'I'm guilty of it too' – why Jeremiah Brent's vital golden rule to 'edit, edit, edit' for pantry organization is the one thing you shouldn't skip

An organized pantry contributes to a sense of calm in a home, allowing for relaxation and reducing clutter. This guide, featuring insights from Stephanie Treantos, a home organizer and interior stylist at Lemonaid Solutions, provides a comprehensive approach to pantry organization. The process begins with a complete emptying of the pantry, followed by grouping similar items into categories such as canned goods, snacks, and baking supplies. During this initial decluttering phase, expired items and disliked products should be discarded immediately. Grouping items as they are removed serves a dual purpose: it creates an inventory of existing goods and initiates the organization process. Once the shelves are clear, a quick wipe-down is recommended. The next step involves creating zones within the pantry, dedicating specific areas for each category. This systematic approach enhances usability, makes items easier to locate, and helps prevent overbuying. Examples of zones include a baking section, a snack zone, or a smoothie and drink station. For optimal accessibility, frequently used items should be placed at eye level, while rarely used or bulkier back stock items can be stored on higher shelves. Personalization is key, as the pantry's organization should align with individual and family needs. Selecting appropriate organization products is crucial for establishing and maintaining a functional system. Containers and bins serve not only an aesthetic purpose but also create boundaries for each category, preventing disarray. The selection of products should be informed by the size of each category and the available pantry space to ensure efficient use. Measuring the pantry dimensions before purchasing any containers is essential to avoid acquiring ill-fitting items. Investing in products from a single brand, such as The Home Edit pantry containers, can facilitate stacking and maximize vertical space. To enhance visual appeal, mixing materials like glass, acrylic, woven baskets, wood, and metal can add depth and style to the pantry. Limiting the mix to three materials prevents a cluttered look. Adhering to a consistent color palette for containers, baskets, and labels also contributes to a cohesive and stylish appearance, whether opting for all-clear, wood accents, or soft neutrals. Baskets are particularly useful for storing large bags of chips or drinks, and uniform baskets or bins maintain a neat and uncluttered aesthetic. Labeling is an indispensable part of pantry organization. Labels ensure that everyone in the household knows where items belong, which is beneficial for maintaining order and reducing inquiries about item locations. Once all organizing supplies are in place, arranging the items in the pantry is the final step. This might involve some experimentation to find an intuitive and effective arrangement. For instance, all snack bins should be grouped together to ensure easy access. Maintaining an organized pantry requires adjusting grocery shopping habits to align with the new system. It's important to shop for the pantry's actual capacity, rather than an idealized version. If a large family frequently buys in bulk, a back stock area in a garage or basement might be necessary, or shopping frequency could be increased. A general guideline is to limit pantry stock to about a week's worth of food. Essential pantry organization products include OXO POP containers, The Home Edit canisters, open-face pantry bins, Pacific Bins, and undershelf baskets. #PantryOrganization #HomeOrganization #DeclutteringTips #StorageSolutions #KitchenDesign #HomeStyling #ProfessionalOrganizer #Productivity #MealPrep

The article offers guidance on organizing a pantry, drawing insights from professional organizers Julie Hovnanian of Hovie Interiors and Amanda Titchenal, founder of Well Organized. It emphasizes that these tips are applicable whether a pantry is large or small. The first step in pantry organization is to initiate a fresh start by completely emptying and cleaning the space. During this process, it is crucial to check expiration dates of all items and assess their usage. Any expired or unused food should be discarded, while unexpired, unwanted food can be donated. The second task involves categorizing pantry items. Professional organizers suggest grouping items into categories such as breakfast, snacks, baking, cooking, and backstock. For households with children, adding a dedicated lunch-making section is also recommended to streamline meal preparation. The third essential step is to invest in appropriate storage solutions, including baskets and canisters. Four main types are highlighted: airtight canisters for baking ingredients like flour and sugar, clear bins or containers for snacks to improve visibility and save space by removing bulk packaging, stackers or lazy Susans for canned goods and condiments, and decorative baskets for backstock items that are not frequently used. While an initial investment in these containers may seem significant, it ultimately helps reduce food waste and save money. Optimizing the pantry layout by placing frequently used essentials at eye-level is the fourth key task. Items such as breakfast foods and snacks, which are typically grabbed often, should be easily accessible. Similarly, frequently used appliances like a Nespresso machine should be placed in a convenient spot. Backstock items and seasonal or specialty tools can be stored on higher or lower shelves, or in less accessible areas. The suggested order for placement is often breakfast items on the top shelf, followed by snacks, and then dinner-related items, ensuring a logical flow. Fifth, acquiring and utilizing a label maker is highly recommended. Labeling containers helps identify contents, track inventory levels, and prevent accidental overstocking of specific items. Labels can indicate broad categories for baskets, such as "snacks," rather than highly specific items like "granola bars." For managing expiration dates, a dry-erase marker can be used on containers or a separate label can be affixed to the bottom. Labeling also prevents mishaps, such as confusing salt for sugar, which can impact cooking and baking results. Finally, for those looking to undertake a more significant renovation, investing in a closet system for the lower section of the pantry is suggested. This can involve installing drawers or other organized systems to ensure quick access to everyday essentials and maintain a tidy appearance. Such a system helps keep the pantry neat even when time for detailed organization is limited, ensuring items are properly stored. Ultimately, an organized pantry provides benefits such as easier inventory management, reduced food waste, and financial savings by minimizing the need for last-minute grocery runs or takeout orders. #PantryOrganization #HomeOrganization #Decluttering #KitchenDesign #StorageSolutions #InteriorDesign #Efficiency #Labeling

This article discusses the common struggle of maintaining an organized pantry, often inspired by aesthetically pleasing images found online but difficult to sustain in everyday life. The author recounts personal attempts, including purchasing various storage solutions like cute spice jars, airtight containers, and a label maker, spending considerable amounts of money, only to find the systems quickly devolving into chaos. This recurring problem led to a sense of resignation about having a perpetually messy pantry. The author then sought advice from professional organizer Autumn Burns, founder of Extra Orderly, to find a long-lasting solution. Autumn emphasizes that pantry organization should be tailored to an individual's lifestyle and daily usage habits. For instance, a pantry designed for a busy parent would differ significantly from one for a single person who rarely cooks. A crucial first step in Autumn's approach is to conduct a regular food shop before organizing to ensure all items are present. She also advises clients to quickly scan their pantry contents before subsequent food shops to help maintain the system and avoid over-purchasing. Autumn outlines a six-step methodology for effective and maintainable pantry organization. The first step involves grouping similar food items together to make them easier to find and put away. Secondly, using simple baskets and containers for smaller items and larger ones for overstock helps prevent clutter. The third step focuses on accessibility, particularly for smaller items like tins and jars that often get lost at the back of shelves. Autumn suggests adding shelves to pantries to ensure everything is visible and reachable, thereby preventing unnecessary repeat purchases. The fourth step addresses aesthetics, recommending that individuals stick to a consistent color or material scheme for storage products. Using the same brand of containers can create a cohesive and sleek appearance. Autumn specifically mentions pairing bamboo and glass jars with warm baskets or white wired containers for an appealing look. The fifth step highlights the importance of labeling all containers and pantry jars, which simplifies the process of locating items and allows for the addition of expiry dates for better inventory management. Finally, the sixth step advises considering the placement of items based on frequency of use: daily essentials should be front and center, less frequently used items can go on higher shelves, and heavy, bulky items should be stored on bottom shelves. The article concludes by listing several affordable storage products recommended by Autumn Burns to help implement these organizational principles, such as OXO POP 2.0 6-Piece Value Set, Kate's Kitchen Glass Canister with Bamboo Lid, Kmart Storage Turntable, Little Label Co Rotating Lazy Susan, Box Sweden Crystal 3 Tier Pantry Organiser Spice Rack, Joseph Joseph CupboardStore™ Expandable Grey Tiered Organiser, Ikea Risatorp, Little Label Co Large Bamboo Storage Tub, and Kmart Wire and Wood Undershelf Basket. These products range from various containers and jars to turntables and tiered organizers, chosen for their functionality, aesthetic appeal, and ability to keep food fresh and accessible. #HomeOrganization #PantryOrganization #Decluttering #StorageSolutions #HomeHacks #LifestyleTips #ProfessionalOrganizer #KitchenOrganization

Maintaining an organized kitchen, particularly the pantry, significantly streamlines cooking processes and inventory management. Jonathan Scott of "Property Brothers" emphasizes that an organized pantry is easier to maintain once a system is established, contrasting this with the chaos that arises when no such system is in place. His primary recommendation involves utilizing containers that offer easy access to frequently used items and allow for hassle-free refilling. Affordable options for kitchen organization can be found at stores like Dollar Tree, which offers multi-purpose baskets suitable for storing snack bars, bags of gummies, chips, and other packaged single-serving treats. The store also provides dry food containers equipped with airtight, pop-top lids, ideal for cereals, pasta, noodles, and dry goods such as oats. Additionally, innovative tools like rotating turntables are suggested for optimizing spice cabinet accessibility. A systematic approach to organization ensures that items are always easy to locate. For those seeking both functionality and aesthetic appeal in their pantry, uniform glass jars are highly recommended. Dollar Tree stocks various shapes and sizes of glass jars, including mason jars and decorative options with twist-off metal lids. These jars are generally airtight, which helps preserve food freshness, and their uniform size allows for efficient space utilization. They are perfect for storing dried beans, lentils, grains, flours, sugars, nuts, and candies, all of which contribute to a visually appealing pantry when displayed in clear glass. This method also provides immediate visibility of ingredient levels, preventing unexpected shortages during meal preparation. The importance of a well-organized pantry is a shared belief among experts. Beyond the Property Brothers, celebrity chef Bobby Flay has also garnered attention for his meticulously organized pantry, where dried goods are stored in labeled glass jars. Labeling can be achieved simply with stickers and markers, or for a more polished and uniform look, a label maker can be employed to enhance visual consistency. This simple strategy of using appropriate containers and consistent labeling not only improves efficiency but also adds to the overall aesthetic of the kitchen space, making it a more pleasant and functional environment for cooking. #PantryOrganization #KitchenStorage #HomeOrganization #JonathanScott #DollarTree #ContainerSolutions #AestheticPantry #FoodStorage #Labeling