Nate Berkus Has A Nifty Kitchen Storage Solution For The Tea Lover In Your Life

Whether you grow plants for homemade herbal tea or prefer to go the store-bought route, proper storage is key to maintaining taste and freshness. Both loose leaf and bagged teas require a spot in your kitchen that's far away from light, heat, and moisture. They should also be kept away from anything that has a particularly strong smell because, as Fortnum & Mason's tea and coffee buyer Ottilie Cunningham told Real Simple, "Tea will readily absorb other flavors." Tea should be stored in an opaque, airtight container that won't allow the elements to ruin your brew. Search for tins made of metal or ceramic while avoiding glass and plastic – and be sure to place each distinct variety in its own holder.

That means avid tea drinkers will find themselves with a large number of containers, which can result in overflowing pantries and messy countertops. So, tea lovers should take a cue from Nate Berkus' gorgeous kitchen, and pop them into a stylish tea organizer. Nate opted for one made of sleek white metal from his own line, Nate Home by Nate Berkus. The design features 12 compartments to keep even the most extensive tea collections organized and easily accessible. However, because its sides are perforated, don't place tea directly into the organizer. Rather, use it to store your collection of tins or factory-sealed bagged teas.

If you'd prefer to DIY a tea organizer, there are a number of frugal ways to do so. For those who drink mostly bagged teas, one great option is to upcycle some of the paper boxes they come in. TikToker Coral Hoyt quickly transformed store-bought packaging into a handy storage solution by cutting off the top of each box with scissors, then covering the remaining three sides with colorful, patterned duct tape. Start with the bottom, then work your way up the two sides, completely covering the box with tape to make it sturdy and reusable but also more stylish.

Alternatively, if loose leaf tea is your jam, you can easily revamp a tupperware box into a stylish storage caddy, just like DIYer Upcycle My Stuff. Measure each side of the box and cut strips of patterned paper to the exact same length but twice the height. Fold the paper in half and stick it along the inside of the box using sellotape — this will ensure the pattern is seen both inside and out. Next, line the inside bottom of the container with more paper, and viola: a clever way to reuse plastic containers in your home. For additional organization, cut horizontal dividers out of cardboard and cover them in the same (or different!) patterned paper.