Repackaging things into pretty containers is impractical. At some point, we have to give up a little on what things look like and let it be about function. I think that point would be if i had six kids, and i was talking about the inside of a closet!

I am not in my new house/pantry. but in my old house, i decided to keep only things i used a lot of in my pantry. It was filled with basics or they didnt go in there. It made it a lot easier. I just bought more of less, KWIM? That may sound simple, but it worked for me.

I have 4 kids. I have a large 5X8 walk-in pantry. it is organized. it is not pretty.

keep things in their original packaging when it works for you. sometimes it doesn't, then find large enough containers that you aren't constantly refilling.

your shelves can probably be just 10 inches deep. Mine are 12. there are only a few spots that I actually use all 12 inches.

I posted pics of my pantry a few weeks ago. perhaps seeing it "in action" will help you brainstorm what works for you. I am happy to answer any questions about how it is organized etc.... here it goes...

hth

it works quite well, for the most part. not a fan of when dh "restocks" his beer - he just dumps it on the floor and then I have to get rid of the empty boxes etc.

you might notice baskets/bins... they keep like things together.

often needed things are easy access.

the cart is a great help and moves around.

the top shelf has plenty of room for the BJ's/Sam's size cereal boxes. can't remember if it shows up in the picture or not.

the left side has wire organizers, giving me a "double" shelf for canned goods.

yes, I do have a pasta/rice section... a canned goods section, a rarely used appliance section, cookbooks, seasonings, pototaoes/onions/garlic, baking section, snack section, kids' lunchbag/water bottle section, cereal.... tea stuff... you name it, it holds it. behind the door I have cleaning stuff, hung against the wall.

my big question, which I go back and forth on every day, is whether or not I am going to forfeit some of this space when we remodel. My kitchen is **almost** big enough to do what I want with it... if I sacrificed 12 inches of the pantry's width, it would help immensely with the kitchen. And then I walk back in and gaze lovingly at my pantry and realize IT is the REASON we bought this house which needed so many repairs 2 years ago. I have a feeling I will wrestle with this question until the day I demolish the current kitchen.