2.11.2013

Operation {Re}Organization: Pantry Makeover "After"

Hooray! The pantry is done!

After showing you the inspiration, and the before and "progress" photos, I finally had a chance to put everything back in its place this weekend and have some results to show you.

To jog your memory, here's what the cabinet portion of our pantry looked like before I got my organization-happy hands on it:

{cramming stuff into tight spaces became an art form here}

Here's what it looks like now:


And here's the other part of our pantry before, stuffed to the gills:


Now, all categorized and ordered:


Better Homes and Gardens may not be busting down my door to do a photo spread, but I'm really happy with how it turned out. The point of this project was not to create a dramatic reveal, but to make sure there was a place for everything, and everything in its place. To create a system that works for us. I think I achieved that. 

And, bonus(!), I spent a total of $0 on this project. 

Ready for some details? 

First, as you saw last week, I took everything out of the two spaces I wanted to organize. I threw out old or expired food, and took inventory of what we had. For example, it turns out I have four different kinds of rice and at least five varieties of pasta. Because they were stored in different areas of the kitchen, I had no idea, and over-bought at the grocery store. Not only does this mean I spent more money than I needed to, but this extra inventory takes up precious storage space unnecessarily!

Then I gathered the containers I wanted to use for items I wanted to take out of the original packaging. For me, it made the most sense to decant pasta, rice, crackers and extra Splenda packets into refillable containers. This makes it easy to see when I am running out of these staples, and I can make a mental note to either refill them from our extra inventory or buy more from the store. These containers now live on the top shelf of the kitchen cabinet:


I know we can all read the labels (more details in this post!), but I wanted to mention a few details about the containers. Since I tried to avoid spending moolah on this project, I used what I already had (thus, the mismatched containers). The rice on the left resides in three OXO Pop Up containers. Pasta is in the middle and lives in two glass containers. (They're so old I can't remember where they came from, but I've seen similar ones at The Container Store.) Crackers, extra Splenda packets, and oatmeal live on the right in three IKEA Pruta containers. Those Pruta containers cost $5 for a set of 17 - just in case you're looking for a low-cost set of containers. They're not the most durable, or the prettiest to look at, but man, they're super functional.

The contents of the other shelves are self-explanatory, but I did want to mention one thing about corralling smaller items. 

Allow me to demonstrate using the bottom shelf of the cabinet. See the two asterisks at the bottom?


In order to keep track of smaller snacky items, I used a small clear container (left asterisk) and a shoebox (right asterisk) to corral things like fruit snacks, popcorn, dried cranberries and trail mix. The clear container works well for fruit snacks because I never knew how many we had left when they lived in their original packaging. This shoebox was perfect because it didn't take up a lot of room, but keeps small snack items all in one place. It's easy to pull out the box and grab the dried cranberries now, for instance, whereas before, I always had to dig around and pull out other things to get to them.

Ok, time to change locations to the other food storage area. Here it is again so you don't have to scroll back up to see:


This space houses all of our extra inventory, paper products, and my baking basket. Now if we're out of something, I can simply and quickly look here to see if we have what I need, or if I need to replenish at the store. When I'm ready to bake, I just take the whole basket out of here to put on the counter for easy access. The basket is an ancient letter tray that was my grandparents', by the way. 

I'm so glad to be finished with this project. It may not look quite like the inspiration photos I showed you last week ;), but it's totally practical. Sometimes I think we, as bloggers (yes, I'm making a gross generalization - please don't get mad at me), feel like we have to have this jaw-dropping, dramatic, and perfectly-styled before and after - or it's not worth showing our readers. This reorganization project goes to show that although that's nice (and heck, I thoroughly enjoy those kind of reveals!), it's really about doing something that works for you and your family. If it's pretty but not functional, what's the point? If it's functional and pretty - yay! That's the best combination. For this project, the labels I added are my little bit of "pretty" for this project. I'll be sure to give more details on those tomorrow.  (*Update: follow this link for label details!)

So, with "keeping it real" in mind, here's a final set of before and after shots, because I know we all love those. :)

Kitchen cabinet...

 ...And "extra inventory" cabinet...


Have a great Monday, y'all!
--------

This post is a part of the series "Operation {Re}Organization." To see other posts in the series, click the tab at the top of the page.

Pin It!

51 comments:

  1. looks great! glad to know you eat teddy grahams too...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha! Yep, those chocolate ones are gooood. And I love fruit snacks...how old am I? 5? Glad to hear from you today :)!

      Delete
  2. Looks great! I am so impressed you did this for $0.00! Maybe I will try my pantry next weekend...scary...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Elizabeth! The hardest part about these projects is just getting started. After that, it's actually kind of fun. (And then you can give yourself a big pat on the back for making it happen!)

      Delete
  3. Found you through the iheartorganizing linky party. Your organization looks fantastic! Good for you for keeping it to $0 dollars! I'm a big fan of free! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for coming over! I love Jen's link up parties :). I'm a big fan of free too!

      Delete
  4. Algunas tiendas de Internet que venden bolsos michael kors baratos tienen los estilos más novedosos y más recientes que Coach tiene para ofrecer. bolsos michael kors baratos son los líderes en su mercado y lo han sido desde hace algún tiempo. Dado que bolsas michael kors outlet es tan alcanzable debido a sus precios más bajos, se ha convertido en el Bolsos Michael Kors Baratos más popular hasta la fecha.(Fuente de:Michaelkors.es)

    Om du letar efter Michael Kors Väska Rea och vill betala ett visst pris, är det bästa sättet att gå till det via auktionswebbplatser. Skulle du bara ge upp att äga en autentisk Michael Kors Väska helt och hållet eftersom du vet att din budget inte tillåter det? Eller skulle du söka på Internet för den Väskor Michael Kors Rea i hopp om att du hittar det för några dollar mindre? Om din dröm är att äga michael kors väska rea, gör dina drömmar giltiga genom att gå online och hitta den michael kors plånbok som du vill ha.(Källa från:michaelkorsvaskas.com)

    La première étape pour obtenir Longchamp Soldes Destockage à prix réduit consiste à aller en ligne. La deuxième étape consisterait à rechercher des sites proposant des Longchamp Soldes dans votre budget d'achat. Je connais un endroit formidable qui propose des chaussures, des accessoires et des mercedes longchamp pour non seulement quelques dollars de moins que le commerce de détail, mais des centaines de moins. La bonne solution serait de chercher ailleurs ce sac longchamp solde en particulier et bien d’autres jusqu’à ce que vous l’obteniez et de ne jamais abandonner vos rêves.(Source à partir de:saclongchampspascher.com)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Over the years there have been many different Michael Kors Outlet Store launched with some being more successful than others. Even the Michael Kors Outlet that did not reach the dizzying heights of success as some of Michael Kors's best sellers were still very, very well made leather handbags. One such Michael Kors Outlet Store Online that became a fashion icon was the Michael Kors Wristlet Sale.
    If you want to get more information,click here!
    Ray Ban Sale Uk
    Ray Ban Sunglasses Sale Uk
    Cheap Ray Bans
    Oakley Sunglasses UK
    Oakley Sunglasses Sale
    Oakley Sunglasses Sale

    ReplyDelete
  6. Get the advantage of unique Custom Packaging for your business that’s best for your brand and company. You can create the specific display, shipping and storing process for the success of your name and trademark. So avail the perfect chance to stand out in your business line and present your products effectively in the market.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Nice products. iCustomBoxes provides custom packaging solution in all sizes.Their excel size of packaging products can contain a large number products so the house or your shelf could be presentable
    Custom Boxes
    Lip Gloss Packaging Boxes
    bath bomb packaging
    French Fries boxes
    Noodles Boxes

    ReplyDelete
  8. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi. I am victoria I read your blog its really informative. I like to read your more blogs. Thanks for sharing this blog.
    cardboard Sleeve Boxes

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thankx for sharing this article. Its really informative article. I really enjoy your site I am waiting for new article.
    For More Information

    ReplyDelete
  11. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  12. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I do not know how you are afforadable gift card boxes new jersey. The reason is that the buyers have several options and many websites show a list of templates for this purpose. Thanks for sharing such a wonderful piece of information. The above information is directly relevant to Bottle boxes with dividers that will help the buyers learn more about packaging options.

    by:custom packaging company USA

    ReplyDelete
  14. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I have read your article; it is very instructive and valuable to me. I admire the valuable information you offer in your articles. Thanks for posting it.
    cosmetic boxes

    ReplyDelete
  16. Such a really amazing blog and i really like the way you present you own thought. Please tell me what kind of material we use to create kitchen cabinet boxes.?

    ReplyDelete
  17. Nice and very helpful article, Thanks for sharing. Read my blog CBD Lip Balm Boxes.

    ReplyDelete
  18. It is a very informative blog I really appreciate this great information. Visit my blog CBD Cegarette Boxes

    ReplyDelete
  19. Such a nice post I like it very much thanks for sharing the information keep up the good work.
    Branding CD Jackets
    best Sleeve Boxes
    Bottle Nickers

    ReplyDelete
  20. free social media score| social media score| social media score checker| check your social media score | data breach | data breach meaning | data breach reporting | personal data breach | data breach uk | data breach check | 1.2 billion data breach

    ReplyDelete
  21. Cardboard can be deformed in different shapes it is easy to mold. And is an ecofriendly material and is easily disposable. Other than this the Kraft and corrugated material can also be used to keep food. These food packaging custom material can be according to the customer`s choice. cardboard box for food

    ReplyDelete
  22. Your content was awesome. You wrote very well. keep it up we are always here to support you.
    Ignitto is a good place to start. If you're about to make an online purchase, we take the best products in tens of thousands of categories to provide you with reliable purchasing advice. We review various sorts of products, including
    Best laptops Under 700
    Best laptop Desks 2021
    Best Gaming Tablets Review
    Best Alexa Compatible Devices in 2021

    ReplyDelete
  23. Very interesting. The more I read the more I think there is so much I haven't explored till now. This blog would be helpful for newbies, keep posting. I appreciate your efforts.visit here custom bottle boxes

    ReplyDelete
  24. It is very informative post thanks for sharing the information.
    affordable Presentation Boxes
    best Product Boxes

    ReplyDelete
  25. I'm very glad to visit your informational Post. I appreciate good writing. This is the best way to announce your Views to the world.
    Custom Mailer Boxes

    ReplyDelete
  26. Travel with Blizin to Enjoy the Beauty Of Nature Of Pakistan.
    Hotels in Lahore

    ReplyDelete
  27. I read your blog it's a really good material for readers. I was always checking sites for getting some interesting knowledge. And I have must say that you did a great job. check it out

    ReplyDelete
  28. Click here is a free tool that enables you to download and save ANY reddit video using an easy to use online web interface.

    ReplyDelete
  29. We are one of the leading best car tracker in Pakistan. No matter if it is day or night, you can rest assured because of our 24/7 availability.

    ReplyDelete
  30. You did a fantastic job by posting this article it is very interesting. Keep posting. Check my article Types of Cardboard Boxes For Your Business Packaging

    ReplyDelete
  31. This material is informational without being boring and intimidating. Xperts Packaging provide any kind of customization in all products.

    ReplyDelete
  32. custom packaging boxesOur custom packaging boxes are the perfect solution for all your retail and e-commerce needs. We specialize in creating custom packing boxes to meet your specific needs. From a single to a large bulk order, we can help you with your custom box projects

    ReplyDelete
  33. replica bags vuitton replica hermes p0u79i7r09 replica bags philippines greenhills my response j5y39c1k97 replica bags online replica bags in dubai replica bags manila additional info r5u96k6u20 replica bags philippines

    ReplyDelete
  34. it is so informative keep posting interesting posts
    rent a car in rawalpindi

    ReplyDelete

If you enjoyed this post, have a question, or just want to say hey, please leave a comment! I read each comment and love to respond (usually by email), so check your inbox if you don't see a response below!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
Blogging tips