A well-organized pantry is the cornerstone of the perfect kitchen, but not all storage is created equal. There are some types of storage you should never use in a pantry to keep your space tidy, accessible, and efficient.
While many of these organizers might seem like a good idea at first, there are seven items our home organizing pros have identified can make your life 10 times harder. From flimsy containers to the wrong baskets that will quickly lead to clutter and wasted space, our pros share what to steer clear of and what to use instead.
Keep your pantry organization both aesthetic and functional with these great expert-approved tips.
Storage you should never use in a pantry
Picking out the right pantry storage ideas might feel like it comes down to trial and error. Luckily, these professional organizers have done the hard work for us and identify what specifically to avoid at all costs.
1. Wicker baskets
Beautiful woven and wicker storage baskets are a key part of home organizing, but they have no place in a pantry Tina Priestley, professional home organizer and founder of Read. Set. Refresh. begins.
She says, ‘Wicker baskets can be tough to clean because crumbs from things like chips, cookies, and crackers can get stuck between the weaves. A better option is to use OXO Good Grips Airtight Containers, available at Amazon, which are great for keeping dry foods like pasta, cereal, and rice fresh and easy to store without trapping messes.’
2. Storage that is more decorative than practical
There is no harm in gearing your home storage ideas towards aesthetic organizing tricks, however, in a practical space like a pantry, it's best to gravitate toward functionality over appearance.
Laura Price, founder and creative director at The Home Organisation says, ‘There’s nothing wrong with incorporating beautiful and decorative storage products throughout your home, especially when they help keep clutter at bay. However, in a pantry, it’s crucial to prioritize practicality and ease of cleaning. Opt for containers that are designed for functionality. Look for stackable bins, airtight jars, and easy-to-wipe surfaces that can withstand spills and messes.’
Prices accurate at time of publication.
Stackable bins are a great investment for a pantry . These ones with lids help to keep mess contained to make cleaning a pantry quick and easy.
Divided containers are great for portioning out snacks and keeping items neat to stop them from toppling over when stocking a pantry or organizing a fridge.
Shelf risers are a great way to make a little extra space in a pantry and keep tins and jars visible on deep shelves. Plastic versions are easy to clean to keep your pantry neat.
3. Opaque containers
One of the most common pantry organizers professionals always buy are acrylic containers. However, they will always gravitate towards transparent containers that display the contents, never opaque containers that hide mess – and for good reason.
Tina Priestley, professional home organizer, says, ‘If you can’t see what’s inside, you’ll forget what you have, leading to wasted food. For clear visibility, the Rubbermaid Brilliance Storage Set, at Amazon is great for storing grains, beans, or dried fruit while making it easy to see when you’re running low.’
4. Containers that don’t use all the space
No matter if you are organizing a narrow pantry or walk-in pantry ideas, avoid picking storage that wastes space. It's commonly said that the amount of stuff we keep expands to fill the space we have, so even the biggest of pantries will need good storage optimization to avoid wasted storage or a temptation to keep clutter.
Laura Price, professional organizer, suggests, ‘To maximize space in your pantry, it's essential to select storage solutions that make the most of each area. Start by measuring the dimensions of each shelf, then choose storage containers that fit snugly to eliminate any wasted space. This ensures every inch of your pantry is utilized effectively, keeping it organized and functional.’
A common cause of wasted space in a pantry is containers with sloped sides. This not only limits how much you can store inside them but reduces how many you can slot onto a shelf beside each other. It is a much better idea to pick containers with straight sides instead.
The wide open design and integrated handles ensure effortless access and portability. Perfect for organizing packaged goods, pantry staples, produce, kitchen towels, and linens, these bins are a must-have for any organized home.
5. Low-quality containers
Picking up low-quality containers is a common kitchen storage mistake that makes your pantry harder to manage on a day-to-day basis, Laura Price, professional organizer, points out.
‘When organizing your pantry, it’s crucial to choose sturdy, durable containers. Low-quality containers can easily break or leak, leading to spills and messes that undermine your efforts to keep things tidy.’
Leaks and cracks in sub-par containers can also lead to pantry pests and scupper steps you have taken to pest-proof your pantry.
6. Wire baskets
Wire baskets usually seem to be a good option for organizing a kitchen as they allow fresh food items and products to breathe. However, Alysha Fenn, founder and CEO of Making Space Today, suggests being selective and never using wire baskets with large holes to organize a pantry.
She says, ‘Avoid largely ventilated wire baskets or baskets with an uneven surface for boxed food items, canned goods, bottles, etc as bottles and boxes can easily tip, leading to spills and messy baskets. We recommend using acrylic bins instead.’
If you still want a ventilated basket for your produce, I like to use a very fine mesh basket such as this one form Walmart. The mesh is small enough that nothing wobbles around or falls through, but still allows onions and potatoes breathe to keep them fresher for longer.
7. Fixed spice racks
The art of organizing spices has a bit of a cult following. There seems to be nothing more satisfying than seeing a video on social media of a perfectly organized, uniform spice drawer with every custom container filled to the brim. In real life, however, this usually makes your pantry significantly less functional.
Tina Priestley, professional home organizer, explains, ‘Spice racks often run out of room quickly and can be hard to organize. Store spices like oregano, paprika, or cinnamon in stackable containers such as the ComSaf Bamboo Airtight Spice Containers, at Amazon, for better organization and easy access.’
Choosing the right pantry storage solutions makes all the difference in maintaining an organized and beautiful kitchen. Avoiding purely aesthetic pantry trends and instead opting for storage that fits your cooking routine is the best low-effort kitchen organizing technique that will keep your kitchen working as hard as you do.
