Our Walk-In Pantry Organization For Real Life: Storage Ideas & Lessons Learned

Six weeks ago, I opened my pantry door and knew something had to change.

Breakfast items were scattered in two different places. The top shelves—overflowing with campsite cooking gear—hid who-knows-what behind stacks of mismatched supplies. And the dog food bag? Let’s just say it had captured the fascination of a precocious toddler and our German Shepherd, who clearly believed it was his personal buffet bag.

After a determined trip to IKEA and a clear plan in mind, I finally tackled the reset—though not without a few delays thanks to sickness and weather that seemed determined to slow down progress.

Today I’m sharing what actually worked, what organizers I used, and the one family member’s reaction I wasn’t expecting.

This post contains affiliate links that help to support this blog, at no additional cost to you. I hope you find something amazing for your home through these links.

Because as much as I wanted a prettier pantry, what I really needed was one that works better for our everyday life.

In my first post about my plans for a pantry reset, I shared my need to do a complete cleanout and deep clean of our pantry before I dared to try to reorganize it.  And that is exactly what I did. 

Everything came out.  The shelves were wiped down, and the floor was mopped – because of course it needed it.

I started with the way this walk-in pantry looked the day we moved in.  Empty and clean with two walls of open shelving providing ample space for every way this pantry needs to function for our home.

My organizational strategy didn’t start or end with a Pinterest-perfect plan. It needed a plan that utilizes every square inch of its more than ample space for breakfast, lunch, dinner, small appliances, stacks of plastic containers, and everything the dogs needed.

I needed a pantry that made dinner easier on a Tuesday.

Every single one of the open shelves needed to have a purpose.

I believe that if you can’t see it or don’t have a place for it to go, you’ll end up buying it again – and again.

Ask me how I know this.

I started with the basics.  Food items or small appliances we use most often, like coffee pods, and the waffle maker, need to be stored close to the entrance for quick and easy access.

Top shelves are the best spot for seldom-used appliance storage, and Christmas dinnerware.

Appliances too big or too heavy for a shelf, like my new slushie maker, found a new home in the corner on the floor, out of the way.  Small appliances have their own shelf.  And of course, there is a dedicated space for the food storage containers for leftovers.

Those rows of narrow shelves were still perfect for canned goods.  But I also realized that one narrow shelf near the top is great for holding my new electric skillet.

On the opposite side, I gathered similar items in black wire baskets from the At Home store, so meal prep is easier.

Storage is only helpful if it fits how your family actually lives.

And remember the challenge of what to do with the camping gear chaos on the top two shelves?

My husband is tall, at 6’4” – his idea of putting things away is on a high shelf.  Or on top of the refrigerator – because he can see things way up there.  Me, not so much.

The top two shelves on the left side had somehow become a dumping ground after every camping trip and anything else that didn’t have a permanent home. When I grabbed the step ladder and started clearing off those shelves, I honestly had no idea what I would find.

Here’s what changed.

After throwing away bags of dehydrated food – because I had no clue how old it was, and, of course, anything past its expiration date was immediately tossed into the trash can. I sorted what was left into white plastic bins with clear fronts purchased from Temu.  The clear fronts make it so much easier to identify what is in each bin.

Instant coffee packets in one, travel condiments in another, and meal packets from REI sorted together. Each bin has a theme, and anything needed for his next hammock camping adventure (which I don’t go on) has a place.

Hiking enthusiasts have a lot of gear!

I’m fairly certain we own six small campfire cooking pots that only ever see the woods.

The top shelf was the best place for all of the actual cooking gear.  Every lightweight pot, specialty cooking burner, and so many “things” I have no idea how to use. I left one basket filled with utensils, collapsible bowls, and other random items for him to sort out himself when he needs them. 

Why did it take so long to finish this project? 

Why did it take so long to finish this project? 

It only took one day to pull together 90% of this space, which, in my opinion, looks fabulous, and it functions so much better.

My morning coffee pods are in easy reach in wire baskets right inside the door.  Breakfast items above it.

Large grill utensils, which were often tangled up and falling off the shallow shelves, are now out of the way on wall-mounted Sunnersta rail hooks from IKEA. 

I am a girl who wears aprons both for cooking and crafting.  Now, whenever I need one, I know where I can find it.

The last 10% of any project seems to take the longest.

So why did it take me nearly four weeks to finish up the last 10%?

Dog food containers! My biggest challenge was figuring out what or how to store the dog food!

We thought we had figured out what dog food storage solution to buy months ago.

But I couldn’t commit. Let’s face it, most dog food storage isn’t very impressive or stylish. And that was what I wanted, at a reasonable price too.

While I was at IKEA, I looked for anything more decorative that could hold 50-pound bags, both inexpensive and stylish.  It also needed a tight-fitting lid to keep a toddler out.

Nothing clicked for me. I would find a shiny, streamlined, stylish container, only to review the specs and realize it could hold only 20-pound bags. Anything bigger was several hundred dollars each!

Then I tried to find something more practical that wasn’t as stylish, and hopefully a little easier on the budget.  Same problem. Next, we looked at farm supply stores.  They have containers for farm animals that certainly could also be used for dog food, right?  Either they were too big or not big enough. Definitely not very attractive either.

When I am undecided like this, I usually shift gears. I decided to focus on other projects, hoping I would eventually find something that worked.

Weeks of winter storms and ice-covered roads, and sickness in our house, meant that I didn’t work on finishing the pantry at all.

Two weeks turned into four, and before you realize it, that 10% is still waiting for you to get back to it.

I researched, second-guessed, compared measurements… only to order the original bins we liked in the first place.  And you know what, they were the best choice.  Compact, somewhat stylish, toddler-proof locking lid, and easily fits under the lowest shelf in the pantry.

An unexpected reaction. 

But before I finally finished the last 10%, I received an unexpected compliment on the improvements in the pantry, which made all the extra effort worth it.

My daughter walked into the pantry to get baby food for our grandson, when she suddenly called out to me to say, “Wow, Mom, I can actually walk all the way into the pantry to the back wall.  I can’t remember the last time I could do that.  This looks awesome!”

Sigh… It’s nice when they still notice the changes you make in the house, especially when they don’t live with you anymore.

What I see now when I open the pantry door!

There’s something about spring that makes me want to clear shelves. Maybe it’s the sunlight finally starting to peek through the Smoky Mountain clouds. Maybe it’s the promise of fresh starts. This year, that promise inspired me to finally organize my pantry.   

One long overdue organizing project off the list.  Up next, organizing the limited storage in our RV for our first trip of the year in March. 

And possibly another trip to IKEA.  I’m hooked! I have so much more I want to explore there!

Stay inspired!

Pin For Later

2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.