Pantry Organizing Ideas That Work For ANY Odd-Shaped Pantry

Everything you’ve wanted to know about pantry organization and more!

Ready to organize YOUR pantry the EASY way with some budget-friendly pantry organizing ideas that WORK?

Whether you’ve got a small pantry, odd-shaped pantry, deep narrow pantry or blessed with a big walk in pantry – here are the top ideas for organizing your pantry that will help you get it organized and useful.

Pantry Organizing Ideas That Work For ANY Odd-Shaped Pantry - whether you have a deep pantry, weird shaped walk-in, corner pantry or narrow pantry, these pantry organizing ideas will help you figure out how to organize it...

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Pantry Organizing Ideas

Pantry organizing ideas are EVERYWHERE online, but does anyone actually ANSWER the SPECIFIC question you have about YOUR weird pantry situation?

That’s what this page is all about –

To give you the best pantry organizing ideas, tips and tricks to help you get that pantry organized and KEEP it organized (even if you’re on a budget or totally overwhelmed).

✅ Pantry Organization FAQ

Organizing your pantry can feel SO overwhelming when it’s weirdly shaped or deep and narrow – how in the world can you make it work?

One of the BEST pantry organizing ideas that work is the trick for canned goods (see pictures below) – it really makes the best use of any odd shaped pantry to make it more functional and organized.

ESPECIALLY if your pantry has WIRE shelves – ugh!

So let’s jump in and talk about organizing the items IN your weird, deep, narrow or odd-shaped pantry. From cans to pasta boxes, there are some clever solutions down below.

Just a note: before you get TOTALLY frustrated trying to organize your pantry space, take a moment to be thankful you even HAVE a pantry for food storage.

My old house did not HAVE a pantry at ALL!

I figured out how to organize WITHOUT a pantry….

But it is SO much easier WITH one – not matter HOW awkward it may be.

✅ How can I organize my pantry without buying anything?

You can absolutely organize your pantry without buying anything new – which is great news when you’re getting organized on a budget.

Here are some tips and tricks to organize your pantry without spending money:

Use What You Already Have

Take a look around your house for baskets, containers – even empty boxes – that you can use to sort and organize the items in your pantry.

Get a Trash Bag –

Seriously, the best way – and FREE way – to organize your pantry is by throwing out any expired items, half full boxes, empty soda boxes, etc.

I got SO tired of “lost” items in my pantry and throwing away expired food items because I couldn’t even SEE them.

If you’re tired of WASTED food too – here’s a tip that has been a TOTAL game changer for me…

Get out your black Sharpie marker and WRITE the expiration date clearly on the side of ALL your pantry items (see picture below).

That way you can easily see, at a GLANCE, what food in your pantry is still good – and what needs to go (or be used quickly).

pantry organization tips to prevent expired wasted food

Not sure WHAT to throw away?

Read: 15 Kitchen Items You Should Throw Away RIGHT NOW!

Take Everything OUT –

I know this sounds like an overwhelming process, but the best way to really organize your pantry is to get everything OUT and mindfully put things back in an organized fashion. And this is totally FREE – won’t cost you a dime!

Reduce the Pantry CLUTTER –

If you’re like me (and like most people), that pantry is the storing place for ALL kinds of stuff – and it becomes a cluttered MESS.

Remove everything that truly does not belong in the pantry and put those items where they DO belong.

Suddenly you will have a ton more storage space in your pantry AND organizing what’s left in your pantry won’t feel like such a massive job.

Decluttering and organizing used to be SO hard for me – I really struggled with it.

One day I learned this decluttering system and things just clicked for me – it’s like I suddenly learned what everyone else already knew lol!

Learning to organize any area – especially an area that is just an awkward shape – is a skill… it’s not instinct so be kind to yourself.

✅ Is it better to store pantry items in glass or plastic?

When storing items in your pantry, glass and plastic containers are the two main choices. Which is BETTER? Both glass and plastic are safe, but glass IS much cheaper than plastic pantry storage containers – so it comes down to the overall aesthetic you’re trying to create with your pantry.

Personally, I use plastic containers like these. There are way too many kids in this house (and ALWAYS in the pantry) to mess with glass storage containers – I’d have broken glass everywhere!

✅ How can I organize my pantry without plastic?

If you want to organize your pantry WITHOUT plastic containers, these are your best plastic container alternatives:

Glass storage containers
Mason jars
Wicker baskets
Ceramic containers
Repurposed boxes
Metal bins
Crates
Stainless steel organizers
Cloth storage bins
Wire Baskets
Metal Lazy Susan turntables
Wood bins
Cardboard organizers

Wood Pantry OrganizerSee This Set Stackable Wire BasketsSee This Set Stackable Wood ContainersSee This Set

✅ How do you organize and label a pantry?

If you want to organize and label your pantry items, I HIGHLY recommend this pantry organization set – they’re WONDERFUL.

AND – they come with FREE labels!

Being organized can be SO satsifying – just look at these containers! I use them for EVERYTHING! So many people RAVE about these containers… Strong, durable, comes with the labels AND all the LIDS are the SAME SIZE -they are fanstastic!See This Set

✅ How do you categorize pantry items?

The best way to categorize pantry items is to look at your pantry as a grocery store of sorts. Think how grocery stores “zone” their food items and try to keep that same concept in mind.

Common Pantry Item Categories Are:

Cereal
Boxed Meals
Canned Vegetables
Canned Fruit
Sauces
Condiments
Spices
Oils
Baking Items
Mixes
Snacks
Drinks
Pasta & Rice
Breakfast Food
Candy
Breads
Soups
Beans
Jellies
Paper Stuff
Pet Food
Canned Meats

Every house is different so if there is a specific pantry item that is a constant in your pantry, make a category and zone for it.

It’s kinda like how we organize a household notebook – in sections, right?

✅ How can I make my deep pantry more organized and useful?

The best way to make your deep pantry more useful is to maximize the storage space you do have, divide your pantry into zones and be sure no pantry items get lost in the depth of the pantry shelves. A useful pantry is one that is organized so you can find what you need when you need it AND makes it possible to see what you have without having to move items around.

If you’re organizing your pantry on a budget – take a look at these $1 organizing hacks.

They’re pretty brilliant!

✅ How do you store cans in the pantry?

The best way to store cans in the pantry is NOT by stacking them on top of each other. Instead, use a can organizer that fits with your pantry size and storage space.

These are the 3 pantry can organizer options our readers like best and use most often:

Can Organizer BinsSee This Set Wide Can OrganizersSee This Set Stackable Can OrganizersSee This Set

✅ How do you organize a deep narrow pantry?

Organizing a deep narrow pantry can be a challenge because they don’t have the same depth to work with. By adjusting the height between your pantry shelves, you can gain more storage space to organize the items in your pantry.

✅ How do you organize a weird or odd-shaped pantry?

The best way to organize an odd-shaped pantry is to put those weird, awkward spaces into zones based on the space available. By planning out what goes where in your odd-shaped pantry, you can maximize the space you do have.

✅ How do you organize bread in the pantry?

The best way to organize bread in the pantry is to use a bread box or bread storage containers (like the ones below). Bread needs extra protection when stored in the pantry and it’s important to keep as much air out as possible to keep your bread fresh longer.

Stainless Steel Bread StorageSee This Set Fancy Farmhouse Bread BoxSee This Set Air Tight Plastic Bread ContainerSee This Set

✅ How do I organize my pantry storage containers?

The best way to organize your pantry storage containers is by breaking your pantry down into zones and putting each container in the zone where it belongs.

=> See pictures and ideas of organized pantry storage containers.

✅ How do I organize the top shelf of my pantry?

The top shelf of your pantry can be tricky to organize since it’s not the easiest place to reach. Keep that pantry zone organized by putting items up there you rarely use *such a serving platters, plastic utensils, paper plates, etc. I also put my back up packs of paper towels and toilet paper on that top shelf.

✅ How do I organize my pasta boxes in the pantry?

I found the best way to organize my pasta boxes in my pantry in this video below. Pasta boxes can be tricky to organize in your pantry. Remember those containers and baskets you found? Get them and try this pasta box organization hack:

✅ Can you put a pantry under the stairs?

Yes, you CAN put a pantry under the stairs – and it’s a fantastic idea!

Here are some ideas for putting a pantry under the stairs.

✅ How do I organize my pantry professionally?

If you want to organize your pantry professionally, you need to do what professional organizers do.

Learn about pantry “zones” and pantry item categories and set your pantry up to me more useful and easy to identify what you have – and what you need more of.