Reader Space: A Pretty and Practical Pantry

Have you heard?  Pantries are all the rage.  I can't check out a blog lately without someone showing off yet another fabulous pantry update.  And while some are fancy, some are decorative, some boast more storage than The Container Store, some were done for hundreds and some were done for free, there is endless inspiration to be found!

Where am I going with this?

Well, although I have featured a couple of great pantries here already, I still can't resist showing you another.  Because when it comes to pantries my friends, too much IS a good thing!

Jess wrote:

Hi Jen,
I just found your site, and I love it!  I love to decorate but I've been trying to tap into my organizational side lately.  We recently downsized into a tiny apartment until we find a house in our new town.  I lived with the clutter for a few months, but I've recently decided to take charge.  My most recent organizational project was my pantry.  Here's a link to the post I did about the project: http://ourlifeinhisgrace.tumblr.com/post/1115838904/a-before-and-after-and-17-off-the-to-do-list

I simply taped the posters to the wire shelves to prevent small items from falling through. And I secured them to the shelves with masking tape.

And I collected spaghetti sauce jars and spray painted the lids to store pastas, sugar, flour, etc in a more uniformed way!

I also painted a plain cardboard box in a chevron pattern and placed it on the bottom shelf to hold all the items I use daily to pack lunches!

The total project cost me $2.50!

 
Here's the breakdown:
Small poster boards- $0.50 {on clearance at Target}
Masking Tape- Already owned
Box and paint- Already owned
Spaghetti Jars- Recycled, so free!
Spray paint for jar lids- $2

Thanks for reading!
Jess

Seriously guys, take a look at what $2.50 can get you.  Be ready to be astonished!

Jess blogged:

This is the pitiful BEFORE.  Don’t Judge.

**Note*** The Light & Fit Yogurt container is NOT filled with Yogurt. I use it to store small boxes of raisins and packs of fruit snacks.

I hate those wire shelves. Most snacks fall through the spaces between.   So, this was my solution.  It was simple and most important, it was cheap!  I just taped two pieces of small poster board together, and placed them on the shelf.  I used two pieces of masking tape to secure the posters once they were on the shelves.  Like I said, simple!

The rest was just organizing and throwing away useless items.

 

And here is the much less embarrassing AFTER:

Genius right?  I mean, who would have though, poster board for shelf liner.  I can't get over how thrifty and smart that is.  I am gaga over that idea!

And as always, I really adore how Jess repurposed things she already had to create great storage.  Painting a box to make it pantry pretty?  Check.  Using spaghetti jars to store pasta, sugar and flour?  Check.  Corralling packets in a bowl?  Check.

Such a perfect before and after example of how to successfully organize on a budget!

Am I right or am I right?  You can never get enough incredible ideas for the beloved kitchen pantry.

Thank you Jess for sharing your story.  As always, I am so impressed with what can be done with everyday items with a little creative thinking!  Another job well done!

What's your favorite part?  And since we are still on the never get's old pantry subject, who else has been revamping?

P.S.  Have an awesome story to share?  How about some organizing tips and tricks?  Maybe a project completed from an inspiration found?  Please send your story and photos to iheartorganizing@gmail.com and I would heart to feature them right here, on the blog!!  Oh, and no worries my friends, we will NEVER judge "before" pictures because that just wouldn't be nice!  Only love goes on at this blog!