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11 No-Pantry Solutions on a Budget

Family HandymanUpdated: Feb. 24, 2022

No two kitchens are built alike, and many aren't large enough to accommodate a full pantry. Sometimes you're lucky if you can spare a cabinet or two for food storage. When building a pantry or adding additional cabinets aren't in the budget, get creative with some of these inexpensive pantry ideas for small spaces.

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Pantry Ideas for Small Kitchen:; Maximize Cabinet Space with Pull-Outs

Install pull-out shelves to maximize lost space in deep cabinets. Use drawer dividers to organize pantry items on the shelves. Want other ideas for kitchen cabinet organizers? Check out these cabinet and drawer organizers you can build yourself.

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Pantry Ideas for Small Spaces: Shelves on Shelves on Shelves

Make use of smaller shelves inside larger cabinets or on bigger shelves. You can double stack canned items by using a wire shelf dispenser.

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Pantry Ideas for Small Kitchen: Use Clear Containers On High Shelves

Use open plastic bins to store snacks on higher shelves. The clear containers allow a visual without needing a step ladder, and make it easier to reach and take down items. Check out the 50 best storage containers to organize your home.

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Pantry Ideas for Small Spaces: Use the Whole Corner Cabinet

Make use of corner cabinets by installing a rotating lazy-susan shelf. Store baking and dry goods in dollar store containers to keep them organized and standing straight on a wide corner shelf. Check out these other kitchen storage projects that create more space.

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Pantry Ideas for Small Spaces: Reuse Creamer Bottles

Wash and dry empty coffee creamer bottles and fill with chopped nuts, seeds and baking chips for an inexpensive way to organize pantry items you tend to shake or sprinkle. Check out these other creative kitchen storage ideas.

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Use Tool Organizers for Small Stuff

Use a craft or tool organizer with divided compartments to store baking and decorating items you don't use everyday. Close the lid and stack multiple cases in the cabinet.

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Keep Cool Stuff on the Counters

If you have more counter space than pantry, store bulky items like flour and sugar in decorative jars on your counter. Look for tall and narrow containers, or ones that stack to keep the footprint small. Need more space in the freezer for cool stuff? Consider a chest freezer in the garage or basement, and learn how to make the most of the chest freezer space here.

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A Hutch for More Than Dinnerware

Pare down or store your fancy, rarely-used dinnerware and repurpose a china hutch into a pantry. This adds extra counter space for grab-n-go snacks or a coffee station, too.

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Use a Kitchen Cart

Buy an inexpensive kitchen cart and let the meal prep go where the cook does by filling the top rack with frequently used spices and seasonings. When dinner's over, wheel the cart against a wall or in a corner to tidy up.

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Customize for Coffee

Space a short shelf in the cabinet nearest the coffee maker for beverage essentials right at hand and ready for morning without using the whole cabinet.

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Keep Things Clean

Don't forget! Line cabinet shelves that store food with contact paper or vinyl liner cut-to-size to avoid permanent damage from inevitable leaks or spills.

Originally Published: April 23, 2019