With a new school season ready to begin I thought it would be the perfect time to post a before and after of my client’s pantry.

The elements of an organized space were already there before we began. A built in pantry in the kitchen, plenty of shelving and more than enough containers.

So you are probably wondering what went wrong? My answer is LIFE.

She has three young children and even the most organized person needs a little bit of help every now and then.

To start the process:

We removed everything and yes I mean everything. It is really the most important step to an organized space.

Purged each container checking for expiration dates, and only put back what she needed.

Labeled each container before putting it back on the shelf so she would know what was in each one. Out of sight is truly out of mind when it comes to pantries.

Categorized items on the shelves and put the snacks on the bottom so the kids had easy access for an after school snack.

Getting your kitchen and pantry organized is the perfect back to school project for parents. It will make meal time easier and prevent overbuying which saves you money. 

Enjoy the start of a new school year!

BEFORE

AFTER

RECTANGULAR BASKETS

CABINET BINZ

One of the easiest places to start to get organized is the pantry. This client’s project took very little time with very big results.

The first step to any organizing process is to purge. Remove expired food and any item that you intended to use but never did. I won’t give examples on this because we all have those items.

Do not buy anything until the purging process is over and you see what you have left. Measure the shelving and only purchase what you need.

Group like things together. Clear containers allow for easy access to food items. Group kids snacks, baking supplies, pastas and all the ingredients for your morning protein shake. It not only looks organized but will make your life easier and more efficient. When you can see what you have you will not over buy which will save you money. Baskets work best on lower shelves for paper products and larger items.

I hope today’s before and after inspires you to tackle an organizing project in your home.