Professional Organizer Shares Her Simple Tips for a More Organized Pantry
A row of canned soup gets pushed behind the pasta boxes. Granola bars spill out of an open cardboard carton near the door. Somebody buys another bottle of soy sauce because the first one disappeared into the back corner three weeks ago.
Most pantries start filling unevenly like that.
In a TikTok video, professional organizer @tidycademy emptied an entire pantry onto the counters and floor first before putting anything back. Snacks stayed together in one section. Baking supplies formed another pile nearby. Sauces, canned goods and breakfast foods each got sorted separately before the shelves were reset.
Expired food went straight into the trash while the shelves stayed empty.
Clear Containers and Matching Baskets Keep the Shelves Looking Cleaner
Once everything was sorted, the organizer measured each shelf before bringing in new storage pieces.
@tidycademypro Achieve your perfect pantry with just a few simple tips! 1. Categorize 2. Lazy Susan's 3. Matching Baskets 4. Optional food storage containers 5. Labels 6. Can Risers #pantryorganization#pantry#organize
夏とブランチ (Acoustic) - ruuka
Most pantries use only two or three basket styles, repeated across the shelves. The baskets fit neatly front to back, with no large gaps left between them.
Lower shelves hold larger baskets filled with chips, juice boxes, and bulk snack items. Drinks and kids' foods stay within easy reach near the bottom of the pantry.
Clear containers line the middle shelves holding pasta, cereal, and baking ingredients. Small labels sit across the front, and expiration dates are written underneath in marker.
Related: Tight on Space? Try These Reddit Kitchen Hacks to Make the Most of Every Inch
Lazy Susans Make Corner Shelves Easier to Use
The pantry corners use spinning Lazy Susans filled with spices, sauces, and jars.
Hot sauce bottles, peanut butter jars, and salad dressings stay turned outward instead of disappearing into the back of the shelf. Everything stays visible at once while cooking.
Canned goods sit on tiered risers near eye level with the labels facing forward in rows. From the front, every can stays visible without digging through stacked layers.
Related: DIY Stove Shelves Are Trending, and They're the Effortless Storage Boost Your Kitchen Needs
How the Pantry Organization Comes Together
The organizer starts by pulling everything out and sorting items into broad categories before buying containers or baskets.
Once the categories are clear, shelves are measured so the storage pieces fit the pantry properly, avoiding awkward empty spaces around the edges.
Dry goods get transferred into matching containers, while bulkier paper products and storage bags stay grouped together in larger baskets on the lower shelves.
The labels come last. Some are printed with a label maker, while others are ordered pre-made online, depending on the pantry's style.
Once everything goes back on the shelves, the pantry looks fuller and cleaner. Boxes sit upright. Spices stay visible. The counters stay clearer because groceries are easier to put away the first time.
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published May 31, 2026 at 8:00 AM.