Pantry Time!

I'm so excited, I finally got my pantry set up! My kitchen does not have a built in pantry, and not enough cabinetry to spare to create an in-kitchen pantry. However, our utility room has an empty closet that is just perfect to use as a pantry. We were concerned that the walls weren't thick enough to support installed shelving, so we opted for a free standing unit. For $90 at Lowes and a couple hours putting it together and organizing it, I think this baby does a pretty good job!

Before pic:



The photo above was taken before we moved in. I don't have any photos of how it looked after we moved in but before it was all organized. Just picture boxes of boxed goods, spices and all sorts of miscellaneous items sitting on the floor and outside the closet door. It was pathetic!!

After pics:




Although you can see the door, this first photo is of inside the closet. Here's how I have organized it:
Top shelf - alcohol and mixers
Second shelf - baking goods
Third shelf (actually a drawer) - pastas and rice
Fourth shelf - oils, cooking wines, vinegars
Bottom shelf - misc cooking items
Sides - There are hooks on either side. I use them to hold plastic bags (I keep these only to reuse for small carrying jobs - I really can't stand them though!), plus the reusable bags from Publix that I use when I do my weekly shopping.

Floor - you can't really see it but there's a small wine rack on the floor, and we also put bottled sodas on the floor, at least for now.





This is an over the door unit from Target that I already had. For now, I am using it for overflow items that won't fit or don't have a place on the shelves. It holds powdered drink mixes, large containers of rice, bread crumbs, nice dinner napkins (I use these for regular dinners at the dining room table) plastic plates and plastic eating utensils. My plan is to work on this a little more while I'm off work later this year, just to get things a little more tidy and "together".

You can see in the first photo that there is an electrical outlet. I would LOVE to have a small wine cooler in there, if I can arrange it so that it works spacewise.


Thanks for looking, and please feel free to comment if you have comments or suggestions. I love to hear other ideas!!