DIY Spice Shelf Organization and Modular System

I love to cook. There’s something about the familiarity of well-loved culinary tools juxtaposed against the opportunity to make something new that pulls me into the kitchen time and again.

After years of curating a well-rounded spice collection, I wondered if there was a better way to organize the miscellaneous bottles and bags that eventually found themselves stuffed in random cabinets and drawers.

I wanted a system that made frequently used spices easily accessible and on full display, not hidden away in a drawer or behind cupboard doors. That said, my kitchen counter real estate is limited, so I also wanted a modular system that could shift, diminish, or grow as the seasons—and my needs—dictated. I also wanted removable labels so the jars would be easy to clean and, as mentioned, easy to switch contents as required.

I’m very happy with how this project turned out! More importantly, cooking has become even more enjoyable with all my spices so neatly organized and easily accessible. I hope this mini tutorial encourages you to make something similar if you’re into this sort of thing!

Here’s What You Need

Tools

• 1 paintbrush

• 1 pair of scissors

• 1 hole punch

• 1 printer

• 1 high-heat laminator (a regular laminator should also work fine)

• 1 paper trimmer or ruler and craft knife for cutting straight edges

Supplies

• 24 spice jars with lids

• 2 wooden spice stadiums (each rack holds 12 9-ounce jars)

• 5 sheets of white heavyweight cardstock

• 5 heavyweight (10 Mil) laminating sleeves

• 1 roll of clear elastic string

• Optional

  • non-toxic wood stain

  • solvent-free wood varnish

Instructions

1. Gather your spices. My favorite online spice retailer is Gneiss Spice (NOT sponsored, by the way), as their refill packs arrive in zero-waste compostable packaging, and their quality is bar none. Plus, if you’re not interested in making a custom organizational system like mine, they offer a magnetic storage set perfect for small spaces. I chose the custom approach because I needed bigger jars to hold a larger volume of spices, as I only place orders approximately once per quarter (again, to align with seasonal cooking). I should also note that Whole Foods, Simply Organic (SO), and Essential Organic Ingredients (EOI) offer high-quality spices, too, with EOI and SO’s sister company, Frontier Coop, offering spices in bulk quantities.

2. Fill your jars. I chose the 9-ounce clear straight-sided jars with black metal lids from Specialty Bottle. They’re the perfect size to fit two large refill packs from Gneiss Spice, and their relatively wide opening makes them very easy to clean. Jackpot.

3. Label the jars. I designed, printed, and cut my own labels… because, of course, I did 😂. You can download my custom labels or make your own. After printing, laminating each sheet, and cutting each label (using the trim marks on the printed sheet), I punched a hole at the top and strung a clear elastic string through each hole. Then, I tied a knot at the “back” of each jar so the labels hung neatly on the “front.” Choosing a clear elastic string over a solid color means the fastener is less conspicuous, keeping the focus on the spices and their labels—which ultimately makes finding the right spice so much easier. Plus, elastic, by nature, holds tightly to the jars, so the labels don’t shift around while in use.

4. Optional: Stain and seal the spice racks. The ash wood spice stadiums I purchased (with a gift card) were a bit too light for my aesthetic, but since they were virtually free, I chose to darken them with a beautiful, non-toxic, deep smoke wood stain. For a protective seal, coat the wood with a solvent-free varnish.

5. Place your jars on the spice stand. I chose to line my spices up alphabetically, but that’s up to you. Now, it’s time to admire your work and daydream about the next gourmet meal you’ll whip up. Bon appetite!