I’ve always wanted the kind of house that people come over to and they want to stay. I want to always have enough snacks to eat, a comfortable deep lounge that begs you to linger a little longer, and a vibe that feels inviting.
Our house is the place where my family come to celebrate big days, birthdays and Christmas. It’s where we gather for dinners and long lunches. And just as I hoped, this is where the kids come to hang out and snack.
The problem is, that I want to have an overflowing pantry with good things, and the ability to pull together a meal at a moment’s notice. Pancakes? I’m on it. Cookies? I’ve got you. Absolutely chaos? You bet that’s happening.
Each day as I navigate our pantry, I’m fearful that I may cause a tsunami of packages to fall down and attack me. Sometimes, ok a lot of the time, I quickly shut the doors, because if I don’t see it, it didn’t happen, right?
To be honest, I’ve never found a system that works when it comes to organisation. For the past six years, I’ve been using glass cylinder containers to store everything in, but they don’t stack… and I ended up not filling them up at all (plus they weren’t completely airtight).
It didn’t work.
So recently, I spent a lot of time researching, and planning, and then investing in some new systems and a month on, I can tell you, THIS works. Are you ready for the reveal?
Ta-da! Well almost, first, the system. Because this is a game-changer.
Decor has just released their Design Series Pantry Storage range, which is a modular system that adapts to the space. Want to stack? Go ahead. Want to know what you’re working with? The crystal clear containers make it easy
In a genius move, they also have a measure/scoop attached to the bottom of the lid. It’s like they’re doing all the thinking for us. Thank you.
Shelf by shelf, powered by a soundtrack of Hot Hits Australia, I emptied the shelves, tossing out the expired products (2022 Lentils, where were you hiding?), and then welcomed the new Decor Design Series system.
And now, the reveal…
I added small labels to each container, so no one is mixing up sushi rice with jasmine rice, or self-raising for plain flour. We can’t have that.
It’s been a month or so now, and that’s usually how long I can tell whether a system works, or doesn’t… and the report is in: it works.
The seal is airtight. Win. They stack with ease, even as I move them around and am busy baking and making. Win. And look, I know it’s not the most important thing, but they look aesthetically pleasing too. Win. Win. Win.
What are my tips for organising a pantry and making it look good, but also be really functional?
- Invest in a good system. The Decor Design Series Pantry Storage is a win for me. You can pick it up from Woolworths, so they’re easy to get more as your pantry grows and changes, or you suddenly start buying more pantry items. It comes in 5 different sizes, so whether you’re storing cocoa or spaghetti, there’s a size for everything.
- If you can see it, it will get used. I liked these containers because I could SEE everything. The see-through baskets also work well for knowing what we have, so we’re not buying more of the same thing.
- Don’t reinvent the wheel. I know it can be tempting to try new great things when re-doing a pantry, but keep it simple, and see how you use your pantry before buying more whizz-bang storage. Start simple, like the Decor Design Series containers, and then let it settle before changing everything.
I’m curious, what state is your pantry in right now? Could it do with a makeover too?
This post is created in partnership with Decor.
