15 Flavour-Filled Ways to Store Your Spices
If you frequently struggle to find the right seasoning, check out these clever ideas to help you tame the chaos
Cathy Rebecca
28 January 2017
London-based freelance journalist
You’re all set to prepare a delicious meal, but you can’t lay your hands on what you need in your messy spice cupboard. It’s untidy and frustrating and, before you know it, your garlic has burnt while you search for the saffron. You also often end up buying duplicate herbs, which can be a total waste of thyme…
Give your herbs and spices some order with these quick tips on how to whip your collection into shape.
Give your herbs and spices some order with these quick tips on how to whip your collection into shape.
1. Suspend them
A great way to make use of often-wasted under-cabinet space is to turn it into a storage spot for all your favourite flavours. There are gadgets you can attach to the underside of your cupboards, or you can create your own by gluing the spice jar lids to the surface – just unscrew them when you need a pinch or two!
A great way to make use of often-wasted under-cabinet space is to turn it into a storage spot for all your favourite flavours. There are gadgets you can attach to the underside of your cupboards, or you can create your own by gluing the spice jar lids to the surface – just unscrew them when you need a pinch or two!
2. Grow your own
If you love fresh herbs but have neither a garden nor the space on your benchtop to keep them, get creative and display them in pots in a rack on your wall. This clever set-up has a funky rustic look and makes a great focal point in a minimalist kitchen.
If you love fresh herbs but have neither a garden nor the space on your benchtop to keep them, get creative and display them in pots in a rack on your wall. This clever set-up has a funky rustic look and makes a great focal point in a minimalist kitchen.
3. Step inside
With space at a premium, sometimes you have to work with what you’ve got, so why not add a shallow spice rack to the inside of a cupboard door? Do be sure to check it won’t stop the door from closing. In some cases, making an internal shelf more narrow might be necessary for this to work.
With space at a premium, sometimes you have to work with what you’ve got, so why not add a shallow spice rack to the inside of a cupboard door? Do be sure to check it won’t stop the door from closing. In some cases, making an internal shelf more narrow might be necessary for this to work.
4. Don’t forget the sides
Another under-used surface in kitchens is the side of your cabinets. Why not use this space to house a spice rack? The one seen here, built into the mantel over a range cooker, is within easy reach for the cook. Add a smart door to keep the look streamlined.
Another under-used surface in kitchens is the side of your cabinets. Why not use this space to house a spice rack? The one seen here, built into the mantel over a range cooker, is within easy reach for the cook. Add a smart door to keep the look streamlined.
5. Plan ahead
If you’re thinking of redesigning your kitchen any time soon, remember to include smart spice storage in your plans. In this scheme, the splashback slides away to reveal shelves of neatly ordered seasonings. They are just where you need them when you’re cooking, and with the panel closed are neatly out of sight.
If you’re thinking of redesigning your kitchen any time soon, remember to include smart spice storage in your plans. In this scheme, the splashback slides away to reveal shelves of neatly ordered seasonings. They are just where you need them when you’re cooking, and with the panel closed are neatly out of sight.
6. Let it hang
Installing a simple rail and hook system to the underside of a kitchen shelf means you can hang a spice rack to easily can access your seasonings. It’s both a cute and practical idea – what’s not to love?
Installing a simple rail and hook system to the underside of a kitchen shelf means you can hang a spice rack to easily can access your seasonings. It’s both a cute and practical idea – what’s not to love?
7. Match it
One of the easiest ways to improve the aesthetics of a cluttered spice cupboard is to choose a particular brand you like the look of and stick with it. At least this way the chaos will look a little neater!
One of the easiest ways to improve the aesthetics of a cluttered spice cupboard is to choose a particular brand you like the look of and stick with it. At least this way the chaos will look a little neater!
8. Remember to label
If you’re not keen on any brand in particular, you can buy your own set of matching jars and decant your herbs and spices. These are larger jars holding mostly pulses, seeds and nuts, but the same idea would work for herbs and spices.
Be sure to label everything carefully or you might end up with some rather interesting dishes… Why not go the extra mile and colour code different varieties?
If you’re not keen on any brand in particular, you can buy your own set of matching jars and decant your herbs and spices. These are larger jars holding mostly pulses, seeds and nuts, but the same idea would work for herbs and spices.
Be sure to label everything carefully or you might end up with some rather interesting dishes… Why not go the extra mile and colour code different varieties?
9. Install slanted inserts
Without a doubt, the most frustrating thing about a spice cupboard is the impossibility of having the right one immediately on hand. A simple slanted drawer filler can banish those woes for good. With your jars laid out neatly and facing upwards, you’ll never have to root around for that elusive cumin again.
Without a doubt, the most frustrating thing about a spice cupboard is the impossibility of having the right one immediately on hand. A simple slanted drawer filler can banish those woes for good. With your jars laid out neatly and facing upwards, you’ll never have to root around for that elusive cumin again.
10. Double up
If you don’t have the space to dedicate an entire drawer to your seasoning collection, why not make your storage multi-functional? By maximising every bit of space, the drawer seen here has room for cutlery, a spice collection and a handy stash of wooden spoons.
13 Top Kitchen Storage Ideas
If you don’t have the space to dedicate an entire drawer to your seasoning collection, why not make your storage multi-functional? By maximising every bit of space, the drawer seen here has room for cutlery, a spice collection and a handy stash of wooden spoons.
13 Top Kitchen Storage Ideas
11. Add a stepped shelf
This is one of the simplest, most effective ways to transform your spice cupboard, and it’s very budget-friendly too. By installing a step shelf, you can line up your jars so you get a better view of the ones at the back. Get extra organised and dedicate different shelves to different varieties of herbs and spices.
This is one of the simplest, most effective ways to transform your spice cupboard, and it’s very budget-friendly too. By installing a step shelf, you can line up your jars so you get a better view of the ones at the back. Get extra organised and dedicate different shelves to different varieties of herbs and spices.
12. Lay them down
Another easy and cost-effective way to store your seasonings is to use a clever drawer insert, like this one from Ikea. It costs next to nothing and will save you a great deal of frustration.
Another easy and cost-effective way to store your seasonings is to use a clever drawer insert, like this one from Ikea. It costs next to nothing and will save you a great deal of frustration.
13. Pop them in
This drawer insert for shallow spice pots ensures you can see all of your seasonings at a glance, and just slot them back into their holes when you’re done. And the beauty of this drawer is that it takes up little vertical space.
This drawer insert for shallow spice pots ensures you can see all of your seasonings at a glance, and just slot them back into their holes when you’re done. And the beauty of this drawer is that it takes up little vertical space.
14. Make it magnetic
Adding a magnetic strip along a splashback and investing in stylish metal herb and spice holders is an effortless way to keep your seasonings right where you want them, without taking up precious drawer or cabinet space.
Adding a magnetic strip along a splashback and investing in stylish metal herb and spice holders is an effortless way to keep your seasonings right where you want them, without taking up precious drawer or cabinet space.
15. Maximise every space
If you think you’ll be able to borrow some space from a cupboard or drawer, consider bringing in a professional kitchen fitter to shave some space from the cupboards either side and install a slender vertical pull-out spice rack between them. You won’t lose much space from the adjoining cupboards and, with your seasonings close to hand, it’ll make cooking that much easier.
Read more:
How to Bring a Pantry Into Your Kitchen
10 Indian Kitchens on Houzz That Evoke Envy
How to Style Up Your Small Kitchen
Tell us:
Do you struggle with storing your spices and herbs? Or have you found the perfect solution? Share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
If you think you’ll be able to borrow some space from a cupboard or drawer, consider bringing in a professional kitchen fitter to shave some space from the cupboards either side and install a slender vertical pull-out spice rack between them. You won’t lose much space from the adjoining cupboards and, with your seasonings close to hand, it’ll make cooking that much easier.
Read more:
How to Bring a Pantry Into Your Kitchen
10 Indian Kitchens on Houzz That Evoke Envy
How to Style Up Your Small Kitchen
Tell us:
Do you struggle with storing your spices and herbs? Or have you found the perfect solution? Share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
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Catherine - Thank you for featuring 2 of our spice rack drawers in your story! If anyone is looking for more spice rack ideas, here are a few more of my faves...
A small spice insert in a utensil drawer to keep your everyday spices at hand...
A thin pull out cabinet is a great space for a spice rack and lets you make the most of a small space.
An open space hidden to the side of the range in a wood hood is a great place for your daily cooking spices and oils.
The top shelf of a knife block pull-out cabinet can be used as a handy spice rack...
This also works for other pull-out cabinets, like this tray pull-out.
Cabinet door spice rack can be handy on a wall cabinet...
The end of a kitchen island or peninsula is the perfect place to house a shallow spice rack cabinet.
A stainless steel drawer box adds some contrast to a wood utensil divider and spice rack. I think this is a fun look for a drawer.
Mandi @ Dura
The sliding drawers work perfectly!