Keep Your Pantry Clutter-Free With An Organizing System That Doesn't Cost A Thing

Is your pantry clutter getting out of control? A simple organizer could help to expand your kitchen storage and bring a sense of cohesion to your chaotic cupboards. With this genius DIY, you can get stylish pantry storage containers for free by repurposing paper shopping bags. Not only that, you will also prevent unnecessary energy consumption and landfill waste. All you need for this amazing upcycle craft are two paper shopping bags (ideally with handles on them), a pair of scissors, and a precision knife. Remove the handles, cut one bag in half, place it inside of the other, fold the outer bag down to create a liner, and then re-insert the handles on the sides of the container. Once you have the basic structure, you can give your container all kinds of stylish upgrades. 

It's easy to assume that paper bags are a more eco-friendly alternative to plastic, but that is not always the case. Though they are technically biodegradable, they do not biodegrade easily in landfill, which is where about 80% of them end up. Plus, they require a lot of resources to produce and discard – far more than plastic. Thankfully, there are all kinds of smart ways to repurpose paper bags that will not only add convenience to your life, but reduce the environmental impact of your shopping habits as well. Instead of letting those unused paper bags collect dust in a drawer somewhere, here are more details on how to transform them into handy containers to organize your pantry.

Begin by removing the handles of the bag, keeping them close by as they will be needed at the end of the project. Cut your second shopping bag in half and place it inside of the first bag to line the interior of your container and make it more durable. Fold the edges of the outer bag inward to create a liner. Be sure to fold it neatly by tucking the corners and using scissors and tape if necessary to smooth down the inner walls of your container. At this stage, the basic structure of your pantry storage bin is now complete. Using your precision knife, poke two small holes into the short edges of your container, ensuring that they are somewhat close together as you will be inserting the handles inside. Once you've threaded the handles through, tie knots at both ends to keep the handles in place. Now, your handy shopping bag-turned-pantry organizer is ready for use. 

In addition to pantry storage, this bag can have many useful functions. You can use it as a minimalist-chic holder for your clothes, accessories, small linens, and office supplies. Avoid placing it in rooms with excess moisture, though — such as the bathroom or kitchen counter — as the paper-based material likely will not hold up well after a water spill or repeated exposure to humidity. If you'd like to embellish your paper bag container to make it more decorative, use peel-and-stick decor or attach strips of soft fabric, like linen, with small dabs of hot glue or double-sided tape. Consider labeling the containers with blank stickers for more effective organization.