My Mother-in-Law’s Pantry Was Completely Reorganized by a Pro Organizer (the Results Are So Good!)

This past fall, my father-in-law asked for help reorganizing my mother-in-law’s pantry — something she had specifically requested as a birthday gift. The pantry itself is spacious, with wide custom shelves and plenty of room, but over time it had become unstructured. She wanted baskets and organizers that actually fit the space and made everyday items easier to see and access. 

Although I write about cleaning and organizing and I certainly wanted to help, I knew this was an opportunity to learn from someone who does this every day. So I called in a professional: Tara Bremer, a Birmingham-based organizer and the owner of House Peace. By the end of the makeover session, I realized I’d learned far more than just which baskets to buy. Here’s what the process taught me — and what I’m now applying to my own pantry.

The process actually began weeks before the official makeover day. Bremer asked me to send photos of the pantry — wide shots, close-ups of shelves, even pictures of the types of food stored inside. “Photos give me an idea of what kind of food the client has, so I know what kind of supplies to bring,” she says. Instead of waiting to “see what happens,” she arrived with turntables, risers, and bins ready to go. 

When Bremer arrived, she explained that the easiest way to reorganize a pantry is to start with a clean slate. That meant emptying every shelf so we could see exactly what we were working with before putting anything back. We removed everything and spread it across the kitchen island. Luckily the island is large enough to hold it all, so it allowed us to see the pantry’s contents at a glance.

Before a single bin went back into the pantry, we sorted. Canned goods were stacked together. Baking ingredients formed their own cluster. Snacks were corralled into one large pile. As we grouped, we checked dates and tossed what was expired. We also created a donation pile for appliances and serveware that were no longer used.

Decluttering someone else’s pantry is surprisingly personal. Food habits, entertaining styles, and cooking routines are all wrapped up in that space. What stood out most to me wasn’t just Bremer’s eye for systems, but also her calm, grounded presence. She asked thoughtful questions about how my mother-in-law cooks, what she reaches for most, and which items she prefers within arm’s reach. That tone made decision-making easier. Instead of feeling overwhelmed or judged, my mother-in-law felt supported. The final layout reflected her real habits — not just what “looked good.”

As we cleared the shelves, we uncovered stack after stack of floral paper napkins tucked into corners. They were leftovers from past gatherings. Bremer gently suggested we start using them instead of saving them indefinitely. “If you have leftover floral napkins from a book club soirée, why not use them for the next family dinner?” she asked.

That moment stuck with me. So often I buy for a specific event and then store the extras “for later.” But later rarely comes — unless I build systems that keep those items visible. When everything has a category and a home, it’s far more likely to get used. That means less waste and fewer unnecessary purchases.

Once everything was categorized, we layered in turntables for sauces, risers for canned goods, and containers and clear bins for dry foods, snacks, and baking ingredients. Each shelf had intention, and every item was visible.