There are plenty of Instagram accounts and Pinterest boards you can follow to see beautiful images of well-organized homes for inspiration. Their common denominator is the practice of decluttering—getting rid of unnecessary things. There's something about neat spaces that makes them inviting and welcoming.

To achieve a well-organized home, it's essential to apply the concept of decluttering in all areas, especially the pantry. Pantry organizing can be therapeutic, but it can also be stressful if you don't know where to begin and how to do it effectively. Keeping your pantry clutter-free can be tricky regardless of having limited space or a roomy one; but, it's not impossible.

Read on to find out how to organize your pantry efficiently and make your kitchen look as pristine as it can be.

How to Organize for a Clutter-Free Pantry

1. Divide your pantry space into zones
   
   
   Establish zones in your pantry to organize food items and maximize your time when preparing food. Grouping similar items together will make it easier to look for what you need and when stocking up supplies. For instance, you can group and designate specific sections for canned goods, baking ingredients, and condiments.
   
   You can also group large food items and supplies on bottom shelves and place rarely used items on top shelves.
   
   
2. Store items in containers
   
   
   Using 

   kitchen containers

    is essential for an organized and clutter-free pantry. You can use clear, opaque, metal, or mesh basket containers to organize your bulk pantry items, canned goods, or snacks. This makes it easier to maintain and keep your pantry tidy, with things easily accessible. You can simply slide out the basket to retrieve what you need.
   
   
3. Label everything
   
   
   If you're decanting supplies, it's recommended to label the containers. This is handy and practical for supplies you regularly restock, such as coffee, sugar, flour, herbs and spices, grains, pasta, condiments, cooking oils, and more. You can also have containers labeled with generic names so you can always refill them with whatever you have, like "biscuits" or "snacks."
   
   Using pantry sticker labels makes it easier to see what you need without digging inside and ensures specific food items have a place of storage.
   
   
4. Keep common ingredients within reach
   
   For common ingredients like oils, condiments, herbs and spices, sugar, salt, and so on, keep them in easy-to-reach places for quick and convenient access. Arrange them based on how frequently you use the items. For instance, you may want to place sugar and salt within arm's reach so you can easily adjust your dish as you cook.
   
   
5. Decant your dry goods into pantry jars
   
   Besides making your cupboards aesthetically pleasing, pantry jars also help you quickly see which is which—you don't want another salt-sugar mishap, do you? At the same time, they show which items are nearly empty, so you don't forget to restock and prevent you from buying more of the same thing.
   
   
   You can even bring your pantry jars to grocery stores that allow bulk shopping of staples like grains, beans, different types of sugars, salt, and more. This lets you reduce waste.
   
   
6. Utilize vertical space
   
   
   You'll notice that when storing containers or items in cabinets, there's valuable vertical space that goes unused. Instead of building another storage cabinet, maximize that space by using shelf inserts or a step shelf so that you can place more items in there. Alternatively, you can use stackable containers to get the most out of the available space.
   
   
7. Create a system that works best for you
   
   Your mood board or pegs are just that—inspiration you can follow. At the end of the day, you have to keep it real and find a system tailored to your space and needs. If you have items that you can't store in clear containers, that's okay.
   
   Don't stress yourself by making everything look perfect. If you are satisfied and see how functional your pantry organization ideas ended up fitting into place, then that's all that matters.

Make the Most of Your Pantry

A well-organized and systematic pantry can mean less time wasted scrambling through cabinets looking for a specific item and more time to prep and get into kitchen work. Know that a clutter-free home isn't only for aesthetics but functionality, too.

When you're done with your pantry organizing, take the time to admire the hard work and visually pleasing results. Do remember that the key to an orderly and clutter-free pantry is consistency—check back on it regularly, decant and rearrange things, and wipe and dust little messes and spills.

If you're planning to clear a weekend to sort out your home, make sure to prepare the things you'll need. Head over to Mayfair & Co. for stylish storage solutions and customizable labels. Check out the website to start getting organized!