Here’s the thing: Most people don’t organize their pantries as often as they probably should. When you don’t, it’s easy to get your cans and packets all mixed up and forget what you actually need to stock up on when you head out on a grocery run. Plus, things get pushed to the back and, before you know it, you have several expired jars of pasta sauce sitting behind your noodles and beans. While you can keep your pantry tidy with stackers and organizers, one kitchenware founder and cooking pro swears by a highly debated method to keep her pantry and produce in line: Color-coding. Yes, it’s beautiful, but does it actually help kitchen organization? She thinks so.

Ellen Marie Bennett, founder and CEO of apron and cookware brand Hedley & Bennett, said that she has “never met a color that she didn’t like.” So, when she showed off her bright and fun color-coded pantry, it just made sense. Not only does it add a cheery pop of color to her space, but it also keeps everything organized so she can quickly grab whatever she needs. 

Bennett initially organized her pantry by color because of the aesthetic, but she has found it to be a super-practical solution to staying neat and tidy. 

“My pantry is highly organized, but also eclectic, colorful, and creative,” she says. “The way I organize my pantry is very much like the dry storage section in a restaurant — I take all the tips and tricks that I learned from my years in a professional kitchen and take them to my home. In some cases, I make them look a little nicer, but still with that same philosophy of function first. If it doesn’t work, it’s just not going to work.” From pro kitchens to her home, these are Bennett’s biggest reasons she says you should color-code your pantry, too.