The Newspaper Hack That'll Make Organizing Your Pantry A Breeze

After a trip to the supermarket, some of us run to the kitchen to store everything that needs refrigerated first. Then, as if a critical deadline were looming, we toss all our cans and cereal boxes into the pantry and zoom out. However, if the only organizing principle for the pantry is "throw non-refrigerated foods here," this space could devolve into an island of sloppiness that will cause you to waste time looking for items. If you're tired of your eyes glazing over when you look at your shelves, this newspaper hack will help you organize like a pro. To make your pantry orderly, place newspaper sheets onto an empty shelf, then tape them together and cut them down to match the shelf's width and depth. Bring this template to the store and use it to buy bins and jars that are the right size.

Aside from the practical need to easily locate the food you want, there's another smart reason to organize your pantry. Any area of our home that is cluttered has a negative impact on our brain and how we feel. Being exposed to clutter every day drives up our cortisol levels, which causes stress and anxiety that in turn makes taking in new information harder. Incredibly, clutter can even impair memory and our ability to focus. The bottom line is that you'll feel and function better after organizing your pantry in a pleasing and easy-to-maintain way.

Everyone's pantry has shelves with varying widths and depths, especially if you or the previous owner had them custom-built. So, whenever you have time to make an in-person trip to Dollar Tree, The Container Store, or your favorite outlet to buy items to organize your pantry, pull every item off of your shelves. Next, find a newspaper, roll of tape, tape measure, pair of scissors, and any marker.

With a marker in hand, use two or three sheets of newspaper to cover an entire pantry shelf. Chances are that you'll need to cut off excess paper, so mark the exact edge of the shelf. Next, tape your newspaper sheets together and cut along your marked lines -– you're fashioning a paper template to match the exact dimensions of your shelf. A good alternative to newspaper is grid paper, which can be used in the same way. Finally, with a tape measure, note the height of the shelf so you don't buy storage containers that are too tall. You can now visit the storage section of the store, put your template on the ground, and place any bins and containers you like next to each other to ensure they'll fit on the surface.