Learn how to organize spices with simple, realistic systems that work in real kitchens. From spice drawers to pantry shelves, these ideas will help you keep your spice collection organized and easy to use.
Spices are one of those things that seem to multiply when you’re not looking. One minute you have paprika, cinnamon, and garlic powder, and the next thing you know there are three jars of cumin, an unlabeled mystery ground spice, and dried herbs you vaguely remember buying for a recipe three years ago.
When I moved last fall, I really took the opportunity to start over with my spice collection. Instead of packing every half-empty spice jar, I brought only the essentials and planned to rebuild slowly. It felt surprisingly refreshing to be minimal for a while. The downside? The first time I needed a certain type of spice that I didn’t have, I had to go buy the whole expensive bottle.
I always wished every grocer had a better way to buy what you needed. One of my favorite things about meal kits like Blue Apron was getting the exact amount of spices needed for a recipe. No jar residue for years past the expiration date.
Keeping a wide variety of spices in the kitchen can be incredibly useful for cooking real food, but organizing them can be difficult. Between spice cabinets, drawers, and cabinet shelves, it’s easy to fill up quickly.
Once upon a time, I had a matching set of vases (above). The problem with these was that they didn’t have a spray cap option. So over time I slowly stopped refilling them and didn’t have them with me when I moved. My goal was to have matching bottles again and I looked at a few different options:
The before:
The filling:
I went with the bamboo set for a brighter look. It comes with a few different label options, 24 jars to customize and a mini funnel.
I stocked up on all the spices I have (which is less than the usual variety from moving in the fall).
I also made a few extra spice/herb jars that I know I’ll be getting at some point in the near future, and put the rest empty with the stickers on the top shelf of my cabinet.
I even used some labels on other larger containers I have.
The end result is VERY pleasing! I wish I could match all my vinegars and oils too 🙂
I’m wondering if, when I have more options, I should switch to a tiered rack so I can fit more than I can fit in the lazy susan.
With a beautiful spice cabinet, drawer, or rack in mind, I’m sharing a practical guide on how to organize spices in a way that keeps them visible, easy to reach, and simple to maintain.
How to organize spices
Before diving into a specific storage idea, start by simplifying your spice collection. Like all messy areas, the less you have, the easier it is to organize. Check the expiration date on each jar, discard anything that has lost its aroma, and group similar items together.
Below are some of the most common ways people store spices in real kitchens:
How to organize spices in a cabinet
Use a tiered spice rack
A tiered spice rack allows you to see each spice jar at once instead of stacking them one behind the other. This works especially well inside a deep spice cabinet.
Look for extendable shelves that adjust to the width of your shelf. I like to group spices by spice type — baking spices together, savory spices together, and dried herbs together. That way, when you’re cooking dinner, you’re not digging behind the cinnamon to find oregano.
Install a small wall shelf
If your cabinet walls have room, you can install a wall-mounted spice rack inside the cabinet door or on the side wall. This works great for commonly used spices like salt mixes, chili powder, garlic powder, and paprika.
Consider small bins for less-used spices
Spices hiding in deep, dark corners sometimes benefit an acrylic bucket that you can pull out to see inside. For example, put all the spices together and pull the whole bin out when baking.
Organize by frequency of use
Put the everyday spices front and center and the more specialized ones towards the back.
For example:
Front row: salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder
Middle row: cumin, smoked paprika, Italian seasoning
Back row: baking spices and seasonal blends
This keeps the spices you reach for every day easily while keeping your entire spice collection accessible. You can even use the side of your fridge for the spices you use the most these magnetic shelves.
My matching set in a previous kitchen:
How to organize spices in a drawer
A spice drawer is one of my favorite solutions because everything is visible at a glance. The only thing that kills me is if only 1-2 spice jars don’t fit in the drawer, so that’s when I feel especially passionate about having the same brand or customizable jars.
Use corner drawer inserts
And you don’t want the jars rolling around either, so consider a drawer insert. Corner inserts allow spice jars to lie flat with labels facing up. This turns your kitchen drawer into a super functional spice drawer. I like this setup because you can see the whole collection at once. No digging around a full spice cabinet while something is burning on the stove. If you cook often, this may be the most efficient system, but it may be the most difficult to implement if you don’t have a large kitchen.
How to organize spices in a skinny pantry
Small kitchens need smart systems. Sometimes the dedicated spice cabinet is too thin and narrow. One solution is a sliding rack. Retractable racks maximize vertical space and slide like a drawer so you can access each spice jar without moving items.
Use Lazy Susans
When you barely have room to reach, lazy susans are a genius invention. Place the spices on one side and the savory spices on the other. This works well because you can simply rotate the organizer until you find the spice you need. Lazy Susans are also great for larger containers if you buy spices in bulk.
You may also like it: How to fill your kitchen cupboards
How to organize spices in a cabinet
If you have a cabinet, you have even more flexibility. The top shelf is the limit!
Create a special spice rack
Setting aside a small spice rack keeps them from getting scattered around the pantry. I also like a low-sided container or bin to hold the spices so they’re not just sitting loose on the shelf.
For more ideas on organizing closet spaces, check out these closet organization ideas.
Use bins for overflowing spices
Sometimes we buy in bulk or have spices we don’t use often (like holiday baking). Maintenance of additives in a small bin with label prevents clutter while keeping everything together. Another helpful habit is to write the purchase date on the bottom of your spice jars so you know when it’s time to refresh them.
Maintaining your spice system
Once you set up a system, it’s very easy to maintain it with a few small habits:
- Check the expiration date once or twice a year
- Refill spice jars from bulk containers
- Keep similar dried herbs together
- Wipe the shelves when reloading
- Avoid buying duplicates at the grocery store
Personally, I like to have a steady lineup of staples like cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, chili flakes, chili powder, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and Italian seasoning, and then grab the lesser-used spices in small bulk quantities when I need them.
When spices are easy to find, you’re more likely to experiment with flavors and add variety to meals. A sprinkling of smoked paprika, cumin or chili flakes can completely transform a simple vegetable dish.
If you’re looking for inspiration on using spices to spice up your veggies, check out this guide on how to make veggies taste delicious: How to Spice Up Your Vegetables.
