Before and After: See How a Pro Organizer Gives This Pantry Structure and Style in 3 Hours

When organizing a space, one of the most important things to do is make sure that it’s arranged in a way that can fit the needs of everyone in your household. As neat and pretty as a place can be, if it’s not organized in a system that serves you, then it will only end up in chaos. And when your family is growing, it can be even more difficult to find time to rein it in.

Such was the case for this family. They recently welcomed a newborn and needed some help in getting their pantry in order. It lacked a thoughtful system and they knew they needed one but didn’t have the time to do it themselves. So, they contacted Kenzie Harkey (@simply.dare) of Simply Dare, a home organization and relocation company in North Carolina.

“The clients reached out to us to edit and organize their whole home,” says Kenzie. “They’re in a smaller house with tight spaces and started to feel overwhelmed by the thought of doing it all after having their newborn.”

The primary goal was to create structure and neatness in the space, shares Kenzie. The project took three hours to complete and cost $220 for all the organizing products — which were sourced from Amazon and The Container Store.

To start, Kenzie and her team cleared out the contents and started sorting things by category. “We tossed a couple [of] items that were expired and then figured out the space plan and system,” she says. “We finished off with labels and doing a walk-through with our client.”

Kenzie shares that the hardest part was all the pre-planning that’s done before project day can even commence. “That’s when we are in our office designing, sourcing, and figuring out what the layout of the products will be,” she says. “Every project is custom so all the thought goes in beforehand so when we show up on the project day we can be as efficient as possible.”

And that hard work really does pay off. The resulting pantry is now a cohesive and stylish space with a “neutral color scheme and mix of materials.” Kenzie says that they organized and planned the space based on the frequency of use, keeping “the items they reach for the most within arm’s reach and at eye level.” They also optimized the wall by placing a plastic bag organizer there. 

Kenzie’s favorite thing about this specific project was adding a bin for the clients’ cat, Daisy, on the fourth row (left side). It’s a nice little touch for their furry family member.

For those looking to upgrade their pantry, Kenzie recommends that you take the time to plan accordingly. “Block more time than you need because it will inevitably take longer than you think,” she says. 

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