Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Organizing tips from Tommie #2...the pantry

Ask and you shall receive. Many of you asked to see the pantry. I have had every kind of pantry imaginable: little tiny cabinets under the counter, an entire room in the laundry area (loved that one), and even a room away from the kitchen (in KS at a house built the early 1900's). I really like the one I have here.

This one has two smaller areas on the top and shelves on the bottom. Just like you would see in the grocery store, things are grouped in sections. They are also labeled on the front of the shelf. The things at the top are things that used to be in random shaped bags. To be able to maximize the space, I take them out of the bags and put them in the same shaped containers. There are small round ones, square and rectangle ones. They hold things like brown sugar, rices, nuts, and kids snacks (graham crackers, goldfish, rice cakes, animal crackers).
Here is the rest of the pantry. Each shelf has a label on the front.
  • Shelf one is oils, vinegars, sauces, and teas.
  • Shelf two is rices, pastas, mixes, kids' mac and cheese.
  • Shelf three is baking stuff: chocolates, baking powder, baking soda, and cooking frosting stuff.
  • Shelf four is canned goods.
  • Shelf five is cereals and crackers.


But the best thing about this pantry is the shelves on the bottom SLIDE OUT!!! I love this!

I do have an 'overflow' pantry. I only go to the commissary once every two weeks. I fill in fresh fruit, veggies, and dairy from the grocery store right by my house. So in here are bulk things that will eventually get moved to the pantry in the kitchen. Don't laugh at my toilet paper and paper towels. Nothing says "I love you!" like never running out of toilet paper.


One thing you can't see on this overflow pantry is there is a list on the door. Long ago I made a grocery list by sections just like on the self labels. I have it in a Word document. Every time I take something out of the overflow pantry to restock the regular one, I highlight it on the list. I only purchase the things that are highlighted on the list.


I have all of these pictures and more on my Flickr. So click on the badge and it will take you over there. I am starting to organize them in a set labeled "organizing".

Happy Wednesday y'all.....




19 comments:

KatBliss said...

Although I live in No. Cal, could you just come over today and make my cabinets look like that? If you can't make it here, can I come to TX? I want to live in your kitchen cabinets. They make me feel so calm and peaceful. :)

tulipmom said...

Thanks Tommie! This is very helpful. Are those containers with the blue tops by Rubbermaid?

tommie said...

Yes they are. When I first started doing them in these containers, (about three years ago), I would buy three or four every time I saw them.

Anonymous said...

WOW! I thought my pantry was organized! Now I see this and I'm in shame. I am rather impressed and will be adding pantry re-org to my monthly to do list :o} Thanks for the inspiration!

Kelly said...

You have convinced me that I need myself a lable maker! LOL Love it!

Anonymous said...

I thought I was over neat, you have got me beat hands down. Labels!

Wendy aka Cheeky said...

I miss my sliding out shelves. I had them in NC. In SC I had a closet pantry and it was soooo nice.

Unknown said...

The list on the door is a fantastic idea! I have the sliding out shelves in my pantry too, it's great. It makes it much easier for my son to find things-- otherwise he wouldn't look and things in the back wouldn't get eaten. Hey, maybe that's not such a bad idea after all. ;)

nene P said...

Oh my gosh... Im such a LOSER. My pantry is pitiful!
So, my goal this weekend will be to revamp my pantry. I will do a before and after!

Get ready America...

L. Lemanski said...

Wow. I'm jealous. We just found some cans (yes, cans) in our pantry with an expiration of 2004. Do you know what that means? That means whatever was once in there is something else by now. I'm not so well organized. I dream of a pantry with labels and containers and things not expired . . .

IamDerby said...

oh man, i need your help... i would take a picture of my pantry but it might scare you to death.

Libby said...

To say I'm impressed would be an enormous understatement, Tommie.

Amy said...

I have pantry envy...

MamaGeek @ Works For Us said...

SOoooo (how did I miss this post) and secondly, when will you be over to help organize Ms. Dynamo?

Do you have ANY messy closets?

Janet said...

WOW! Um...WOW! You are totally amazing!

Anonymous said...

Me too! Pantry envy! ;)

I need to start collecting containers too!
Thanks for the tips! I am off to tackle the pantry.

kristi@ishouldbemoppingthefloor said...

I LOVE IT!! I have been trying to post on this for days, but I am having "posting issues."
You completley inspired me!! I went to DollarTree & WM today and bought all sorts of containers for our pantry. OVERHAUL!! I am so excited. It is all I have thought about since reading this.
Thank you for sharing all of your tips. Please keep them coming!

tommie said...

another thing I use alot are those small stackable white baskets. I use them in the kids drawers, the bathroom drawers etc. They are the ones that are only 2-3 inches wide and maybe 8 inches long. They come in several shapes. Those baskets in the pantry are wonderful. Both Target and Walmart carry them, so I can find them fairly easily.



I think the thing with organizing anything is keeping things in similiar containers, sorted by like things. It makes sense to me, but you should see some of the cabinets I have organized!



I am going to post about kid's toys next.

Jennifer @ Fruit of My Hands said...

Thanks for sharing this! I love that it's so organized. I have a system, but its very, very basic (and often based on the size of the container compared with the shelf, lol).

I will be bookmarking this page for future reference.