The Most Frugal Way to Organize a Pantry (+ Free Printable)
Tips for organizing a pantry using dollar store containers, recycled boxes, and repurposed baskets and bins, plus a free pantry inventory checklist to make grocery shopping easier.
Cheers to accomplishing New Year’s resolutions in the first week of January! Huzzah!
We won’t harp on the fact that the rest of my house is an utter trainwreck right now. But, hey, the pantry is organized, so the rest of this place doesn’t even matter.
I thought this would be a fast process, and I would have this thing done by last night. Ha! I wish. But our pantry is finally in order, and I gotta say, I love how cheap it was almost as much as I love the final look. Whatever you do, do not spend $500 on food storage containers because I found three much cheaper options.
Okay, y’all, can we stop for a second and appreciate how far this space has come? Excuse me while I cringe in shame.
It physically pains me that I’m even showing you these before shots right now. Having a toddler who explores all of the shelves in her reach, being on-the-go most days, and having those obnoxious builder grade wire shelves that make every box of food fall over was a disastrous combination.
I couldn’t even think anymore. And I’ve noticed that my mood changes along with the clutter in our house. If we have hit a disorganized state, I’m stressed out to the max.
So I emptied that entire pantry, and said goodbye to my countertops for the day. My entire kitchen was covered in food containers.
I honestly had wanted to organize our pantry for a long time, but the price of my “vision” was pretty steep. After doing my homework and finding that even the cheapest pantry storage options in Walmart were at least $5 per container, I resolved to finding something more budget-friendly.
(Yes, y’all. I’m cheaper than Walmart. Hey, I take it as a compliment.)
So here ya go- 3 cheap pantry storage options:
1. Wrap cardboard boxes in pretty paper or fabric with labels. I collected diaper boxes for a few months with this plan in mind, and they work perfectly! The only cost was the $8 roll of paper I used. You can see my DIY pantry crates from yesterday’s post.
They look pretty snazzy for only $8 for 10 big pantry boxes.
2. Use Dollar Store Containers. So those handy clear containers there…did not cost me $5-$10 a pop. I found them at the dollar store! (Dollar Tree to be exact if you live in the U.S.)
I bought 8 tubs and 10 containers with pourable spouts. I cut out labels with black cardstock I had lying around, labeled them with a white chalk marker, and taped them on. I could have gotten fancy with printed labels, but I kept it simple.
I’m not totally sure these are air tight, but they are doing awesome so far. And they’re much more air tight than the store containers all of the food was in before anyway.
3. Shop your home for baskets and bins. I sort of have a basket addiction. They come in handy a lot around our house, so when I needed a little more food storage, I put a couple of baskets from our living room to good use. They were only holding clutter anyway, which forced me to organize that little bit too. Win win!
While searching our house for other baskets, I found a couple of wire ones to hold my cook books and Lola’s pet supplies too. And I repurposed a galvanized bucket sitting on a bookshelf that served a better purpose as a potato bin.
I keep walking by the pantry and find myself just staring at it in awe. How many people can say that, right? Actually, don’t answer that. I’m probably just weird.
I happened to already have those glass containers from earlier last year when I first attempted the pantry organization process and sort of lost my steam. They’re great in here too though. I bought them at Walmart last summer.
I resolved to create a pantry inventory list to hang on the wall in here too. I usually have a running list in my head of things I need to buy when we run out, but I never fail to forget at least one item every week.
I’m hoping this solves that dilemma.
And maybe I won’t have to spend as much time writing out my grocery shopping list each week.
You can print the pantry inventory list for yourself here:
In the end, here’s how much our entire pantry makeover cost: (Affiliate links are provided below. For more information, see my full disclosure here.)
Do you have any frugal organizing tips for the pantry? Or even other parts of the house? Or at least strategies to keep a toddler from rearranging shelves? There might not be any hope for that one. Good thing she’s cute. 😉
Ok, I’ve gotta find some diaper boxes for those pantry boxes! So nice! Also, is it possible to fall in love with a pantry? Because I believe I just did! I have a giant pantry, too, but everything is just thrown on a shelf randomly (I keep using the excuse that I moved a month ago, so it is ok. Lol)
Ah darn! I don’t. I ripped the label off when I put them in the pantry. They’re the clear plastic soda can dispensers where the food storage containers are.
I absolutely love what you did! My mama was the queen of projects that hardly cost anything, yet looked fantastic. She used to do something similar with large boxes. I was always amazed at what she could do with limited funds. Your pantry looks fantastic!!
Necessity is the mother of invention, right? 🙂 It’s always interesting what you can do when you’re very limited on resources. Your mama must have been ahead of her time before Pinterest started inspiring us to “up cycle” everything. 🙂
I found my paper at Hobby Lobby. If you click the link for the diaper box tutorial in this post, I provided a link to the paper where you can buy it from Amazon. Hope that helps! 🙂
Absolutely BRILLIANT! I’ve definitely got some major pantry envy! Thank you SO much for sharing at the Frugal Crafty Home Blog Hop Lauren! Happy Friday girl!
Oh how I wish I had a pantry to do this too! I’ve always loved the idea of covering cardboard boxes with fabric or pretty paper! Your pantry is so pretty and organized!! Pinned!
Wow Lauren, your pantry is amazing! It’s so organized and pretty. Happy to feature your pantry and DIY crates at our party this morning. Always happy to have you share with us!
The minute I have a place that will allow for a pantry I am coming back to this post 🙂 I am always up for a frugal organization project! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Wow! Thanks so much for the dollar store tips. Next time I am near one (we live in the middle of no where-ville) I am going to look for those. I really need to organize my pantry but the cost for the containers was overwhelming. I am pinning so I can remember!
Love, love, love your organized pantry!! Makes me wish I had a pantry….. We are military – maybe in the next house! I love the look you achieved, especially with the diaper boxes and by “shopping your house”. Great ideas – thanks for sharing! Blessings, Lanita
I went to battle for our floor plan just so I could have this pantry. Hope you get lucky one day to have one too. And thank you so much for your service and sacrifice!
Looks Great!! I have an idea for my diaper boxes, but may have to snag some from that project to use in our pantry! I’d walk by and stare in awe, too. Good work!
Amazing! I am so jealous I don’t have a pantry to clutter up then declutter! So much gratification. You did a great job!! Thanks for sharing at Think & Make Thursday!
Wow, what a makeover! Who would have thought cheap storage containers and diaper boxes could look so good? You are really making me wish I had a pantry right now 🙂 Love it!
Ok, I’ve gotta find some diaper boxes for those pantry boxes! So nice!
Also, is it possible to fall in love with a pantry? Because I believe I just did!
I have a giant pantry, too, but everything is just thrown on a shelf randomly (I keep using the excuse that I moved a month ago, so it is ok. Lol)
I’d love it if you’d join me at Talented Tuesday! http://www.myownhomeblog.com/talented-tuesday-link-party-12/
Looks totally amazing Lauren!! I think you might have just motivated me to get started on our pantry!
Kendra @ http://www.joyinourhome.com
Woohoo! Get on it girl! It made me feel 100% better.
Hi,
I have searched Wal Mart site for the can dispenser. Do you have a brand name?
Thanks
Ah darn! I don’t. I ripped the label off when I put them in the pantry. They’re the clear plastic soda can dispensers where the food storage containers are.
I absolutely love what you did! My mama was the queen of projects that hardly cost anything, yet looked fantastic. She used to do something similar with large boxes. I was always amazed at what she could do with limited funds. Your pantry looks fantastic!!
Necessity is the mother of invention, right? 🙂 It’s always interesting what you can do when you’re very limited on resources. Your mama must have been ahead of her time before Pinterest started inspiring us to “up cycle” everything. 🙂
Collecting boxes as mine are no longer in diapers… Where can I find the wood-look paper?
I found my paper at Hobby Lobby. If you click the link for the diaper box tutorial in this post, I provided a link to the paper where you can buy it from Amazon. Hope that helps! 🙂
Absolutely BRILLIANT! I’ve definitely got some major pantry envy! Thank you SO much for sharing at the Frugal Crafty Home Blog Hop Lauren! Happy Friday girl!
You’re so sweet, Kristi! Thanks!
Those diaper boxes are genius! Such a gorgeous pantry!
Thank you, Jessica!
So awesome how inexpensivley you redid that pantry! It looks great too! Sharing on FB! Thanks for linking it up at Monday Funday!
Yay! Thank you for the share, Katie! And thanks for hosting
Oh how I wish I had a pantry to do this too! I’ve always loved the idea of covering cardboard boxes with fabric or pretty paper! Your pantry is so pretty and organized!! Pinned!
Thank you, Selene!
Wow Lauren, your pantry is amazing! It’s so organized and pretty. Happy to feature your pantry and DIY crates at our party this morning. Always happy to have you share with us!
Thank you, Sharon!!! You’re the best. 🙂
The minute I have a place that will allow for a pantry I am coming back to this post 🙂 I am always up for a frugal organization project! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Yay! Hope it comes in handy one day. 🙂
I’ve been planning on making the switch to an open pantry, I really enjoyed seeing how you organized yours. I’ll have to check out my Dollar Tree 🙂
Thanks Angela! I always forget about the dollar store but when I do go, I find the coolest stuff. Can’t imagine why I don’t go more often.
I just love cleaning out my pantry every few months… but, oh… what I’d do for a pantry that size!!!!
I went to bat for our floor plan just so I could have this pantry. 🙂 It was worth it.
Wow! Thanks so much for the dollar store tips. Next time I am near one (we live in the middle of no where-ville) I am going to look for those. I really need to organize my pantry but the cost for the containers was overwhelming. I am pinning so I can remember!
Haha Definitely snag some when you venture to non-nowhereville. 🙂 I am always amazed at the dollar store. Thanks for the pin!
Love, love, love your organized pantry!! Makes me wish I had a pantry….. We are military – maybe in the next house! I love the look you achieved, especially with the diaper boxes and by “shopping your house”. Great ideas – thanks for sharing!
Blessings,
Lanita
I went to battle for our floor plan just so I could have this pantry. Hope you get lucky one day to have one too. And thank you so much for your service and sacrifice!
Love this! Great ideas and a gorgeous printable!
Thanks, Jennifer!
Looks Great!! I have an idea for my diaper boxes, but may have to snag some from that project to use in our pantry! I’d walk by and stare in awe, too. Good work!
Thanks, Jamie! If anything, snag some from a friend or local daycare. 🙂
Amazing! I am so jealous I don’t have a pantry to clutter up then declutter! So much gratification. You did a great job!! Thanks for sharing at Think & Make Thursday!
Leigh Anne
Houseologie.com
I’m positive it’ll get cluttered again but I can wish. Haha Thanks for the love!
I absolutely love this! You’re so right about storage containers being so expensive. These are some amazing solutions.
Thanks, Rebekah! So glad I could give some good alternatives. 🙂
Wow, what a makeover! Who would have thought cheap storage containers and diaper boxes could look so good? You are really making me wish I had a pantry right now 🙂 Love it!
Aww if it makes you feel any better, I guarantee it won’t stay this neat for long. Haha