Elfa Pantry Makeover — A Practical Upgrade Years in the Making

Before: Making the Most of Builder Basic

For years, our pantry relied on the original wire shelving that came with the house. I added baskets and containers where I could, but there were always a few persistent challenges:

• Wasted vertical space near the ceiling
• Hard-to-reach corners
• Baskets that shed (looking at you, seagrass)
• No good system for snacks that a child could access
• Very little flexibility when our storage needs changed

It worked… but it wasn’t working well. The pantry had slowly become a place where things were stored instead of a space that was truly designed to function. If you’ve ever had a pantry clutter, you know how easy it is to amass even more expired and unused food than normal. With our home, eating, and shopping habits being a little different now — aiming for fuel and what I know/want us to consume rather than stocking up on all the good deals for the apocalypse — there’s still plenty we buy that we may forget about, like anyone else, but our pantry is a little less packed.

I took measurements, snapped photos, set an appointment, and went in to meet with the designer already having an idea of the layout and essential components I had in mind. Here are the two walls we came up with.

Prepping the Space: A Fresh Start

Before installing the new system, I took the opportunity to give the pantry a quick refresh. I removed all the shelves and hardware, patched holes, scrubbed walls, and painted everything bright white using supplies and paint I already had on hand in the basement. While our kitchen was painted years ago, our pantry was still the same greige we had at the start of 2015. By the way, you can see my original pantry organization project from back then HERE. Note the stains and evidence of a can that had leaked that we had no clue about…

It was a small step, but it made a big difference. I vetoed Eliza’s request to paint something “not boring” 😉 and the fresh coat of white paint instantly made the space feel cleaner, brighter, and more intentional. The big win was I already had supplies to cut down on the cost of investment. And, while I typically outsource for all things — especially paint projects, even small ones like this — I felt so proud and accomplished to handle this on my own. I’ve actually been tackling more little improvements around the house that I should share soon.

Sometimes the simplest updates are the most satisfying. Once the space was prepped, the installer did his thing and here’s what the shelving system looked like after the design became reality.

We’ll get to all the details but before we make it any further, let’s go ahead and share a little before and after — the reason I’m sure most of you landed here 😉 Here’s a look at what our pantry looked like — not in great shape but just before I cleared it out.

And here’s what it looks like today! You guys, to me, this is pure joy.

Plastic Jute Bins | Label Tags | 4.5 qt. OXO Cereal Containers | OXO Pop Food Containers | Lazy Susans | Elfa Pantry

The Vision: Simple, Flexible, and Family-Friendly

When I finally committed to updating the pantry, my goals were pretty straightforward. I didn’t need a showpiece pantry. I needed a practical pantry. Some of my top priorities were:

• Better use of vertical space
• More accessible storage for everyday items
• A system that could continue grow and evolve with our family
• Clear zones that make it obvious where things belong

And, maybe most importantly, I wanted a pantry that worked for everyone in the family, not just the person putting groceries away.

Plastic Jute Bins | Label Tags | 4.5 qt. OXO Cereal Containers | OXO Pop Food Containers | Elfa Pantry

The Elfa System: Smarter Storage That Uses Every Inch

The biggest transformation came from installing the Elfa pantry system, which allowed me to rethink the possibilities in this confined space. I’ve installed so many Elfa systems across our home and if you’re a regular reader, you already know why it’s my go-to. Being able to install top rails that everything else hangs from and the versatility and ability to modify as time goes on is an incredible feature and benefit.

One of the best upgrades was finally making use of the previously wasted space up high. The higher shelves now hold a few bulky entertaining items, appliances, and less frequently used items, and with a small step stool nearby, everything is still accessible when needed.

The new layout also introduced several features that have already made a huge difference:

Plastic Jute Bins | Label Tags | 4.5 qt. OXO Cereal Containers | OXO Pop Food Containers | Elfa Pantry

Can Pull-Out DRAWERS

These pull-out shelves have quickly become one of my favorite additions and was a non-negotiable when determining the components I wanted in our Elfa pantry.

Instead of cans getting lost in the back of a shelf, everything is visible and easy to grab, which makes cooking and grocery restocking much simpler. If the can pull-outs aren’t an option for you, I still think THESE can risers we had previously are the next best thing. I am HIGHLY opposed to cans in bins/stacking cans in baskets.

These pull-outs hold standard cans, jars, large cans, tiny cans, broth cartons, and even spice jars and canisters.

We keep our spices in a kitchen cabinet but keep our backstock in the pantry and where we previously had them in a bin, they were out of sight, out of mind, difficult to access, and we were constantly forgetting what we already had/needed.

Snack Drawers

I’ve always loved drawers in a pantry, and these might be the most family-friendly upgrade of all. (As a matter of fact, drawers in lieu of bottom cabinets will be a necessity if/when we ever design a kitchen.) Not only do the snack drawers keep snacks organized, but they also allow my daughter to independently access her snacks, which is a win for everyone. I intentionally opted for some shallow drawers that I added dividers to for things like bars, fruit snacks, and meat sticks.

I’ve learned to keep labels on these types of things more generalized and less specific to allow for evolution depending on what we have more/less of at any given time.

Side note, we don’t typically commit to big boxes of kid-centric cereal but Eliza loves grabbing a “fun” cereal cup for a snack from time to time so I’ll grab and keep a variety of these.

These snack drawers have made school snack/lunch packing a breeze, too! Or, running out the door — our pantry door is directly next to the garage door which works perfectly on the way to practice.

The deeper drawers in the bottom are used for bulk snacks. They even hold Costco-sized bags. While we keep back-stock of individual snacks that I restock weekly on a rack in the basement, my rule is to not outgrow the container I’ve allotted for a given category. We have plenty of big bags of snacks and until these thin out, I know I won’t be grabbing any more at the store.

Nothing on the Floor

I keep bags, lunch boxes, and a few other utility items in the pantry and I really wanted to get everything off the pantry floor. With the exception of our trash bags — utilizing THIS dispenser so I deemed it planned and appropriate — we achieved that. It makes cleaning easier, creates a more open feeling in the space, and prevents that slow creep of clutter that can happen when the floor becomes storage. I didn’t realize but bins on the floor also created a drop zone and collection of snacks, candy, and rogue bits. This is a big win.

Trash Bag Dispenser

I used and still use magazine files to house reusable shopping bags, and file them in.

I ordered THIS 13″ step stool specifically to keep in pantry for high shelf access. For a utilitarian space, the ease, speed, and functionality is unparalled.

13″ Folding Step Stool

The Bin Upgrade: Goodbye Shedding Baskets

For years I used seagrass baskets, which looked nice but shed every time they were pulled off the shelf. And the more years that went by, the more shredded the bottoms would become. It was like raining sawdust.

This time around I switched to durable plastic bins, which are far more practical for a space that gets daily use. They’re easy to wipe down, sturdy, and—most importantly—they don’t leave a trail of debris behind. Sometimes aesthetics have to take a back seat to real-life functionality. Although, these are still pretty in my book 😉

Plastic Jute Bins | Label Tags | 4.5 qt. OXO Cereal Containers | OXO Pop Food Containers | Elfa Pantry

I used the same bin clips I’ve used for years across several of our spaces for labeling.

Plastic Jute Bins | Label Tags

Strategic Decanting (Not Everything Needs a Container)

I’m not someone who believes every single pantry item needs to be decanted into a matching container. Although, I have come around to more items than I was once a proponent of. Instead, we focus on strategic decanting, only transferring items that really benefit from it. For us, that includes things like dog treats, pasta, and our always-stocked cereal

These live in my favorite OXO Pop containers, which keep things fresh and make everyday use easier.

Plastic Jute Bins | Label Tags | 4.5 qt. OXO Cereal Containers

4.5 qt. OXO Cereal Containers | OXO Pop Food Containers

OXO Pop Food Containers | OXO Slant Cookie Jar

One small detail I love and recommend — I add the cooking times to the back of the pasta containers using my label maker.

Labels That Do More Than Identify

Everything in the pantry is labeled, but not in an overly rigid way. Instead of hyper-specific labels, I chose general categories. This allows for flexibility as our grocery habits change and prevents the system from becoming too restrictive.

Labels also serve another important purpose; they provide instruction for the rest of the family about where things belong when putting away groceries. A labeled bin isn’t just identification… it’s a “gentle” organizational guide.

Plastic Jute Bins | Label Tags | 4.5 qt. OXO Cereal Containers | OXO Pop Food Containers | Elfa Pantry

Small Solutions That Make a Big Difference

A few other favorite pantry accessories and solutions…

Lazy Susans for Corners

Corners can easily become dead space, so I added lazy Susans to hold spreads, jars, and condiments. If you have a corner anywhere — not just in the pantry — I 100% recommend a turntable so you can spin and access without digging.

Lazy Susans

Lazy Susans

Wall-Mounted Plastic Bag Holder

After loving the one we installed in our laundry room, I added another plastic bag holder to the pantry wall. It’s simple, practical, and keeps that ever-growing collection of grocery bags contained. It was also the only request from Dave, haha.

Plastic Bag Dispenser | OXO Pop Food Containers | OXO Slant Cookie Jar

Elfa Door Organizer

If I can add a door organizer somewhere, I will. You can see my back-of-the-door organization post HERE. The Elfa door system is one of my favorite space-saving solutions because it makes use of an area that’s often overlooked. It’s perfect for smaller pantry items and keeps frequently used things within easy reach.

Elfa Door Organizer | Plastic Jute Bins | Label Tags | 4.5 qt. OXO Cereal Containers | OXO Pop Food Containers | Lazy Susans | Elfa Pantry | Trash Bag Dispenser

Elfa Door Organizer | Cup Inserts

I also didn’t catch until just now that I accidentally printed “mixes & packets” before deleting “clips” first so I’ll need to fix that label 😉

Elfa Door Organizer | Cup Inserts

A Pantry That Finally Works for Us

Compared to some of the elaborate pantries you see online, ours is definitely on the simpler side, but our pantry is designed for how our family actually lives — with flexible storage, easy access for everyone, and systems that help keep things running smoothly day to day. After dreaming about an Elfa pantry for years, seeing it finally come together has been so satisfying.

Sometimes the best home projects aren’t the flashiest ones. They’re the ones that quietly make everyday life a little bit easier.

Elfa Door Organizer | Cup Inserts | Plastic Jute Bins | Label Tags | 4.5 qt. OXO Cereal Containers | OXO Pop Food Containers | Lazy Susans | Elfa Pantry | Trash Bag Dispenser

A Few More Elfa Organization Projects to Check Out

• Elfa Shelving All Over the House
• Little Girl’s Closet
• Playroom Storage Closet
• Door Organization
• Laundry Room Organization
• Nursery Closet Organization
• Gift Wrap/Office Closet Organization