This house would easily outmatch our last one: crown molding in every room, hardwood floors throughout, endless French doors, and all the cozy nooks my home-loving heart could hope for.
But the storage? That was the one area where our previous house still had the upper hand. (Also the 9-foot ceilings—still missing those.)
If you caught our messy house tour recently, you saw why things have felt chaotic. Six months after moving in, our organization is still a work in progress. None of the systems that worked in the old house fit this new layout, so I decided it was time to fix the chaos—starting with the pantry cabinet.
Before: food packages shoved in with no order. I dreaded packing Olivia’s preschool lunches each morning, riffling through the mess. I kept promising myself, “I’ll deal with it tomorrow,” until I finally reached the point where I couldn’t stand it any longer.
After the overhaul, the pantry cabinet looks so much better.
Supplies Used:
- Large Korken jars (IKEA)
- Small Korken jars (IKEA)
- Byholma baskets (IKEA)
- Vintage label holders
- Vintage label holder hooks
- Fleur de lis hooks
- Leather luggage tag labels
- Twine
- Command picture hanging strips
- Hot glue gun and hot glue sticks
- Chalkboard contact paper
- 8×10 photo frame (glass and backing removed)
- Measuring cups and measuring spoons set
We truly got spoiled by our old home’s big walk-in pantry and endless shelving. I took that space for granted. Now our pantry is a single cabinet in the kitchen, plus a couple of distant cabinets used for overflow and less-used supplies. Because of that, I wanted this one cabinet to be efficient, clean, and visually pleasing.
Every time I open the cabinet now I breathe a little easier.
1. Hanging Organization
We cook from scratch most nights and follow a mostly Paleo approach, so we rely on measuring tools and fresh ingredients. To keep measuring cups and spoons easy to access, I hung them from the inside of the cabinet door. This keeps them out of the way but always within reach, and it saves drawer space.
I attached vintage label holders inside the door with hot glue. If we ever want to remove them, they come off cleanly without drilling holes—perfect for renters or those who prefer a non-permanent solution.
2. Inventory List
Keeping a visible inventory list near the pantry is a simple habit-changer. I used chalkboard contact paper inside a frame and a dry-erase chalk marker to create an inventory board. When something runs low, I add it to the list, then snap a photo with my phone before heading to the store.
3. Packaged Food Storage
I picked up simple baskets from IKEA for affordable, tidy storage of packaged items. I labeled each basket with inexpensive luggage tags tied on with twine. It instantly made the cabinet look neater and made finding snacks or staples much faster.
4. Dry Ingredient Storage & Labels
Clear glass jars are an easy, attractive way to store dry goods like flour, sugar, oats, and nuts. The Korken jars from IKEA are inexpensive and look great grouped together. I created a set of vintage-style labels to add character and clarity—simple, readable labels make it easy to keep inventory and stick to a consistent system.
I feel so much better having this cabinet organized. When systems are pretty and intentional, I’m more motivated to keep them that way—and my hope is that the rest of the family will follow suit.
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Organizing one cabinet has inspired me to tackle other areas of the house. Would you like to see more organization posts? They’re some of my favorite projects because they save time and stress. If you have kitchen organization strategies that work well for you, I’d love to hear them—one cabinet down, many more to go!
