Pantries come in all shapes and sizes. And believe us when we say we have seen them all. The good, bad and the ugly. We can tell you what absolutely does NOT work and what you should invest money and time in when it comes to outfitting a pantry. Here we go!
Ventilated shelves are a big no-no in the pantry. Just for the sole reason that things fall right through the shelf and nothing sits well on a ventilated shelf. Things tip over easily and make the pantry look like a mess. But don’t worry. You don’t have to do a complete pantry makeover. There is a quick fix. Purchase plastic shelf liner and line all the shelves. This liner is sturdy and more brittle than cabinet shelf liner so don’t go with the soft rolled plastic thinking it will do the trick. This shelf liner comes in sheets.
Deep shelves are, for sure, a nuisance. You will never remember what’s stuffed in the back. Keep the shelves shallow. Shallow enough that only two cans of green beans can fit one in front of the other. Make up for the loss in depth and install more shelves. Store items of the same height on each shelf to ensure you are maximizing your space.
If deep shelves are unavoidable use bins the same depth as the shelf to store food items. The bins act as a drawer so you can pull out the bin and access what’s in the back. They also create a nice clean look when they sit lined up and labeled.
Corners are a challenge when it comes to accessibility. If you have shelves that wrap a corner in your pantry use turntables in each corner. They come in various sizes and can make visibility and accessibility a nonissue.
Shelves that aren’t adjustable can make pantry space difficult to maximize. This is when an overhaul may be worth doing. Take out the old shelves and install new adjustable shelves. There are so many do-it-yourself options that are easy to install. If reinstalling shelves is not in your area of expertise you can also utilize expandable shelf helpers. Shelf helpers make use of the height you can’t use when shelves can’t be adjusted.
Links to product recommendations in this post:
Rattan Multipurpose Storage Bin
Lipper Acacia Wood Kitchen Turntable
We hope this is helpful. What are some organizing products you use to keep your pantry organized?