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Walk-in pantries come in all shapes in sizes, and the way you organize yours will depend on the lifestyle and habits of those in the home. But regardless of your specific situation or pantry layout, here are some general organizing tips that will get your walk-in pantry in order in no time.

1. Create zones

Zones are separate sections designated for different categories of items stored within the pantry. They help keep like with like and thus help in maintaining an organized system. Here’s a list of common items and categories we find in our client’s pantries which we create specific zones for:

Breakfast
- Cereal
- Oatmeal
- Peanut butter, jelly, honey, syrup, etc.
Snacks
- Bars
- Dried Fruit & Nuts
- Crackers
- Kids’ Snacks
Chips
Sweets (candy, cookies, etc.)
Dinner (think taco seasoning packets, mashed potatoes in a bag, bread crumbs, etc. - all those miscellaneous dinner related items.)
Pasta and rice
Canned goods
Oils & vinegars
Sauces (unopened dressings, condiments, salsa jars etc.)
Drinks and drink mixes (tea, coffee, electrolyte packets, hot chocolate, etc.)
Baking goods (flour, sugar, vanilla etc.)
Appliances
Paper goods

2. Contain Each Category

Try to separate each broad zone by shelf and then contain the more specific categories with bins or baskets. For example, use the bottom shelf for chips and snacks, the middle shelf for anything dinner or cooking related, and the top shelf for sweets and baking. Be sure to assign the shelves based on what you use the most. If you bake often, you might want to keep those supplies somewhere besides the top shelf, or if you have kids, you may (or may not) want certain snacks within their reach.

And, no, you don’t have to drop hundreds of dollars at The Container Store to organize your pantry, but containers will go a long way in keeping your pantry looking (and staying) as organized as possible. Not only will bins make it easy to find what you need or see when you’re running low on certain items, it can also prevent overbuying by creating a physical boundary around how much it can hold at a time.

Here are some basic organizing products that work well in most walk-in pantries, along with links to our favorites of each type.

Matching baskets like these water hyacinth ones

Baskets help to create a uniform look and hide visual clutter yet still make their contents accessible. These are great for storing big bags of chips, boxes of crackers, or paper goods.

Matching bins like these plastic-handled ones

We love these because they’re inexpensive and come in a variety of sizes and colors. Again, try to keep them uniform so that your pantry looks effortlessly tidy. Use the smaller sizes to keep small or loose items - like seasoning packets - from getting lost.

Lazy susans like this shallow turntable

If your walk-in pantry has awkward corners that you feel aren’t being utilized, a lazy susan will come to your rescue! Place mostly round items - like sauces, oils, vinegars, etc. - on it to maximize your storage.

Can risers like this large Expand-A-Shelf

A three-tier riser will allow you to see your cans all at once. Plus the length is adjustable to fit your specific needs!

Airtight food storage like these OXO POP Containers

These are a must-have in the pantry especially if you buy in bulk. They keep ingredients fresh, allow you to see when you need to restock, and stack to conserve space on shelves. Also check out this high-quality brand and use code LIBBYANDLABELS for 15% off.

3. Don’t forget to label

This is important especially when multiple people are using the space. With labels, everyone will know where to find things and where to put them away. Labeling also helps keep your zones in check.

There’s no one right way to label so do it however you like. If you’re crafty, make your own labels or use a simple label maker on plastic or acrylic bins. Tip: you can also label the front edge of your shelves to help define zones.

The easiest way to label baskets made out of natural materials, such as water hyacinth, is by using label clips that slip right onto the edge of the basket. Also check out label clips by this brand and use discount code LIBBYANDLABELS for 10% off!

Having a walk-in pantry is certainly a convenience that shouldn’t be taken for granted, but it can be hard to keep organized, especially when life gets busy. Putting a system in place using these tips and making a little time to maintain it is the secret to staying organized in the long term.

Still need some help in decluttering and organizing your pantry? Contact us here, and we’ll take it from there!