The Smart Way You Should Be Repurposing Dollar Tree Chopping Mats In Your Pantry

Even if you aren't in the kitchen often, you probably dip in the pantry now and then for snacks. Pantries are handy for storing everything from canned goods to small appliances. Yet, it seems that homes and apartments can often come with the standard builder-grade hardwire shelves in the pantry, which are anything but inspiring. Unlike lining your dull kitchen cabinets with contact paper, it's a little harder to dress up the pantry shelves. That is until you go to Dollar Tree and pick up Cooking Concepts Flexible Chopping Mats, repurposing them to line the shelves in your pantry.

YouTuber @DoItOnADime is a frequent Dollar Tree shopper who shared this great DIY hack. Like how TikTok advises lining your kitchen cabinets with a handy dining staple, she advises you can do the same with chopping mats for an affordable way to dress up pantry shelves. In addition to being flexible, the chopping mats are easy to clean plus dishwasher-safe, in case of sticky spills from a poorly-closed jar or bottle — no worries next time you accidentally tip over that bottle of olive oil. Each package contains two chopping mats for $1.25, so just 2 or 3 packages can give you everything you need for simple and stylish shelving you can DIY using Dollar Tree essentials. 

Dollar Tree sells their chopping mats both in-store and online. If you can't find the mats in your local store, you can order them in bulk. Once you have them at hand, empty all of your pantry shelves, then cover them with the mats. With each measuring 11.2 inches in width, they should be large enough to cover at least one of your shelves, though you can certainly use more than one mat if needed. While you're arranging your shelves, make them even more organized with another TikTok favorite: the Dollar Tree woven baskets, the budget-friendly solution for an aesthetic pantry. Don't stop there: Organize canned goods with the Essentials Plastic Fridge Soda Can Storage Organizers. 

If the plain chopping mat needs a bit more style, dress it up with a bit of contact paper. You can give it an enhanced marble effect with practicalWs Glossy Marble Wall Paper or Livelynine Contact Paper Peel and Stick Clear Holographic Self Adhesive Laminating Sheets. Just because it's a pantry doesn't mean it has to be boring. Another great way to use these chopping mats, especially if you have some left over from your pantry project, could be underneath pets' food and water dishes to catch any mess.