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How to organise your pantry

Pantry with items neatly organised and baskets for additional storage.

Overview

They say messy homes make for messy minds – and when it comes to your pantry, we couldn’t agree more! A messy pantry can be an eyesore, makes ingredients hard to find and generally complicates the cooking process.

Luckily, it’s incredibly easy to organise! With a few spare hours and choice materials, you can transform a chaotic and muddled space into something you’ll actually enjoy using. With these space-saving solutions, you’ll be able to fit all your dry ingredients and appliances, decluttering your kitchen and creating a sense of calm. It also means you’ll never spend too much time searching for that ingredient you swear was in there …

Here are seven of our top tips to organise your pantry. As you organise, it might be worth giving your pantry shelves a wipe down in preparation for your brand-new space.

Steps

  1. 1

    Use baskets for easier stacking

    Organise certain goods – such as cans or baking ingredients – using baskets. They make items easier to store and keep everything contained, preventing any potential mess. Label each basket to make ingredients even easier to find.

    Shelves with pasta sauce and jars neatly organised.
  2. 2

    Utilise wall space

    While you may immediately refer to the shelves in a pantry, the wall is often forgotten as a potential space for additional storage. Store your cake decorations or spices along the wall using mounted shelves or baskets, increasing your storage potential and creating a designated spot that makes ingredients even easier to find.

    Basket attached to wall with spice jars in it.
  3. 3

    Group like items

    Always hunting for the vinegar after using the oil? Can never find the sugar near the flour? Make pantry organisation even easier by grouping together items you normally use together. Place condiments in small plastic baskets that are easy to remove and replace, or use labelled glass jars to store grains, dry pulses and baking ingredients. This will make it easier to track how much you’ve used and when you’ll need a replacement. It will also reduce the chances of space-hogging duplicates.

    Pantry with baskets full of condiments.
  4. 4

    Decant products

    Large or bulky boxes taking up space in your pantry? Decant all items into smaller boxes for the ultimate in space-saving organisation. Pop tea bags or coffee in jars or snacks in boxes and recycle any excess packaging. This will not only make each item easier to find, but will once again, show when ingredients need to be replenished.

    Putting tea bags into a jar.
  5. 5

    Label pantry jars

    Avoid a guessing game in your pantry with reusable food labels. Once you’ve decanted your product, simply stick on a label and write the name using chalk. Should you need to change whatever is inside, simply wipe off with a damp cloth and re-label! Labels also make it easier to quickly see what’s in the pantry, so you can locate ingredients in seconds.

    Writing on a chalkboard label on a jar.
  6. 6

    Use split shelves

    If your pantry is tall but not deep, increase its storage potential with portable inner shelves. These metal racks can be placed on larger shelves to double the space, allowing you to stack containers or jars easily. As they are standalone, they can be moved easily when required.

    Pantry with jars stacked on each other.
  7. 7

    Use baskets for bulky items

    Can’t stop bags of potatoes or onions spilling out? Use in-built basket shelving to contain bulky items, containing any mess and making each ingredient easy to access. They are particularly helpful for items that don’t stack easily, such as bottles or odd-shaped tins. You can also use these baskets to store kitchen items like cling film and aluminium foil, as well as cleaning products.

    Storage box with bag of potatoes inside.
  8. 8

    Let’s get you organised

    Ready to give your pantry an organisational makeover? Explore our range of home storage solutions. 

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Health & Safety

Asbestos, lead-based paints and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber are health hazards you need to look out for when renovating older homes. These substances can easily be disturbed when renovating and exposure to them can cause a range of life-threatening diseases and conditions including cancer. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer or visit our Health & Safety page.

When following our advice in our D.I.Y. videos, make sure you use all equipment, including PPE, safely by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Check that the equipment is suitable for the task and that PPE fits properly. If you are unsure, hire an expert to do the job or talk to a Bunnings Team Member.