Kitchen pantry cabinets are essentially designed for storing cookware, dishes, and a variety of consumables.
However, the ideal manner to go about storing each of such items in an accessible and organized fashion can be a bit time-consuming. A well-organized cabinet system is not only pleasing to the eye but can also shorten the time you’ll spend cooking.
A poorly arranged pantry can be a real headache to work with. A good way around a cluttered or full pantry is to install some open shelves, drawer inserts, a lazy susan, and a couple of roll-out trays.
Drawer organizers are also a fantastic way to keep things sorted and organized, with these you are less likely to turn your cabinet into a jumbled mess in search of cooking supplies or utensils.
How to effectively optimize pantry storage cabinet
Right before you begin organizing pantry items into your kitchen cabinets, it’s important to take a moment to consider exactly which compartment you want to store each category of items and the purposes they serve to make it a lot easier to find them when the need arises.
The following are some practical kitchen cabinet organization ideas for your pantry to help guide you throughout the entire process.
Accessibility is key
Depending on the number of cabinets in your kitchen, it’s important to make optimal use of space to ensure that all kitchen essentials are accountable for and easily accessible at all times.
The best way to go about this is by storing commonly used items in areas where you should have no problem reaching them, preferably close to the cabinet doors or perhaps on the counter. While the best spot for items you don’t use often is the spot at the rear end of your cabinets.
Sort items by their functions
Rather than lumping kitchen items altogether in your cabinetry, take a while to categorize each item into sets based on their functions and put each set in a convenient spot. The purpose of classifying items meant for the same or similar purposes isn’t just to secure extra space but to ensure that you can easily find them when necessary.
Get the best out of Utensil Storage drawers
A great way to make room in a clumped pantry is by making use of cutlery and utensil drawers. Go for a more refined look by sorting and arranging flatware and utensils in specific drawers with dividers.
It’s best to store up cooking utensils close to your food preparation area to keep you from moving back and forth while cooking since doing so can interfere with your cooking. Households with smaller kitchens can maximize storage space by installing high or multiple-tier drawer cabinets.
Pantry cabinet tray divider
If you can’t seem to decide where to put your cooling racks or sheet trays or maybe you don’t want to hang your cutting boards in plain sight, a spacious and well-designed tray divider provides easy access to all items and keeps them organized. On those trays, you can nicely place some food items.
Regardless of where they are fitted, these accessories are a great way to increase the storage area while keeping all cooking items organized.
Arrange muffin tins and baking sheets in a file
When storing baking sheets it’s always best to arrange them vertically rather than horizontally since they’re bound to take up unnecessary storage room in this manner.
For easier access to your baking sheets, you can also fit in a tension rod. Not only will you be able to get what you need easily it also provides more space for other baking supplies.
Dispose of worn tableware and dated items
One of the best ways to free up some room is by simply disposing of utensils that are no longer fit to be used. Expired consumables and cooking ingredients should not be kept within your cabinet’s closed doors. Take them out to make room for cooking and crafting supplies.
Consumables should be stored separately
Allocate a section of your pantry or a specific set entirely, for food storage; canned goods, cooking ingredients, and your favorite snacks should be stored in jars or containers. Labeled containers can also help you locate what you need a lot quicker, write the name of each food item boldly on masking tape and stick them unto the containers.
Dry goods and pantry staples such as grains, sugar, and so on should be kept in jars instead of bags. It’s a lot more pleasing aesthetically and way more effective for food preservation.
Roll-out trays
Shuffling through your pantry to reach an item at the back isn’t particularly convenient. Instead of sifting through or taking out half of the contents of your pantry to reach the one you need at the end, you might as well install roll-out trays at its base to make things a whole lot easier. Glides are a great way to keep you from having to move every item in the way to get what you need.
Add more storage room with Cabinet drawer dividers
Drawer dividers are quite useful for separating kitchen items and utensils of the same kind. Aside from making it easy to find the exact item you need, they also help prevent your cabinet interiors from becoming clustered.
Get rid of unnecessary items and appliances
For a spacious and organized kitchen pantry cabinet system, you have to go out of your way to remove items you don’t use frequently. If your pantry is low on storage, the best thing would be to move all items you don’t use often and store them in a different compartment in your kitchen.
While you’re at it you can also create your own miniature coffee home bar by making use of an unused cabinet as your setup spot for housing the espresso machine and other coffee brewing items.
Utilize the space on your storage cabinet sides
Most people don’t realize that the unused space on the outer walls of their pantry can be used for storage, with a little modification, of course.
If you need some extra storage room and your pantry isn’t too close to the kitchen walls or obstructed in any way, you can take advantage of this to install shelves or rails along the sides for hanging small pots or kitchen appliances.
Store similar food items together
Keeping items of the same category in subsections makes a pantry appear sophisticated. Not only is it easier for the eyes but it’s also a lot more effective and convenient. This way you should be able to easily get your hands on exactly what you need and know where to store them afterward.
Stick-on shelves on cabinet doors
These shelves are intended for storing lightweight items that you might need in the kitchen now and then. Magnetic strips are also a splendid choice for hanging light items and small appliances. Go right ahead and include these on your pantry wall if there isn’t any room left in the interior.
Use adjustable shelves to increase your cabinet shelf space
Oftentimes the most effective ways to increase cabinet space are usually overlooked. While a cabinet might seem full, you’ll be surprised to see that simply tweaking adjustable shelves can provide much-needed extra storage space.
Open Shelving
Make the best use of vertical wall space on corner cabinets. This method gives you the choice of drawing attention to some of your nicest tableware as well as making it easier to find any item you might need.
Where to Store Pots and Pans in kitchen storage cabinets
The only viable way to store pots and pans in a cabinet is by opting for one with rather deep drawer sizes. Dish dividers can also be installed to hold pot lids, saucers, and dishes in place. The drawers must be constructed with reliable materials capable of supporting the full weight of its contents when pulled out completely.
Add drawers to create your custom cabinet design
While it might seem like a lot to handle, adding pull-out drawers to your kitchen cabinets not only changes the interior look but doing so can boost its organizational and storage functionality as well. Regular drawers should be able to host common lightweight kitchen utensils. However, if you intend to store heavy items or appliances you should consider installing heavy-duty drawers instead.
Hang mitts or tea-towels on your cabinet door
If you prefer not to hang your mitts or tea towels on the pantry door, you can as well hang them on your cabinet door instead. If you choose to hang it on the interior, try screwing on a paper towel holder behind the cabinet’s door.
Optimize your vertical space
Items and ingredients you don’t use too often should essentially be stored in convenient spots that can be easily accessed without getting in the way of frequently used ones.
Areas such as the back of cabinets and the area above high shelves should suffice, as long as they aren’t kept too close to the cabinet’s doors (this space should be reserved for frequently used items only).
Conclusion
The kitchen isn’t just a place where all the cooking happens. When applying kitchen cabinet design ideas for optimal storage it’s okay to let your creativity roam free to find the ideal organization pattern fit for yourself and your family members.
Custom cabinets can be made with just about any hardware to add a little more functionality and style that blends with your vision for your kitchen. For some beautiful custom cabinets, visit Choice Cabinet to have your mind blown.
