Dish Pantry Organization

GOAL: Create a usable, clutter-free dish and china pantry

TIME: 3 Hours  COST: Labor Only

BEFORE
Open the door and there was hardly any room to walk.

 

This dish / china pantry had become a storage closet.

  

Some items were tossed in out of convenience. 

Many things had been forgotten.

A bookcase for cook books had become a drop spot for odds and ends.

Books were double stacked.  Over half the books were not cooking related and 

were moved to another area in the home.

 

Holiday items and  knick-knacks cluttered the shelves. 

 

Three table tops (6x5) of items were removed.  A third removed was designated for either donation or recycling.The rest went to other parts of the home where it belonged.  Surprisingly, nearly a third was holiday related and went into a storage room where it had not been returned after use.

AFTER

  

Everything has been grouped together. 

Seldom used items are on the top shelves.

Picnic coolers, over sized tupperware, and paper goods are on the floor level. 

Next are appliances and then cleaning goods over the paper goods, all nearest the door.

An "odds" shelf accommodates those single bits and storage jars (second shelf on right).

On the back wall, several sets of dishes are grouped together.  These are not everyday dishes, which are in the main kitchen area. Above the dish sets are glass sets. (Again, not the everyday glasses.)

The wall to the right has shelves organized according to purpose. Mixing bowls are together. Casserole dishes share a shelf. Punch sets and stock pots take up the top two shelves.

 

At last a place to walk.

 

The book case has room for more cook books.

 
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Below, a small corner beside the book shelf.  Behind the foot stool, a metal waste can has grill utensils inside.  Originally double hung with the frying pans, there wasn't enough room for both.

In the middle, the book case top is clear and the cookbooks are organized along side recipe boxes. 

At right, items hung on the walls stayed in place.

  

 

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Single nails aren't necessarily the prettiest but are the the most functional sometimes, such as those used for the fly swatters. These remained unchanged.  

2. Other things such as the mops and brooms need more than a nail. I suggested that the homeowner reconsider the quantity of mops, etc. and then secure these in a better arrangement behind the door with anchored screws or hooks.

3. Remember to return items where they belong after they are used.  Do it right the first time and you won't have to do it again a second or third time.

4. Group dish sets together.  You are more like to use them for special occasions if they are easy to find and have a designated space to return to when finished.

5. Don't buy organizational tools until you know what you have.

6. The well worn step stool stays in the pantry where it is used.  Another step stool serves the clothes closets in this home.  

7. Keep objects together that serve a similar purpose such as casserole pans, mixing bowls, or party dishes.

8. Paper goods, extra trash bags and baggies are next to the door for convenience.