How to Organize Spices Without a Spice Rack

Spice racks are lovely to have within your kitchen. However, not everyone owns one or has room for one within their cooking space. Instead, there are several other options for keeping your favorite spices easily organized.

Baskets

Small wicker baskets can generally be purchased at thrift stores, department stores, flea markets, or even large retailers (Target, Walmart, etc.) They sometimes come in matching sets or they can be purchased hodgepodge style individually. Place the baskets in your cabinet space, inserting jars and packets of seasonings by type. Sort them into baking spices and flavorings (vanilla, cinnamon, etc.) and savory flavors (rosemary, sage, pepper, etc.) If you are feeling crafty, create tags out of scrapbook paper and chipboard lettering letting you know which type of spice is contained where.

Apothecary Jars

Apothecary jars are another wonderful way to organize spices within your kitchen. Most commercial packaging for spices and flavors come in a variety of different sized jars and bottles. By using apothecary jars, you are able to use uniform sized bottles that will look very organized within a cabinet space. Add labels using a label maker, stickers, or whatever you desire so that you know what each jar contains. Apothecary jars are readily and inexpensively available at local craft supply shops, and most have cork lids for freshness.

Glass Canisters

If you have a certain type of seasoning or spice that you use a lot of, a simple glass canister might be the perfect option for storage. These canisters are available at large retailers and usually have matching lids. For under $10, purchase a canister large enough to hold the spice. Or, consider placing a bunch of smaller spice bottles inside the larger one. Either way, your seasoning collection is confined to an elegant glass canister.

Shoe Boxes

This is probably the least expensive and most creative spice rack alternative on this list. Love shoes? Got a lot of shoe boxes around the house? Purchase pretty paper from a scrapbook supply store and decorate the boxes. Add chipboard emblems, decoupage details, wording, lettering, calligraphy, or other embellishments. Go retro kitchen style, simple, vintage floral, or any way your heart desires in decorating the box. Consider getting the kids involved in this project, as well. Organize the spices according to type in order to make using them a breeze.

While none of these recommendations are a cure for having a trusty spice rack, they all work as excellent ways to get your pantry and seasoning collection organized in a jiffy!