntables make it easy to grab whatever sauce you need.
Chantell Dennis of Simply Organized Company says when it comes to deep pantry storage, layer when you can (i.e. use a can riser in the back with two lazy Susans in the front).
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05 of 14
Install Sliding Drawers
@thefeinhome
Not only is this pantry aesthetically pleasing, but it's also functional for the whole family.
Kid's snacks are easily reachable on the bottom shelves and decanting foods into clear storage containers makes it easy to declutter and see what you have. Consider installing these adjustable drawers which can be added to any shelves, providing much more function. -
06 of 14
Stagger Products
@organizedwithrachelly
Using two or three-tiered risers helps to see what you have and know when you're running low on something (so you don't go to make a sauce only to find that you're out of tomatoes). Organizing dry goods and snacks by type is also an easy tweak that makes the pantry so much more usable.
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07 of 14
Organize the Same Type of Food in Rows
@theprojectneat
If you're lucky enough to design your own pantry, consider adding a drawer that makes the most of its depth. Putting snacks into acrylic or clear plastic bins not only looks nice, but it keeps you aware of what you have because who hasn't pulled out a box of snacks and realized someone in the house put it away empty?
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08 of 14
Unwrap Paper Products
@ocdbyfoomz
This oversized pantry is stunning, of course, but also totally functional.
Unwrapping paper goods and stacking them makes the most of space— when you're arranging a deep pantry it always makes sense to store a backlog of extra products behind the ones you plan to use first. It always makes sense to use bins you can clearly see into. -
09 of 14
Label Everything
@getminimized
When in doubt, label everything either by hand or with a label maker. Use the top shelf of a pantry for things you don't use all the time, like baking supplies and specialty appliances. Long, thin organizers work well in deeper pantries because you can fit many sides by side.
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10 of 14
Add Deep Pull-Out Shelves
@sortandsensibility
This may not be a walk-in pantry, but its deep shelves hold a ton. Here, bigger bins on the shelves are used for paper products and backstock spices. Additionally, the turntables hold jars so you don't risk breaking anything looking for what you need, and the wooden shelves are custom-made to withstand a lot of weight from canned goods.
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11 of 14
Organize Tupperware in Descending Size Order
@the_happy_organiser
Before you even begin organizing your pantry, it's helpful to have a plan. These pop-top bins, for example, seem to have been purchased with ascending order in mind and the pull-out drawers are neatly labeled. If you have the space, storing cans flat in a drawer is a great way to use some depth.
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12 of 14
Bring in a Stool
@lets.sort
A stool is a must in a deep pantry so you can reach all the way to the back of higher shelves. We love the sleek turntables that keep sauces organized and easy to find while deep woven bins are a smart use of lower space.
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13 of 14
Try Different Kinds of Bins
@lets.sort
For some people, using exclusively clear bins may feel a little chaotic or visually busy. You can definitely use deep woven bins in a deep pantry, just make sure that your labels are large and clearly written.
It always makes sense to decant things like sugar or flour which don't have specific cooking instructions on the packaging. -
14 of 14
Use Top Shelves for Cookbooks
@afreshspace
This deep pantry has it all: labels, risers, and plenty of bins. It's clever to use the top shelf for organizing cookbooks, which you probably won't need daily but it's nice to know exactly where to find the recipe you're craving. Large wire bins on top are ideal for storing lightweight back-stock items like paper goods.
10 ways to organize pantry shelves |
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.
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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.
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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.
Rational Storage in the Pantry: 15 Stylish Solutions
You can create a custom furniture project, but for now, ReRooms shares life hacks that will help you organize storage in the pantry wisely.
1. Swivel stand
The corner in any closet is usually like a black hole, in which everything that falls into it disappears. To find the right jar-bottle, sometimes you have to turn over the entire contents of the shelf. It seems that sometimes it's easier to go to the store and buy the right product than to find it in the corner of the pantry. To rationally use an uncomfortable corner, equip it with a rotating rack - on it all the necessary things will always be in sight and at hand.
Photo: housebeautiful.com
2. Plank with hooks
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- organize a thin bar with hooks for storing them, which will not take up much space.
You can find such a device for storing small things in any hardware store.
Photo: baneproject.com
3. Pegboard
A perforated board is a great idea for storing kitchen utensils in the pantry. Place it in the wall between the shelves - and get a great place to hang frying pans and baking dishes, which are sometimes difficult to find a place in the kitchen.
Photo: housebeautiful.com
4. Shoe organizer
Shoe storage bags can be used for more than their intended purpose. They can become a convenient storage for small items on the pantry door. Comfortable, simple and all the little things in their places.
Photo: trendehouse.com
5. Hanging baskets
Another option to use the closet door for storage is to use wire hanging baskets. It is convenient to store detergents, sponges and napkins for cleaning, as well as bags and jars with seasonings and semi-finished products that are lost on deep shelves. Thus, you will not only get rid of the eternal mess, but also free up space for storing large items, such as rarely used household appliances.
Photo: countryliving.com
6. Corner Shelving
Corner shelving helps organize storage in tiny closets. It doesn’t matter if they are wooden, metal or glass structures, the main thing is to place the shelves on them at different levels. So it will be possible to compactly place jars with pickles of different sizes, containers and boxes of different sizes, without forcing the floor.
Photo: countryliving.com
7. Transparent containers
Insects often appear in the pantry where food is stored. Hermetic plastic containers will be the salvation from bugs - bulk products and cereals will be safe in them. And in order not to confuse semolina with flour, make inscriptions.
Photo: ikea.com
8. Sticker bins
Use sticker bins to keep your closet organized. In them, you can sort out the entire food supply into groups so as not to waste time looking for the right product.
Photo: hgtv.com
9. Additional Levels
Your pantry has large gaps in the shelves and have you started putting cans in the second row to fill in the gaps? Do not, it is inconvenient and traumatic.
Better arrange additional levels on the shelves with hanging baskets - they will allow you to use all the space with maximum benefit.
Photo: realhomes.com
10. Concealed storage
The pantry in the kitchen is an indispensable helper in the house. But it is difficult to build it in a small kitchen space. In this case, we offer to organize the storage of products in a pull-out rack, which can be hidden between the refrigerator and the wall or in a closet. On its shelves you can store everything that we usually make kitchen surfaces with. Such smart storage will ensure order in your kitchen!
Photo: hgtv.com
Photo: countryliving.com
11. Laundry
A pantry can be an excellent storage for more than just kitchen utensils and food supplies. This secret niche can be used even more practically. For example, arrange a laundry there. Just imagine how much space will be freed up in the bathroom if the washing machine, dryer and all household laundry chemicals move into the pantry.
Photo: ncperid.org
12. Laundry storage
The closet is also great for storing clean laundry. This is especially true for owners of small apartments with a limited number of storage systems. There is a place here for towels, bedding and even household chemicals. A great alternative to a bulky closet, isn't it!
Photo: ayokonseling.com
13. Cozy office
Yes, you heard right! A tiny utility room in the apartment can be used as a home office. The main thing is to think about good lighting there.
Photo: heartorganizing.com
14. Toys in order
Families with small children cannot do without additional storage systems. And here the pantry space will come to the rescue, where instead of food and kitchen utensils, you can store toys on the shelves, which, as the child grows up, break through the border of the nursery and break into the common living space.
Photo: decomg.com
15. Two in one
And finally, we offer you the idea of a multifunctional arrangement of a pantry, where storage is combined with a mini-office.
This idea will appeal to hostesses who love culinary experiments - they will be able to choose a recipe in one place, select products for it and make a shopping list if any necessary ingredient was not in the house.
Photo: countryliving.com
13 ideal kitchen shelving units
Author Natalia Zh. Reading 4 min Views 37 Updated by
You may be afraid to open your pantry because it's so disorganized it's depressing, but you can also quickly change things up with the right shelving.
Pantries are usually filled with all sorts of things, such as canned and packaged foods, snacks, herbs, oils and wines, small appliances, cookbooks, bowls of all kinds, paper plates and cups, and many other things that do not have a place in the kitchen.
Contents
- Pantry Complementary Solutions
- Organize Pantry Space
- Use Labels to Organize More pantry with rotating shelves
- Cook-friendly open pantry
- Custom-made freestanding pantry cabinet
- Nice pantry design
Additional pantry solutions
If you don't have a pantry or need more space for one, you can create a kitchen pantry with bookcases.
Plastic containers for jars will not be superfluous.
Drawers and boxes for objects should be transparent so that there is no need to open them in search of something.
Making good use of pantry space
Place large containers on the top shelf and pull forward for easy access. Use the space behind these containers to store items that are not used often. Hang small, plastic-coated wire baskets of any size on a door or wall to store canned food and spices.
Label for more organization
Containers have square edges so they sit side by side without wasting space. Make sure you leave enough space between them to pull them out easily. A multi-tiered rack ensures the availability of canned products. Mark all departments and shelves. This will help anyone who enters find the item they need.
Big Kitchen Pantry Ideas
A large built-in pantry allows you to store groceries and appliances in a way most homes can't.
In a large house, you can use the space under the stairs or on the second floor. If you really want a large pantry, take a look around your home and consider your options.
Dividing the pantry into sections
Divide the pantry into sections designed for specific items. Designate a place to store canned goods, fresh food, household appliances and unused utensils. Divide items into those you use a lot and those you don't use at all.
Converting a deep pantry with rotating shelves
A pantry with deep shelves can create access and freshness control problems in the back. You can solve this without wasting too much storage space by creating shelves with rotation.
Open pantry suitable for a cook
A properly organized pantry can make a kitchen more efficient. Pantry without doors allows all products to be in sight for faster access to them. Pots and pans can be placed on the lower shelves.
Custom-made freestanding pantry cabinet
If there is no pantry or free niche, a custom-made cabinet can be made to order.
