Pantry Cabinet Organization: How to Turn a Cabinet into a Pantry

Here’s the hard truth. Not all of us have the space for a walk-in pantry. Some of us don’t even have enough room for a full-sized cupboard. That’s where the humble kitchen cabinet comes in. So if you just have a couple of cabinets (or even one) to spare when it comes to food storage – I’ll show you how I converted kitchen cabinets into a pantry. This is my journey from start to finish. A simple, step-by-step guide to pantry cabinet organization.

This post also includes a handy blueprint for Pantry Cabinet Organization, that you can save for later – so you know exactly what you need to finally get your pantry completely organized.

Step 1: Identify Your Cabinet(s)

Earmark which cabinets you will use for your pantry.

Ideally, pick one that is closest to the fridge because the placement of things in your kitchen has a bearing on your cooking and working efficiency.

Step 2: Take Stock & Declutter Your Pantry Items

Categorize and check your pantry items.

Anything expired and unloved needs to go.

To make sure you’ve let go of all the things you don’t need, you can check out my kitchen declutter checklist.

If you need to transfer food items into jars – do it at this stage.

Finally, group like items together.

Step 3: Clean & Prep Cabinets

Do a thorough clean of your cabinet. 

Let the surface dry and then line with shelf liners.

This is especially important for the pantry cabinet because a lot of food items will be stocked here.

You don’t want anything staining your cabinet floor.

Step 4: Save & Use This Cabinet Storage Blueprint

When it comes to Pantry Cabinet Organization, it’s important to have a ‘map’, a sort of blueprint of how best you can use your available space.

This will also help you understand if you need any tools/organizers to help you optimize your space.

I’ve made a simple blueprint of how you can design and plan an organized pantry cabinet. Feel free to pin and save this for later, when you’d want a quick reference:

This should work for most two-shelf small cabinets.

That said, everyone’s needs are different.

Feel free to use this as a rough guide and change things around to tailor them to what all you want to store in your cabinet.

Step 5: Shop for the Necessary Tools/Organizers

By now you would be fairly clear about what tools you’d need for your pantry cabinet organization.

The idea is to section your available space, and create small zones.

Aim to keep everything visible and within reach.

Think about what systems will keep your pantry mess-free in the long-run.

You should be able to reach and pull out one item without toppling over or disrupting anything else in the cabinet.

In my own pantry cabinets, I’ve used narrow and deep bins to use the depth and store smaller bottles, a lazy susan for tall ones, a shelf divider to keep things segregated, a large basket for unopened packets and cereals (you can go for wire baskets, or even wicker).

I also used a pull out drawer (originally a shirt organizer) for storing our coffee packs. These are actually stackable, so you can add one on top – to add more storage space.

The great thing is, not only were all these organizers fairly cheap, they gave me huge bang for my buck.

After all, having a tidy pantry literally keeps me sane!

Step 6: Place Everything

After you’ve got all the tools and storage solutions you need, it’s time to arrange everything.

Place the organizers first, then all your food items/jars/bottles.

Looks pretty neat, right?

So that’s it. It’s entirely possible to turn a simple kitchen cabinet into a fully-functional, tidy pantry.

Let me know if this post helped you!

If you’d like to get some custom suggestions as per your pantry size, feel free to send me pictures at [email protected]

I’d be glad to suggest the best way you can set up your pantry.