Our Pantry Organization (and the first room done in the new house)

Want to hear a story? Good. You have time, right? 🙂

Here is a timeline:

5 years ago: We move into our house in NC and have a pantry, it’s small, but it works.

2 years ago: Next house, NO PANTRY. We make some shelving work. It’s ALWAYS a mess.

Now: Next house, we have a pantry ( I’m so thankful for…but it’s not great… have plans to renovate….first we spend hours wiping because it was COVERED IN GROSS…and then…

And here is where the story starts…so one of the nights we’re moving into our new house and unpacking, unpacking, unpacking; I’m moving our spices into the pantry. Aaron and I knew we didn’t LOVE the pantry in the house (metal shelves are not great for storing small things, see below), but we had plans to fix this WAY later in the game….whelp….jokes on me (as much of life is lately) and I’m standing in the pantry at 2:00 AM, have it as picturesque as can be for metal shelves and BOOM….FALLS DOWN. I start crying and shouting for Aaron…

You guys. I yelled for Aaron with tears streaming down my cheeks. Cumin, Macaroni, 10+ other spices around my feet, broken, fallen, A MESS. Guess what ended up being the first “project” in the new house? THE PANTRY. A #50 item took #1.

Yes, we could have put up more metal shelving, but why bother. I’m sorry, but I hate the stuff and eventually, I will have an amazing closet in every room since we have METAL SHELVING EVERYWHERE. I hate it. But, for now, the pantry is safe from it and also includes some of my favorite pantry organization hacks!

Here is what it looked like before:

NOW, I have an amazing pantry thanks to Aaron and my best friend Lisa (who came and painted it with me).

Is it the biggest pantry ever? No. But we have out recyclables, a hook for my aprons and a shelf for my beloved items that I don’t use a ton (at the top). I honestly love it and we keep this door open 24/7 because we are in there 24/7. I almost feel weird posting it because its not styled perfectly or arranged perfectly. We still have baskets of “stuff” and you know what, it’s perfect for us because we’re a mess, we’re real and we have a toddler. It works. And I didn’t’ style it, this is what is looks like, everyday. Because we’re real friends and sometimes it’s okay to not be perfect. WAIT. It’s okay to NEVER be perfect. We’re not.

I think this is Penelope’s favorite room in the house as she often goes in there for snacks, haha. Here is how we organized/labeled:

Top Shelf: Breakables. These need to be out of reach from small individuals.

3rd: Spices, canned goods, cookbooks.

2nd: pasta, rice, dry mixes, cookies, coffee pods, breads, “sweets,” sauces, cereal, wine, bars, fruit snacks, misc. snacks, pre-packaged meats, ice buckets

1st: chips, dried fruits, nuts, baking supplies, baking decor, microwaveable, boxed misc., plasticware

Floor: Reusable shopping bags in bin and recycling bin.

Whether your pantry is big or small it’s able to be organized my friends and when it is, it’s better. End of story. I promise. Especially during this time of uncertainty.

Supplies:

Do y’all want a DIY post on how we build it? Coming soon! I just need to get on Aaron’s phone! But first, coffee!

What are some of your pantry organization hacks?  Let me know in a comment below!