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Ideas? Open shelf pantry storage for small food items: stumped!

linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago)

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

Half my laundry room (adjacent to kitchen) is made over to a walk-in pantry. Open shelves. Space is pretty tight. On one side are wood shelves installed on wall tracks. That works fine. The heavy stuff like cans and bottles are there.

On another side is a 5 foot high plastic shelving unit which is set against a disused outer door that has a window in it (the only daytime natural light source). Shelves are too far apart on that (like 14”), but what I have to work with; it’s shallow, which is what I need; and I don’t want to use one of the industrial type metal wire units, which are too deep for the space. I have boxed or bagged things there.

I just went through it to discard old food, and realized in the process that a lot of what I have been doing is not working.

I had been using stacking bins (like this) type (but smaller)….

https://www.amazon.com/United-Solutions-SB0006-White-Plastic-Organize-Ideal/dp/B0064WWUSS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1483308114&sr=8-2&keywords=stackable+kitchen+bins

…for small items like loose granola bars,
packages of seasoning mixes,
loose micro popcorn packets,
boxes of jello or pudding, s
tray coffee packets from hotels,
bagged brownie mix, etc.

But that just meant stuff got lost or buried. I had a shallow drawer unit before, but the drawers stayed closed and stuff forgotten.

The bins work fine for small bags of pasta, chocolate chips, but that’s about it.

So I would appreciate suggestions for how other people store these. I know you can buy little acrylic boxes for sauce mixes, but I have all different sizes. Odds are I have something around I can re-purpose, but just have not thought of it yet.

Also, any ideas for how to space things on shelves with too much space in between?

Thanks.

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Comments (3)

designsaavy
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
If you have a picture you can post of the area, we might be able to help you much better.

But, if you are just wanting ideas for containing small packages on your current shelves or on the wall, here are a few ideas I found just by searching the internet. Also, Pinterest can give you some great ideas.

Expandable shelves:

Magazine holder used for cans.

A label maker would help you identify things quicker.

If you have a large basket for the floor, you could put small items in gallon size plastic bags and then write what's inside on each bag with a marker.

Likewise, if you have space for a clothes hanging wire you could attach the plastic bags up out of the way to the wire with clips or clothes pins.
herbflavor
7 years ago
18 in spacing between shelves: store seldom used large stock pot...basket with papertowels...napkins..foils..wraps purchased when on sale. Do you have summer items like plastic cups/plastic plates//trays/some place mats/etc.....we seem to have a lot of "summer grilling" stuff-tools/grill accessories...that can be placed into totes/baskets on these shelves. I stack backup supply of kitchen towels into baskets.Remember you need hand /arm maneuvering so you don't want to go too high with item or basket. Blender sits there as I don't use it too often. Mr coffee gets set there when I'm doing other kinds of coffee-pour over/etc. There are some glad food storage plastic containers that stack and when stocking up on certain things like basmati rice/pasta/oatmeal packets they go in those containers-I like that they seal well and stack. Do you have some large casserole or other odd things like old muffin tins/ cookie press...things seldom used that could go into baskets. You can place detergents/ toilet paper purchased in bulk.....get a tote and put wraps/ribbons/tissue paper on a lower shelf. I have a basket for dedicated clean rags of better quality from old tshirts when I want to do polishing/really cleaning up more delicate surfaces......how about spare vases?? shoe boxes with lids on will stack and use up your 18 in of height -label them with extension cords/light bulbs /timer/spare pens/pencils/shoelaces/desk things--labels/note cards/etc.
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bemocked
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
You indicted you "don't want to use" the industrial/chrome wire units, because they are too deep for the space, but you can get them in almost any dimensions you choose, down to 6 or 8" deep, and up to 48" (or more) wide? With casters attached to the bottom, so you could easily roll the shelves to the side if you ever needed to open the "disused" exterior door you are blocking, seems like chrome wire shelves could work really well here... you can get virtually any vertical shelf spacing you desire, and they are stong enough to handle any weight...

Shelving Store: 8" deep chrome wire shelving

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