Don’t let disorganization ruin that delicious meal you’re preparing. Find what you need, when you need it, on your well-organized pantry shelves.

Having a cluttered pantry can be overwhelming. If you’ve ever opened your pantry and couldn’t find what you were searching for, you could benefit from some pantry shelving organization.

Your pantry shelves need to have accurate dimensions so they fit inside your cabinet. The shelving you choose should also coordinate well with the design and layout of the pantry you want. Deciding on a design for your pantry shelves can be difficult, but we have a number of different ideas so you can feel inspired.

1. Walk-in Pantry Shelving Ideas

Walk-in pantries are a dream for some. Those who are fortunate to have one have a multitude of opportunities to get creative with the pantry organization design. Having a large walk-in pantry can be overwhelming if you don’t have a houseful of people to buy groceries for. If you’re only using a small amount of space for yourself, try doubling your pantry’s purpose to include storage for dishes or other household items.

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In order to have a completely organized pantry, you want to make sure you have a designated shelf for different categories. Rice and noodles can be together on one shelf, and then the hot cereal and other dry breakfast food can go on another. Organizing your pantry into different departments is visually pleasing, but it will also help you locate items in your pantry when it’s time to use them. Keeping these things in mind, as well as your pantry design plan, will give you an effective pantry makeover.

2. Butler’s Pantry Shelving Ideas

A butler’s pantry is a walk-in pantry with countertops. Some may use this as an extension to the kitchen since there is ample opportunity for storage. This pantry can have shelving installed above the counter. Whether your butler’s pantry uses floating shelves or traditional shelves, there’s a design that will cater to your pantry organization needs.

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Aside from a shelf, another storage accessory that you might need could be a drawer. You can add drawers or cabinets to enhance the pantry design as well. When designing a cabinet for your pantry, it’s important to decide whether you want the design to be the same as your kitchen’s aesthetic. If your kitchen cabinets are of the same color and have the same type of knobs or handles, this can make your kitchen feel extended.

If you don’t want continuity between your kitchen and butler’s pantry, you can change the color scheme of the pantry and add cabinets made of a different material. Installing under-cabinet lights can be a nice aesthetic and practical option for making this pantry one you’ll want to cook in.

3. Pull-out Pantry Shelving Ideas

The pull-out pantry is a creative addition for a kitchen with limited storage. For a low-cost option, you can install a door rack on the inside of your cabinet doors. You’ll be able to find these at your local hardware store. Be sure to check with your interior designer so you’ll know how much space you need between the cabinet’s built-in shelf and the new pantry shelving.

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There are other storage options for when you’re tight on space in your small kitchen. Ask your designer or professional organizer how to install a small pantry that’s retractable. Some condos and small houses don’t have a lot of space to store food. Try to have a pull-out pantry designed to fit into narrow spaces for areas by the refrigerator or even right outside of your kitchen. Your designer can make sure your pull out pantry is functional and presentable.

4. Open Pantry Shelving Ideas

An open pantry is a great renovation idea for a space that either has a small pantry or none at all. This pantry shelving can look more like a bookcase since it has no covering to hide it. You can create some open pantries from a wire rack as well. With all of the open shelves that this design provides, your biggest task is to make sure your rack or shelf doesn’t look cluttered.

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Since everyone can see the items in your pantry collection with this layout, you want to make sure your shelving and storage containers are aesthetically pleasing. Before you shop for storage containers, you’ll want to think about your vision for the open pantry. Think about if the wheat and starch products should be in the same type of container, and if the four types of beans should be in a clear or solid jar. You’ll also want to measure your shelf spaces so that you know whether adding baskets to your open pantry is viable.

5. Closet Pantry Shelving Ideas

In a traditional closet pantry, space will be in short supply. You can still make the most of it with enough effort. The key to organizing this storage space is to match similar products and place them together on the same shelf. Canned goods should go with canned goods, while cereal boxes should go with other cereal boxes. Depending on the size of your shelving, your products should have sections that they can call home.

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You want to make sure to organize all the items in your pantry as much as possible to fit on the assigned shelf. You don’t want your pantry cabinet door to pop open because you placed a box of brownie mix next to your bean jar. A closet pantry’s objective is to hide from sight by keeping the cabinet door closed when not in use.

6. Corner Pantry Shelving Ideas

A corner pantry can give you a panoramic view of what’s inside of your kitchen pantry. If this layout describes your pantry, it may be easier to find items when you need them. However, pantry organization is still important so that your canned goods and the rest of the items on your shelf don’t tumble over and fall on your head. Using storage baskets for smaller items and using a glass jar for beans is a great way to categorize your items in the pantry.

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Choose a system for organizing your pantry that’s practical and makes the most sense to you. If you have a small pantry, choose bins and containers that are an appropriate size for your pantry’s design. You may not have a deep shelf if this is the case. So try to divide the spaces on your shelves using racks, tins, and bins at the bottom of your corner pantry.

For more corner storage ideas, click here.

7. Space Savers and Caddies for Shelving Ideas

Finding a storage solution for your pantry, no matter the size, can come with its challenges. If you have a lot of storage space to organize, you can use a variety of options. To organize canned goods, you can place a wire rack or tiered shelf on your pantry shelves to view everything easily. Adding a caddie towards the bottom of your pantry can help you contain the miscellaneous items sitting on the shelf.

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If you need extra storage as well, try transforming a spare cabinet into a small pantry. Adding pantry shelving to a cabinet can be a great opportunity to optimize every space you have in your kitchen. You can add a rotating organizer to make a spice rack or to store kitchen essentials. Another great idea is to use space savers like a wire rack or a drawer to divide and organize your small items.

8. Shallow Pantry Shelving Ideas

It can be difficult to fit items if your pantry shelving is shallow. However, a shallow pantry can be advantageous since you won’t lose or forget food products on the shelf. Shallow pantries have a storage limit, so you’ll have to plan your grocery list carefully. You should also focus on which products you actually need to store in your pantry versus the products that you can do without.

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This limited shelving can also be the perfect opportunity to have a custom pantry. You can use cooking products to decorate the shelves. For example, lining the top shelf of oil bottles from tallest to shortest could create a pleasing visual. You can also try a similar technique by lining the shelf with toilet paper rolls or paper towels. To declutter your pantry, remove appliances you don’t need anymore, and throw away anything expired.

9. Rustic Pantry Shelving Ideas

A rustic pantry is a trendy design that you can create in very little time if you plan well. If your pantry shelving is wooden, you have a great starting point. The next step is to search for mason jars you can use to store your food products. There are trendy labels you can use to add calligraphy or prints to name each food category in your pantry.

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When creating a custom pantry, shelving can be difficult to inspire a rustic aesthetic. In this case, you would want to make your storage containers the inspiration. If your pantry shelving is metal or wire, it’s ideal to find a paint coating to turn them into black or white shelving. To accessorize, use glass jars with wooden tops, glass bottles with corks, and wicker baskets to create your rustic pantry. Top off your design by adding fresh, edible greens as decor and wooden or vintage signs to categorize your food products further if you have the space.

For more shelving ideas, click here.

10. Inexpensive Shelving Ideas

Pantry organization doesn’t have to be pricey. You can stay within your budget and find inexpensive pantry storage products to fill your project needs. One simple option is to use a wire rack that can hang from shelves. You can find these at the usual superstores, so you won’t need to step foot into a high-end container and bin store. If you have wire shelving, try using a fabric box to store food items. Choose patterns, prints, and colors that either fit the color scheme you have in mind or use this idea to categorize your pantry shelves.

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If you have a small pantry with a wire shelf, simple solutions like dollar store jars for beans and colorful buckets to hold snacks can make your shelf look fun. Storage space might be scarce for this type of pantry, but there are no limits to the creativity you can use to transform your small pantry.

For more inexpensive storage ideas, click here.

11. Small Pantry Shelving Ideas

You can make a small pantry from a wire rack, a bookshelf, or a DIY rack installed inside a cabinet. While kitchen storage space is in short supply, this kitchen pantry can still hold your kitchen essentials. If you have a wire rack, you want to ensure that all of your items are sitting securely on the shelf since the design is open. It’s a good idea to purchase helpful yet uncommon kitchen storage materials. You can use caddies and tin bins as storage for your fruit or other kitchen products.

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Good ways to make your small pantry visually appealing include placing your favorite plates and serving utensils on the pantry shelves. You can show off your best dishes and use it as inspiration for arranging your food with the same color scheme. If you have a small built-in pantry in your kitchen, you can use all of these tips to organize your food products and other kitchen essentials.

12. Wall Pantry Shelving Ideas

A wall pantry can be a great addition to your kitchen design. Floating shelves and hanging racks for pots or mugs can free up the rest of the space you may need on your kitchen pantry shelf. This small space on your wall may lack the traditional pantry door and storage, but it has the potential to be an interesting focal point in the room.

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There are a few things to do to make your wall pantry practical. You need decide on how to organize your foods, fruits, and spices. Try to use practical items lying around your kitchen as storage. Use items such as a cereal or mixing bowl for storage and place cookbooks on a shelf to make it more accessible when you’re ready to cook. This is the most decorative pantry idea out of all the pantry shelving ideas.

13. Pantry Cupboard Shelving Ideas

A pantry cupboard is a stylish way to incorporate your kitchen’s design with the kitchen pantry. The shelves are usually the same color finish as the cabinet next to it. For cupboards with a door, the outside, as mentioned before, has the same finish as the cabinet next to it, but the interior might have an efficient organizing structure so that no items are falling off the shelf. You can install wooden racks on cabinet doors and add drawers towards the bottom so you can increase the amount of pantry storage available. The inside can have a different finish that contrasts the outside of the cupboard.

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To keep your cupboard organized, be sure to decide which items will go in containers, on the shelf, or in the bottom drawers. Making this critical decision can keep you from spending too long searching for what you need when cooking. Cupboards tend to have a lot of shelf space, so plan well before your pantry shelving project.

Pantry Shelving Ideas FAQs

How do I figure out which shelving idea is right for me?

To figure out which kitchen pantry idea we mentioned is the most relevant to you, analyze your pantry. You should count how many pantry shelves you have, how wide they are, and look at the types of products you have in your pantry. After you have a full picture of your pantry, refer back to this article and see which tricks you can use to organize it.

How do I start organizing my pantry?

When you’re ready to start organizing your pantry, take a look around at items you already own that could double as storage containers. If you have gathered these items, arrange them in a pattern that pleases you every time you visit your pantry. If you’re low on storage containers or can’t find anything to match the vision you have, take a trip to the dollar store or a thrift store and find inspiration there.

What if I’m finding it difficult to organize my pantry?

If you’re unable to organize your pantry by yourself, you can hire a professional organizer or interior designer. They’ll go above and beyond to accomplish the kitchen pantry design you want.