For most people, opening the pantry door isn’t a positive experience. It doesn’t seem to matter how many times you tidy things up, over time everything ends up in a jumbled mess again.
Realistically, the problem is that all the bits and pieces we buy are in different shaped and sized containers. Shelves tend to be large and capacious. Add those two facts together and you get lots of wasted space and chaos generally.
The solution? Containers. Now, if you have a prominent shelf or two on display in your kitchen, then it’s probably worth investing in some attractive canisters that match your decor and using them as a styling feature. Or if space requires you to have an open pantry, then a good set of uniform containers gives a neat and organised appearance.
But in the bowels of your pantry? Practicality is the key. Now, I’m not saying use any ugly old thing you can find because it’s cheap. Definitely not! There is, however, a need to consider how the containers work together to make the most efficient use of the space available.
Storage containers should be the right size to hold the ingredients, so you don’t waste space with lots of half full containers. It’s best if they’re either transparent or have a transparent panel, making it easy to see what’s inside. Labels are an even easier option.
Shape also matters. If you have tall shelves, then being able to stack containers is crucial. I love the trend to mason jars, they manage to look pretty without even trying, but they’re better for small shelves. Stack a few of them up, then find you need to get one from the bottom of the stack or the back of the shelf? Game on.
For maximum efficiency, go square or rectangular. There’s no wasted space between containers, and most will stack easily.
And if you’re thinking “ugh! Square, stackable, plastic containers – ugly!!” then don’t. There are lots of really well-designed container ranges available nowadays, so if you look around you will find some that manage to look good en masse.
Final tip – think about baskets (square, of course!). These are great for holding lots of unruly packages, while lining up in a neat row on a shelf.