Where should I store bulk food purchases when the pantry is already full?

If the pantry is already full, don't force bulk purchases into the everyday food zone. Very large bags, such as a 25-pound bag of rice, can be stored neatly on the pantry floor if the area is dry and protected. Other bulk dry goods can go on sturdy lower shelves or in large airtight food-storage containers. If you still don't have room, create a separate backstock area in a utility room, laundry room or other appropriate storage space and replenish the pantry from there.

Put the things you reach for most often in the easiest spots, and reserve high, low or deep storage for occasional-use supplies. Group like items together so you can see what is running low before buying more.

My final check is practical: can you find what you need quickly, put it back just as easily, and see when the space is getting full? If not, simplify the categories or move the storage closer to where you use it. An organizing system should make life easier, not become another chore.