How to Organize Spices in a Small Space
This post may contain affiliate links which won't change your price but will share some commission. Read more here.Want to learn how to organize spices in a small space? Try using baby food jars! + 25 additional creative spice organization ideas.
When we remodeled our ranch home galley kitchen I knew I wanted some extra drawers! (See how to remodel a ranch style kitchen.) It was so fun to figure out where the little things would go like dish towels and miscellaneous cooking tools. Our pantry was at the other end of the kitchen so that wasn’t a good option.
There was a narrow spice cabinet by the stove on a stair step organizer. It NEVER worked for me and I didn’t have easy access to the spice containers. There just wasn’t enough cabinet space for them.
One day I decided to change a few things around. A shallow kitchen drawer I had used for medicines was emptied out and suddenly I had a spice drawer with storage space and a uniform organization!
There are certainly a myriad of different ways to store spices (and I’m including all the best projects at the end of this post) but it also had to be pretty. Kinda my thing, isn’t it? I chose to use matching baby food jars as a way of repurposing and saving money. If you don’t have matching jars I’m linking some clear containers that work for a storage solution below.
So this post is a two-for-one because my husband I separated right after I finished the project in our ranch home. I needed to find a new place for my jars in my sweet cottage. I found the perfect wall rack for them!
Materials you’ll need
Also included are some non DIY options for those of you who don’t have the time or energy to make your own!
Instructions
Step 1. Clear out expired spices and ones you don’t use!
By checking expiration dates and getting real about the spices you really use, you can save time and money by choosing an organizer for only the ones you use.
Step 2. Clean the baby food jars inside and out, making sure to dry completely.
If you don’t have baby food jars just ask a new mom! My daughter has had three babies in eight years so I had saved the jars for just this project!
Step 3. Make sure and get all the sticky label material off.
I actually tried a few different strategies for this. Sometimes the label peeled right off with no problem. And sometimes there was some work involved.
The first attempt was with nail polish remover and a baby wipe. Then I switched to a toothbrush and finally a scrubby sponge. Towards the end I also tried using oil on the baby food jar. Honestly, there’s no perfect way other than spending time scrubbing!
Step 4. Take the lids outside and spray paint the tops.
I used a chalky spray paint and added a couple of coats. I didn’t apply polyurethane or any kind of sealant because I didn’t feel it was necessary. To me the painted lids add the color and pretty factor I was looking for!
Step 5. Fill with your favorite spices.
Depending on the type of label you use you may want to switch steps 5 and 6. Since I used a small label I went ahead and filled the jars then added the label.
Step 6. Using any kind of label maker type each specific spice and attach to the jar.
I chose to use this DYMO Label Maker with white paper. But you can also buy labels off Amazon and other places. Group spices by A-Z category or maybe even use custom labels with the spices you use most often the closest to your work space.
Step 6. Find the best home for your spice collection.
There are many ways to store spices but in my ranch home I chose to use a drawer for organizing. Lazy Susans might be a better option for your spice storage or even the back of a cabinet door or side of the fridge.
In my ranch home the drawer with the spices contained extra room so I used two small organizers for small miscellaneous items.
In my new cottage home I have only three drawers available. I chose these racks as a way to save space in my small kitchen (and add the pretty factor!)
FAQs about spice jars
Tips for Storing Spices
How do you store spices with little space?
Same rules apply as to decluttering and downsizing. Do you really need all those spices? When was the last time you used them? Do you have the necessary space for all the spices you already own? Can you get creative with your kitchen storage?
My feeling is most normal everyday cooks can do with way less which means less to store! Now if you’re a gourmet cook that might be different! But if you’re not using that cumin or nutmeg why save it?
Should you store spices near the stove?
Even though it seems counter intuitive, storing spices where you can grab them within reach of the stove is NOT a good idea. The heat from the stove can degrade the different chemicals and oils that make each herb and spice unique.
The best storage is in a cool, dark location (not directly above the stove, either.)
How should you organize your spices?
I’m a little bit OCD with some things and I was incredibly tired of trying to find a spice in our small cabinet. So in my new home I’ve got them all alphabetized and pretty! Win win!
In the end, find a way that makes sense to whoever is doing the majority of the cooking!
25+ Spice Organization Ideas for Your Home
How to Organize Spices in a Small Space
Ingredients
- baby food jars
- can Chalky spray paint
- 1 Label maker
- 1 Hanging spice rack
- 1 Drawer organizer
Instructions
- Clear out expired spices and ones you don’t use!
- Clean the baby food jars inside and out, making sure to dry completely.
- Make sure and get all the sticky label material off.
- Take the lids outside and spray paint the tops.
- Fill with your favorite spices.
- Using any kind of label maker type each specific spice and attach to the jar.
- Find the best home for your spice collection.
More Kitchen Ideas
These DIY projects which include gutting the kitchen to simple crafts add a lovely element to your favorite gathering room.
Great collection of recipes, and it’s a wonderful tutorial for your spice jars, too! Thanks for sharing my tiny kitchen spice storage solution, Marty!
I did not mean recipes! Lol! I meant spice storage ideas! It’s early!
Thanks for the love, Julie! Organizing spices can definitely be fun!