How to Organize a Walk-in Pantry

How to organize a walk-in pantry with the best layout and give you some practical tips to make the most out of your pantry space. A walk-in pantry is a dream come true for lucky homeowners. It gives you tons of storage and keeps all your kitchen essentials within easy reach. But let’s be honest, it’s also really easy to cram it with way too much stuff.

This guide will give you the help you need for an effective pantry organization that you can use to streamline where you store your food. 

Not everyone has one, but I think it’s safe to say that everyone wants one. A walk-in pantry.

When I first got married, we rented a house with what I was convinced was the smallest kitchen in the entire world. I mean, it had a stove and refrigerator on one wall and exactly three upper cabinets and five lower cabinets on the other. That was it.

All of my kitchen supplies had to fit in those cramped cabinets. Not only did I NOT have a walk-in pantry, but I didn’t even have a pantry at all. Needless to say, I got very creative in that first home.

You’d think that when I did finally get my very first walk-in pantry, all those problems instantly disappeared. But, surprise! That wasn’t the case. Yes, I finally had more space, but now I had a whole new challenge to face. There was now more space than I knew what to do with, and like most people, I dealt with it the only way I knew how.

I filled it.

I stuffed that beautiful, spacious walk-in pantry to the brim. Before I knew it, it had turned into a chaotic, unorganized mess. Food went in, got lost, and stayed hidden for months until it was way past its expiration date. And if you’ve been to the grocery store lately, you know how expensive food can be. Tossing out stale or expired groceries isn’t just frustrating; it’s like throwing money straight into the trash.

The only way to stop wasting money (and your sanity) is to organize the places where you store your food. That includes your fridge, freezer, basement, and yes, your walk-in pantry.

Assess What you Have

Before jumping in, it’s important to know exactly what you’re working with and how much space you’ve got to play with. Start by doing a quick visual check of the pantry. While you’re at it, spot any areas that might need repairs or updates. If something’s not working as it should, now’s the time to fix it.

Ask yourself a few questions:

• Do you have enough shelves?
• Is the lighting bright enough to see everything clearly?
• Are you making the most out of the wall space?
• Could adding organizers on the floor help create even more storage options?

Figuring this out beforehand will make organizing a whole lot easier.

How to Organize a Walk-in Pantry

Getting any space in your home into shape can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. There’s a simple three-step process that works every time and will help you tackle everything step-by-step for great results:

1. Declutter
2. Clean
3. Organize

Take it one step at a time, and you’ll end up with a pantry that’s tidy, functional, and super easy to maintain.

Step #1. Declutter

Before you even think about organizing, start by sorting through the food you already have. Remove what you have and sort it into categories. As you go, toss anything that’s expired or stale and set aside for donation, anything you know your family just isn’t going to eat. Going forward, aim to keep only fresh food and the items your family enjoys.

While you’re sorting, keep an eye out for anything you’re running low on. Take a moment to add those items to your shopping list. Trust me, an organized pantry and a well-maintained shopping list go hand in hand. Going forward, make it a habit to create your grocery list while you’re standing in your pantry. That way, you can easily track what’s running low.

Step #2. Clean

Once your pantry shelves are empty, it’s time to clean. Start from the top and work your way down, wiping down walls, shelves, and any cabinets. Taking the time to deep clean now will create the perfect blank slate for organizing, and the good news is, since your pantry is empty, it will only take a fraction of the time!

Step #3. Organize

Now comes the fun part–organizing your pantry. To make it easier, we’ll break this step down into sections.

#1. Setup Your Main Area

When organizing any space, think about “prime real estate.” This is the area that’s easiest for you to access–roughly from your thighs to your chest. Store the items you use most often in this zone for maximum convenience.

For example, you can keep things like:

• Ingredients you frequently cook with (rice, pasta, flour, etc.)
• Common items for side dishes
• Breakfast cereals
• Snacks

Think of this setup as a system designed to make life easier. If a space isn’t working or items keep piling up in random spots, take that as a cue to make adjustments. Everyone in your family should be able to understand the new setup and stick to it.

#2. Setup a Kid’s Zone

If you’ve got kids or grandkids, consider dedicating some lower shelves or drawers just for them. Set up a snack drawer or an area with items they can easily reach. This makes it easy for them to grab an after-school snack or even pack their lunches.

Bonus points for teaching them how to help keep the pantry organized or contribute to the grocery list.

#3. Use the Hard-to-Reach Areas

Those high shelves and the pantry floor are often overlooked, but they’re great for storing less-used items. Use these areas for things like:

• Seasonal dishes
• Picnic supplies
• Extra paper towels or napkins
• Coolers or water bottles

To organize the pantry floor, stick to heavier items like kitchen appliances, cases of water, pet food, or bulk storage containers. Just make a promise to yourself not to toss things here “for now” because that can lead to chaos.

#4. Streamlining Your Shelves

How you sort your food is entirely up to you and what works best for your family’s needs. Here are a few organizing options to consider:

• By Cuisine – Group ingredients for Italian, Mexican, Asian, Greek, or other cuisines into labeled baskets.
• By Diet – Keep diet-specific foods (Keto, Vegan, Gluten-Free, etc.) in their own areas.
• By Food Type – Separate foods into categories like soups, snacks, drinks, seasonings, or breakfast items.

D/M Pro Tip: Temporary labels are your best friend when getting started. Test your setup for about a month to see if it works. If everything stays in place, you know your setup is successful, and you can switch to permanent labels. If not, try again and tweak the system until you find a setup that works for not only you but for your family as well.

#5. Maximize Extra Space

If you’re short on space, take a second look at what’s available. Could you install a basket underneath a shelf for things like foil and plastic wrap? Add a hanging organizer on the wall for onions and potatoes?

Maybe add a high shelf near the ceiling that could hold mason jars or other items you don’t access often. Invest in a door organizer to hold oils, sprays, and spices. Thinking creatively will help you make the most of every inch.

Best Organizers for a Pantry

1. Adjustable Shelf Risers – Place these on shelves to create extra layers for storing canned goods, jars, or small boxes. This helps you make the most of vertical space and keeps everything visible at a glance.
2. Clear Stackable Bins – Use these bins to group similar items together. For example, dedicate one for snacks, another for baking supplies, and another for meal prep essentials. The clear design makes it easy to spot what you need.
3. Lazy Susan – Perfect for corners or small shelves. Store condiments, small spice jars, or bottles of oil. Simply spin it to grab what you need without digging around.
4. Over-the-Door Pantry Organizer – Use this hanging organizer for lightweight pantry essentials like spices, mixes, or individually packed snacks. It’s a great way to utilize door space that often goes unused.
5. Airtight Storage Containers – Store bulk items like flour, sugar, rice, or cereal in these containers. Airtight seals keep food fresh longer and make it easy to stack for a neat look.
6. Wire Baskets – Use these for produce like onions, potatoes, or bananas. Their open-wire design allows airflow, which helps keep items fresh longer.
7. Pull-Out Drawers – Install these in lower cabinets for easy access to heavier items like bags of pet food, large jars, or bulk goods. These are especially handy in deeper pantry spaces.
8. Tiered Shelf Organizers – Use these to display canned goods or spices in rows with raised tiers so nothing gets lost in the back of your shelves.

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Before you buy any organizers, make sure to measure your pantry space and take stock of what you already have. This way, you’ll pick the right solutions and won’t waste money on things you don’t actually need. And don’t hesitate to think outside the box. You can repurpose items like shoe boxes or magazine holders to store food and other kitchen items.

When it comes to learning how to organize a walk-in pantry, the key is finding solutions that work for you and your family. Choose sturdy, easy-to-use containers that fit the space you have and make daily life easier.

By setting things up this way, you’ll create a pantry that’s not only functional but also simple to keep put away and organized. It’s all about creating a system that works for everyone!

More Food Storage Resources:

• How to Store Food Without a Pantry
• The Easiest Way to Organize Your Pantry
• Streamline a Wire Pantry