If there’s one place in your home that’s hard to declutter, it’s your kitchen. You don’t always make all of your recipes, but you need all of those ingredients and food items when you do, so they need to stay in the pantry. But just because it’s full of stuff doesn’t mean it has to be disorganized. Just like your spice cabinet, the pantry can be reorganized to be more efficient, so you know where to find something when you need it.

Pantry staples come in their own containers, which is convenient, sure—but the lack of uniformity between baking soda, Hamburger Helper, cereal, flour, and whatnot isn’t good for organization. Mismatched boxes and containers are difficult to stack and can lead to some items getting hidden or even damaged. Instead of relying on the cardboard boxes or bags your groceries come in, consider purchasing reusable containers.

In addition to making space more uniform and items more easily accessible, airtight containers keep food fresher. You don’t have to worry about moisture, bugs, mice, your pets, or your kids making a mess of your goods, at least not as much as you would if you were relying on the original packaging. In general, I’m a big fan of decanting everything you buy at the store, from skincare to food, for the same reasons. It’s an organizational win.

Depending on the amount of different ingredients and foods you have, your size needs may vary. Generally, you'll want to go with a set like this: