Family Pantry Organization in Houston, TX
Families use pantries in different ways. Some families, just one member cooks and that is the only member of the family that uses the pantry on a regular basis (minus a few snack bins). Other families, like this one, have multiple family members who like to cook and use the pantry. This family has three family members who cook equally. That means, the pantry has to work for everyone!
Pantry Organization for Convenience and Ease
The first family member, the father, that uses the pantry wants things to be easy. He wants to be able to get in and out quickly and know where his items live. The mDesign bins are for him! He drinks tea every morning, so we made a tea bin accessible. I also put his favorite teas to the side. This way, he doesn’t even have to take the bin out for those teas. He can just grab his favorite, make it, and put the tea back where it goes. The oatmeal and breakfast bin require the same process. This makes it easy for him to quickly go through his morning routine, so he can continue his morning with some music before he gets ready for work.
He also comes home for lunch everyday and cooks dinner consistently. For lunch, he likes to look at what they have and come up with his own creation. This is where the turntables are helpful. He can see what they have – especially when he wants to make a sandwich and needs different condiments. For dinner, he likes to find a recipe and buy the ingredients. There is a space for his items he buys. Also, he can now see all the spices and look at what they have already so he’s not overbuying!
Pantry Organization for Beauty and Function
The biggest issue for the mother with the pantry was she couldn’t see everything. She is incredibly artistic and loves to have her home organized. Before we worked together, her pantry was constantly a mess. She would organize it, but it would go back to a mess because she didn’t have systems in place to continue the organization from shopping trip to shopping trip. The Oxo pop containers and mason jars are for her. She can decant the items when she gets home from the grocery store and know exactly how much of each item she has. She also loves the clean look with no labels – but we did need to label baking items, so every family member would know what they were!
For breakfast and lunch, she likes to have no cook options that she can eat quickly. She is busy and wants to eat quickly so she can get back to what she was doing. Now that she can see what she has, she can decide quickly what she wants for breakfast or lunch and get back to doing other things.
When she cooks dinner, she likes to look at what they have and decide what will be for dinner. She is very creative and rarely follows a recipe exactly as it’s written. Many times, she will either use a recipe as a base or come up with something completely from her head! Being able to see all their ingredients is critical for both. She has the ability to put together different ingredients and make it taste great. Now, she can look in her pantry and easily decide what sounds good for dinner with all the ingredients that they have.
Pantry Organization with Fresh Ingredients
The last cooking family member, their adult son who lives with them, got into cooking during the COVID-19 pandemic and the stay-at-home orders. He had way more free time and couldn’t go out with his friends as much, so he started cooking at home more. He found a new passion of his and began cooking for his parents and family a lot more.
He loves following recipes and using fresh ingredients a lots of spices. The Container Store wire bins and Elfa over-the-door spice rack are for him. He uses the wire bins anytime he needs onions, garlic or potatoes. He can bring the bin onto the counter and get chopping quickly. Then, when he needs a spice, he can find what he needs quickly and get back to cooking. He also knows what spices they have before he heads to the store.
The main goal for this pantry was to make it functional. With many family members in and out, items need to be visible and easily accessible for everyone. Even a month later, these systems are still working for everyone! The is always my goal when working with clients.
Leave a comment below and let me know which product you’d like to use in your pantry.
