30+ Spice Rack Ideas for Optimal Organization

By: Andrew Saladino | 8 min

A little paprika, a dash of dill, or a pinch of chili can take even the most simple recipes from bland to scrumptious - but all those spices can quickly clutter your cabinets. If you find yourself constantly sifting through mismatched bottles and bags to concoct your perfect seasoning, it might be time for an efficient spice rack solution.

Whether you're a spice hoarder or simply like to have the essentials on hand, keep your kitchen organized and functional with these 33 brilliant spice rack ideas.

1. Toss Expired Spices

Believe it or not, spices have a shelf life - if you're still hanging on to that jar of fennel pollen you've had for years, it might be time to let it go. Spices lose their freshness and flavor over time, and expired spices could be wasting valuable real estate on your spice rack.

Ground spices typically lose their freshness within six months of opening the container, while whole spices can last up to five years in your cabinet. If the smell of your spice seems off or the color looks faded, toss it.

2. Store in Clear Containers

One of the best ways to organize spices is by using clear, matching containers and jars. Not only will your spice rack look modern and chic, but you'll be able to tell when you're running low on an ingredient and need to restock.

3. Use Clean, Bold Labels

Limit the time you spend rummaging through your spice cupboard by clearly labeling each bottle and jar. Use large, simple fonts so you can read the label with a quick glance.

Check out our 50+ customizable food label templates and personalize your own!

4. Keep Everything in View With Risers

Adding risers to your spice cabinet is a simple yet effective way to keep all your spices in view. Line them up in a "window view" so no spice is blocking the one behind it.

Pro Tip: Place your most-used spices at the front of your cabinet for easy access.

5. Stack Square Bottles on Their Sides

Maximize storage space in a narrow cabinet by using square bottles, labeling the lid, and stacking them on their sides. You'll be able to use the space all the way up to the top of the shelf while still keeping everything within eyesight. Plus, it'll look super unique!

6. Designate a Pull-out Drawer

A spice drawer situated next to your stovetop is an ideal place to store cooking spices and seasonings - as long as you keep it clutter-free. Organize your spices in a drawer by arranging them uniformly with labels facing up so you can easily see what you have on hand.

Did you know you can still get the ultimate pull-out spice drawer with stock cabinets? Check out additional accessories and parts for our extensive line of assembled kitchen cabinets.

7. Make Use of Corner Cabinets

Let's face it, corner cabinets are the Achilles' heel of an otherwise perfect kitchen design, but they can be a great solution for your spice cupboard organization woes. Since it can be difficult to get much use out of these small and awkward spaces, replace your blind corner cabinet with a narrow pull-out pantry perfect for spice storage.

8. Keep Your Most-used Spices Front and Center

You likely only use three or four spices for your everyday meals, so pulling and placing the same items back into your cabinets every day may not make much sense. Simplify your cooking process by keeping your most-used spices on the counter near your stovetop - read on for more countertop spice rack ideas!

9. Use Smaller Jars for Peak Freshness

We already mentioned how quickly spices can go bad. Instead of buying your ground spices in bulk, opt for small quantities so you can keep your spices fresher while having room to store even more.

10. Minimize Searching With a Lazy Susan

Looking for a smart spice rack solution for a small space? A tiered lazy Susan or two in your cabinet or on your countertop can keep your spices organized and accessible without taking up too much room.

11. Take Advantage of the Back of Your Cabinet Doors

If you're lacking storage space, every vertical surface of your kitchen presents an opportunity to hang more shelves - including the back of your cabinet doors. Make use of this space with an over-the-door rack or narrow shelves to store all your sugars and spices.

12. Try Open Shelves for Easy Access

After going through the trouble of organizing and labeling your spices, why hide them inside your cupboard? Put your seemly spice collection on full display by installing a few open shelves near your stovetop.

13. Stick It to Your Fridge With Magnetic Spice Jars

Adding a magnet to the bottom of your spice containers allows you to store them on the front and sides of your kitchen fridge. Shallow hexagon-shaped glass jars laid out in pleasing patterns help elevate this aesthetic.

14. Store Spices Over the Stove

An over-the-stove shelf is a cheap and easy way to add a bit of extra space for your essential spices and cooking utensils. Since these shelves require no installation, they're a great spice storage solution for renters who might not be able to put holes in their walls.

15. Make Use of Deep Cabinets With Slide-out Racks

Sick of digging through the back of your cabinets for those one-off spices? A vertical slide-out spice rack may be the answer you've been looking for. These multi-shelf units take up little room in your cabinets but can efficiently store double the spices.

16. Hang Spice Jars Under Your Cabinets

Perhaps the most underutilized space in your kitchen? The underside of your cabinets. Hang a wire spice rack, individual hooks, or a magnetic spice rack from the bottom of your cabinets if you're tight on space.

17. Create Culinary Concoctions With Test Tubes

Channel your inner mad scientist by storing your favorite spices in corked test tubes. These unique containers are not only functional but they'll look amazingly chic displayed on your countertop.

18. Maximize Spice Storage With a Cabinet Caddy

What is a cabinet caddy, you ask? A cabinet caddy is a rotating, modular pull-out organizer designed to make organizing and accessing your spices a breeze. If you're struggling to make your deep, tall cabinets more functional, a cabinet caddy is worth checking out.

19. Build a Rustic DIY Pallet Spice Rack

Willing to try your hand at a classic DIY farmhouse project? This could be a fun and simple afternoon activity if you consider yourself handy with a saw and drill. YouTube has plenty of tutorials explaining how to repurpose pallet wood into a custom spice rack.

20. Go for a Minimal Look With Wall-mounted Spice Jars

Skip the spice rack altogether by hanging your spice jars directly on your wall. Get the look by wrapping a bit of metal wire or twine around your spice containers, forming a loop. Nail small finishing nails or hooks that won't draw too much attention into your wall, and violá - you have a custom, clean spice storage solution.

21. File Your Spices Away

If you prefer to buy your spices bagged, keep them organized with a filing system. Repurpose an old shoe box and create easy-to-read tabs for each spice. This is also a great way to store spices you don't use too often.

22. Use a Pull-down Spice Rack for Effortless Spice Hunting

Keep your spices out of sight until needed with a space-saving pull-down spice rack. These racks feature a convenient design that allows you to pull it down to display spice jars and tins at eye level. Pull-down racks can be installed inside or on the underside of your cabinets.

23. Spice Up Your Countertop

If you have counter space to spare or simply like having your spices on hand at all times, a small countertop unit may be ideal for you. From lazy Susans to bohemian bamboo shelves, there are thousands of countertop spice rack ideas to choose from that will suit your style and needs.

24. Add a U-shaped Organizer to Keep Everything in Sight

It's easy for tiny jars and containers to get buried in the back of your cabinets. A two- or three-tiered U-shaped organizer solves this problem by keeping everything in view.

25. Organize Your Spices by Color for an Aesthetic Twist

Cook with all the colors of the rainbow. From bright red paprika to black cumin, arranging your spices by color adds a beautiful aesthetic element to your culinary kitchen.

26. Keep It All in Arm's Reach

When you're cooking at your stovetop, you don't want to risk your meal burning as you rummage through your cabinets on the other side of the kitchen looking for that perfect seasoning. Streamline the process by keeping your spices easily accessible near your stovetop.

27. Get Your Deposit Back With Peel-and-Stick Shelving

Get all the functionality of open shelves without putting holes in your wall with renter-friendly peel-and-stick shelves specially designed for spices. Stick a few beneath your cabinets or above your stovetop so you can keep what you need at hand.

28. Opt for a Refrigerator Spice Rack

If one side of your fridge faces your stove, stick one or two magnetic spice racks to it. These modern, easy-to-install shelves make perfect use of otherwise unused space.

29. Organize Your Spices Alphabetically

Not sure where you put the oregano? Make finding your spices as easy as reciting your ABCs by organizing them alphabetically. From adobo to za'atar, you'll know just where to find each spice in your cabinet.

30. Upcycle Old Jars and Containers

Reusing clean containers such as baby food jars, mason jars, vintage glass containers, and milk bottles is a clever, eco-friendly way to add an eclectic element to your kitchen. Upcycled jars look especially at home in farmhouse and industrial kitchens.

31. Hang Bagged Spices for a Whimsical Display

If you buy your spices in bulk, you might prefer hanging them for a playful take on the traditional spice rack. Repurpose a small curtain rod and curtain clips and mount it underneath your cabinets or behind your pantry door.

32. Keep Your Containers Clean and Cohesive

Containers that are similar shapes and sizes will be easier to store in a cabinet or drawer. That might mean having to rebottle your spices in your designated spice jars and throwing out the original container, but the uniform design and perfect placement will be worth it.

Pro Tip: To minimize waste, consider purchasing bulk spices and filling your own reusable jars.

33. Customize Your Labels

A little information can go a long way, and that applies to your spice labels, too. Go beyond simply naming your spice by including what cuisine it belongs to or what recipes you commonly use it for. Take a note from professional chefs and organize your spices by cuisine for perfectly seasoned exotic dishes.

Spice Rack Ideas FAQs

How do you organize spices in a cabinet?

How you organize your spices will likely depend on the size and depth of your cabinets, but here are a few ideas you can use to maximize both space and efficiency:

• Use risers so you can see spices in the back of your cabinets.
• Store spices on the back of your cabinet doors.
• Organize your spices alphabetically.
• Use clear containers and bold, easy-to-read labels.
• Keep your most-used spices front and center.

What can be used as a spice rack?

From lazy Susans to recycled soda crates, you can get creative with what you choose to use as a spice rack as long as you're able to easily see and access each spice.

What's the best way to store spices?

Whether you're using a spice cabinet, rack, shelf, or drawer, the best way to store spices is to use small, clear, matching containers that are clearly labeled and easily accessible.

What are the best containers for storing spices?

The best containers for storing spices are airtight glass containers. An airtight container will keep your spices fresher for longer, and you'll be able to easily see if you're running low with a glass container.

Never waste time again scouring your cabinets for spices and seasoning while your food burns on the stove. An organized spice cabinet can help simplify your cooking process and keep your kitchen looking fresh and clutter-free.

Looking for more kitchen design inspiration? Check out our kitchen ideas hub. We cover everything you need to know about remodeling and organizing your kitchen, from how to organize your kitchen cabinets to tiny kitchen ideas, so that you can create the kitchen you've always dreamed of.