How Best To Set Up A Pantry?

[+ Gar1eth]

I recently bought a storage cabinet to serve as a pantry. It has 4 adjustable shelves. I'm attaching some pictures of it. I need to arrange my canned goods, spices, box mixes, cereals, and some bottles of condiments. 
 

I'm sure a lot of y'all out there in Forum Land are great at arranging pantries. I'd appreciate some help and advice. 
 

[+ Lucky]

Check out the review section here on Pantry Arrangement. You'll find a lot of good ideas.

[+ Gar1eth]

1 hour ago, Lucky said:

Check out the review section here on Pantry Arrangement. You'll find a lot of good ideas.

What Review Section on Pantry Arrangement? 🧐🧐🧐

[CuriousByNature]

Heavy things on the bottom, lighter on the top.  One shelf for baking supplies.  

[+ Gar1eth]

3 hours ago, CuriousByNature said:

Heavy things on the bottom, lighter on the top.  One shelf for baking supplies.  

I appreciate the input. But I probably I need more specifics in how to arrange between canned vegetables, sauces/broths, condiments, and box mixes of various types. The last time I had a really useful 'pantry'  was years ago. It was actually two side by side 4 tier shelving  units.  
 

They had so much space to put things on. Plus everything was easily visible. So it wasn't hard to decide where to put things. With the narrower space of the storage cabinet, I'm having trouble deciding how to arrange things so I can find what I need when I need it. 

[+ poolboy48220]

My house came with a built-in pantry by the steps down from the kitchen to the back door. For what it's worth, my pantry is arranged as:

• top shelf, junk food and breakfast cereal.  There's a small half-depth shelf which is perfectly sized for cereal boxes.
• 2nd shelf, pasta and sauces and condiments (ALWAYS have a backup mayonnaise), soup / chili / tuna 
• 3rd shelf, baking supplies
• bottom shelf, backup foil/wrap/etc, large canisters for sugar & flour, and cookbooks.
• Spices are in a cabinet in the kitchen proper, including a lazy susan for about half of them.

it's worked for me for 25+ years. With varying degrees of compliance with the arrangement (particularly after big grocery runs). I love the racks like @Gar1eth posted, I just recently scored a tall skinny rack of that style (technically a wine rack, so the shelves have rounded impressions for bottles) that I'm still figuring out what other than wine to store there.

[+ Gar1eth]

6 hours ago, poolboy48220 said:

My house came with a built-in pantry by the steps down from the kitchen to the back door. For what it's worth, my pantry is arranged as:

• top shelf, junk food and breakfast cereal.  There's a small half-depth shelf which is perfectly sized for cereal boxes.
• 2nd shelf, pasta and sauces and condiments (ALWAYS have a backup mayonnaise), soup / chili / tuna 
• 3rd shelf, baking supplies
• bottom shelf, backup foil/wrap/etc, large canisters for sugar & flour, and cookbooks.
• Spices are in a cabinet in the kitchen proper, including a lazy susan for about half of them.

it's worked for me for 25+ years. With varying degrees of compliance with the arrangement (particularly after big grocery runs). I love the racks like @Gar1eth posted, I just recently scored a tall skinny rack of that style (technically a wine rack, so the shelves have rounded impressions for bottles) that I'm still figuring out what other than wine to store there.

This is great. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. This gives me a starting point. I really appreciate it.
 

One question-do the canned veggies go on the second shelf with the sauces? Or possibly you aren't a canned veggie fan?

[jeezifonly]

Big things identified from any angle on bottom. 

Then divide by 'grocery aisle' or 'meal prep' and ease of access factored in for stuff used daily. 

Stuff that needs to be read (because jars/cans look alike) closer to eye level. 

You may need a couple stabs at organization so stay flexible as you discover better configurations. 

[+ poolboy48220]

16 hours ago, Gar1eth said:

One question-do the canned veggies go on the second shelf with the sauces? Or possibly you aren't a canned veggie fan?

wow, it makes me sound like a diva, but no, I don't do canned veggies very much. Occasionally canned fruit if a recipe calls for it (a can of crushed pineapple for my carrot cake recipe, for example). So they often get used immediately and don't make it into the pantry. All that long-windedness aside, I'd say second shelf. And like @jeezifonly says, being flexible about the organization, letting it evolve as you find what works for you, is best. It took me a while to realize that half-shelf fit cereal boxes permanently. 

[+ Lucky]

@Gar1eth...will you be posting pictures of the finished pantry?

[marylander1940]

On 1/24/2026 at 12:40 AM, Gar1eth said:

I appreciate the input. But I probably I need more specifics in how to arrange between canned vegetables, sauces/broths, condiments, and box mixes of various types. The last time I had a really useful 'pantry'  was years ago. It was actually two side by side 4 tier shelving  units.  
 

They had so much space to put things on. Plus everything was easily visible. So it wasn't hard to decide where to put things. With the narrower space of the storage cabinet, I'm having trouble deciding how to arrange things so I can find what I need when I need it. 

It's not rocket science, just place things as you wish and make changes later if needed.

[+ Gar1eth]

1 hour ago, Lucky said:

@Gar1eth...will you be posting pictures of the finished pantry?

I hadn't thought about it. If I ever get it looking decent, I might.