Keep Spices Neat And Organized In Your Cabinets With A Budget-Friendly DIY

Most home cooks have a wide selection of spices to make delicious dishes, but thanks to their different-shaped bottles and tins, spices are notoriously tricky to organize and keep easily accessible. The good news? You can DIY a customized and convenient spice storage rack for cabinets in less than a weekend.

First, measure the inside of your spice cabinet and cut down a piece of plywood so it will easily fit inside lengthwise. If the pieces aren't already various widths, cut them to at least three different sizes to make three tiers. Put the widest piece in first, then add tiers in accordance with width so the narrowest piece is at the top. Arrange your spices, label facing out, on each level so you can easily grab what you need.

Before you get started on this DIY, take a moment to clean out your spice cabinet. Pull all the spices out and wipe down the cabinet, then check your spices for expiration. If they are past their "best if used by" date, don't throw them out yet, as there are creative ways to use expired spices and seasonings around your home. 

After you've created your spice storage shelves, a great way to keep the products neat and tidy is to use glass jars, like SWOMMOLY Glass Spice Jars. You can not only see what spices you have but also how much of each, making it easy to know when to add black pepper to your grocery list. Transferring your spices from their original containers to glass jars can be a little tricky. A kitchen funnel works great here, or use a piece of clean, unused paper to DIY one: roll it into a funnel shape, slide it into the opening, and fill the jars.

Labels are also key to make sure you don't accidentally grab the cumin when you're looking for the cinnamon in the heat of the dinner rush. A label maker is great because the label won't get smudged or accidentally wiped away. If you don't have one on hand, we love using a chalk marker to write the names, or you could try out the packing tape hack to make chic home labels without a label maker.

Don't forget to wipe down your spice cabinet regularly. Whether it's once a week, a month, or a quarter, adding this quick task into your kitchen cleaning routine will help keep the space neat, organized, and ready to use to make your next feast.