I find that style of shelving to be the worst for pantry items. The wire shelves don’t provide a flat surface so items fall over. The “lip” means you can’t use the full height of the shelf. And they are not adjustable as your needs change.

What is your budget for organizing? Any change you can replace the shelving? While not cheap, The Container Store 30% Off elfa sale is still on for a couple of weeks. But other shelving from the hardware store, with rear or side standards, might give you more flexibility.

My pantry was just a reach-in, but we pulled out all that stupid, inefficient wire shelving and installed cabinets. Two drawer bases and two upper cabinets on top.

Donna

What works about your existing pantry, and what doesn't?

One good thing is that you have a lot of shelving, so there isn't a lot of wasted space above items, and you don't have to stack a lot. What looks inconvenient is that the shelves are so deep that you have to move the stuff in the front to get to the stuff in the back.

If you are willing to change out the shelving, I would put narrower shelves along the side wall - but more of them. That gives you plenty of space for smaller items. It looks like you already have adjustable shelf brackets, so changing the shelving shouldn't be too difficult. Perhaps you can re-use the wire shelving elsewhere (I put an extra shelf in each of my Mom's closets, for example). They might also be nice in a garage.

Put deeper shelves (as deep as you can get, and still open the door) for larger items. Lazy susans in the corner will help you fully utilize that space (though withe narrower shelves on the side, you have better access to the corner).

I have budget solutions.

If re-doing the shelving is not within budget (or even if it is), I love these inexpensive bins. There are different brands, and I can find them at Target. I think the brand name of mine is iDesign. I like grouping oils in one, vinegars in another, protein bars and fruit snacks in another. I find the lower height easier to navigate.

Also, I got some chalkboard labels and chalkboard markers just to amuse myself, like the bin I labeled "Not for You".

The other product I really like is these cereal containers, from Walmart. They are airtight, and much less expensive than competitors.

I think that your pantry looks just fine. It is a working space in your house, not a photo shoot. It looks pretty well organized. I suggest that when your friends and family come over you realize that you are probably already the envy of many by virtue of just having a pantry like that.. Having things organized where it is easy to use them is what is important.

You might consider some different storage for what appears to be your cooking spices and small baking supplies. Firstly, you might consider editing those spice jars for the ones that you really do use and get rid of the seldom used ones or ones that are too old.

While I would not advise containers for all of the categories of things in there, those small items that belong to set of uses makes sense to be easy to reach for and they might do better in some type of pull out container. Put them low enough that you can pull the container forward and look down into it for what you need. You don't want to be in a situation where you have to actually take the container down to access it. That is too awkward. That is too much like something stored in a shoe box on the top shelf of the closet. Or, at least put the turntable down at eye level and store the small jars on that.

With your turntable on a high shelf, any jar of dried spices that is used so infrequently that is stored in such a hard to get to place is probably not one that gets used often and is likely to be a good candidate to eliminate. Most of them don't really hold value for too very long and how often are you going to use "Moroccan Spice" or "Cajun Pork Rub", really? Most times those esoteric things like that are likely to lose both their color and their essence in short time. Dried herbs like sage and rosemary do not keep well, for instance.

I agree that wire shelves are problematic, but not too bad. I would not go to all the trouble to change them out. And, I would not advise that containers are the answer, either. If you put things in a container, you have to slide or lift the whole container from the shelf and balance it or set it down somewhere while you retrieve what ever you want and then replace the container. If you store a great variety of packages, bags, and boxes there are going to be so many awkward shapes and sizes that there is unlikely to be enough conformity to fit many of them in containers and you are still most likely to have an assortment of varied things mingling around on the shelves. While it sounds like a solution to use containers, the reality is that it may offer only a limited convenience.

Doing anything to your pantry looks to be optional. It looks pretty functional with the exception of those cooking essentials that it seems could be better stored and made more easily assessable. Your pantry looks like the working supplies cabinet of someone who really does cook.

I would have it in a heartbeat, wire shelves and all.

I want to defend my low plastic container idea. First of all, the sides are low, so you don't have to drag them all the way out, unless they're well over your head. It is a nice way to corral "like" items, so they don't get stashed far away. The containers I have (like shown above), have low sides, a cut-out handle, are sturdy, and also clear, to easily see what's inside. They're also marketed for refrigerator organizers.

I have oils in one, vinegars in another, seasoning packets (e.g., to make guacamole, good seasons dressings), mac n cheese boxes and individual cups in another.

I have soups in one and canned vegetables in one.

It defeats the annoyance of wire shelves, and also allows you to know in an instant where that bottle of orange-infused oil is.

I do agree with dallasannie that spices go flat in short order, and smaller jars are more useful, but perhaps you have good reasons for huge spice jars!

I also agree with her that your pantry is not that bad.

smaller jars of spices have neat storage ideas like these:

On the right lower side are those glass jars for flour and sugar? Where’d you get them I’m looking for similar