{"id":902833,"date":"2026-03-04T17:43:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T22:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rent.com\/blog\/?p=902833"},"modified":"2026-03-05T12:33:33","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T17:33:33","slug":"pantry-organization-ideas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rent.com\/blog\/pantry-organization-ideas\/","title":{"rendered":"Pantry Organization Ideas to Streamline Kitchens and More"},"content":{"rendered":"

A place for everything, and everything in its place.<\/h3>\n

Have you ever visited a friend and opened their pantry doors<\/a> to find an extremely organized space? If so, you can attest that it\u2019s almost breathtaking. They\u2019ve aligned bottles of oils, and beautiful jars contain nuts and dried fruit. Clear, labeled containers hold pasta and grains. They may have even gone so far as to color-coordinate each shelf.<\/p>\n

Of course, we can\u2019t all be Marie Kondo in the pantry. That is to say, don\u2019t feel bad if your pantry has become the place to store, well, everything, from food to mail and kitchen appliances. You are definitely not alone.<\/p>\n

“A cluttered pantry can make meal preparation stressful and frustrating, while also leading to food waste, which means money waste,” explains Blair Mohr with The Organized Mommy Co<\/a>.. “If you’re tired of digging through piles of food to find what you need, it’s time to declutter your pantry. Once you have, be sure to shop your pantry or do inventory before heading to the store so you don\u2019t end up with duplicates (AGAIN) and waste money (AGAIN).”<\/p>\n

So, how do you get started sorting it out and regaining control of this important organizational space?
\nLet\u2019s take it step-by-step with these 10 pantry organization ideas. You can create a pantry that captivates you and your family and friends, whether that’s in your rental property in Atlanta, GA<\/a>, or in your forever home in Orlando, FL<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Fair warning<\/strong>: Once you\u2019ve organized your pantry with these organization ideas, the rest of your kitchen<\/a> is sure to follow.<\/p>\n

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1. Clean out and declutter<\/h2>\n

Albert Einstein said, \u201cOut of clutter, find simplicity<\/a>. From discord, find harmony. In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.\u201d So, consider this an opportunity to bring harmony to your home with unique pantry organization ideas. As most humans, you\u2019ve probably thought about organizing your pantry a hundred times. You may have even started with a shelf only to find yourself waylaid by one of life\u2019s many other demands.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s one way to ensure you create the pantry you\u2019ve seen in Better Homes & Gardens and on Pinterest. Start by cleaning it out entirely.<\/p>\n

\"expired,<\/p>\n

2. Decide what to keep, share, and discard<\/h2>\n

This is the time to check for expiration dates and be brutally honest. While it was very nice of your friend to give you wagon-wheel-shaped pasta made out of lentils when you were on a legume craze, will you really ever use it? For items like this that are still good and unopened, consider putting a box together for the local food bank or homeless shelter.<\/p>\n

“<\/strong>Empty your pantry completely, discarding expired items. Group similar products together, such as baking supplies, snacks, and canned goods. Decide what needs individual containers and what can be grouped in baskets,” Merissa continues.<\/p>\n

This is also the time to think about what doesn\u2019t belong. Is there a better place for your kitchen appliances<\/a>, like next to the stove? Would you use your herbs and spices more if they were in a beautiful spice rack on the side of a cabinet? Can you make an organized space in your cabinets for your Tupperware? Do you have room on your bookshelves for the cookbooks?<\/p>\n

3. Gather like-minded products<\/h2>\n

Yes, opposites attract, but creating order from chaos is key in decluttering. One of our best pantry organization ideas is also the simplest: Place similar products in separate piles so you can see what you have to work with and how big your storage containers (the organizer\u2019s guru) will need to be. Condiments and sauces in one pile, grains and starches in another, and unrefrigerated produce in its own little group.<\/p>\n

\"pantry<\/h2>\n

4. Get in the zone with pantry organization<\/h2>\n

This is when it starts getting fun if you\u2019re Marie Kondo. For us mere mortals, it may get slightly interesting. Zones are the areas in your pantry dedicated to the specific items you\u2019ve grouped together. But it gets better. You can also group items based on your lifestyle and the unique way you use them in your everyday affairs.<\/p>\n

Do you love baking? Consider a basket or bin that holds all your baking items. Now, you have everything you need from your pantry when it\u2019s time for morning cinnamon rolls or banana bread.<\/p>\n

Do you regularly entertain? Consider creating a basket designed for last-minute get-togethers. A bin with a few bottles of wine, bagel bits, water crackers, olives, and napkins will go well with the triple creme brie and Italian dry salami you keep in the fridge.<\/p>\n

Are you an organized chef who prepares meal plans and shops once a week for food items? Good for you. Consider separate bins that contain the things you need for each meal. You can even label them according to the day of the week.<\/p>\n

5. Keep it simple<\/h2>\n

To keep things simple, organize by general categories based on what you have without getting too specific. An example of common categories includes the following:<\/p>\n