Is your spice drawer a cluttered mess?
I know mine used to be, and it made cooking far less enjoyable. As someone who loves to keep things organised, this state of chaos was really bothering me. Do you have this issue and do you need to have your spice drawer organisation as well?
I knew I needed to bring some control to the organisation of my spices – but how to do it?
In this post, Iโll tell you how I went about it, in particular:
- how I created my magical spice drawer makeover
- some different ways you can label your spice jars to suit your setup and resources
- and whether making the effort and taking the time for this upgrade was worth it
No matter what tools you have at your disposal, I’ve got a solution for you. You donโt need complicated tools, you need inspiration and commitment to complete this project.
Letโs dive in!
The Problem: A Disorganised Spice Drawer
I really enjoy cooking and baking. I believe all food but especially beautifully flavoured food brings people together and makes happy memories. Nothing is better than spending quality time around the dinner table, eating, laughing and enjoying yourself!
As my cooking skills and my spice collection grew, I ended up shopping at multiple stores to find what I needed. This created problems.
- A mix of different-sized and different shaped bottles and jars.
- A cluttered spice drawer that made finding anything a real hassle.
- A range of product styles – for example, some bottles had built-in filters, while others didnโt, meaning I had to use a teaspoon for some spices and just pour others directly.
- Difficulting in tracking when the jars were running low and needed refilling or replacing – nothing worse than reaching for the jar at a crucial moment and finding it empty!
The lack of organisation made cooking slower, sometimes frustrating, it might caused some ‘out of control‘ feeling and definitely less fun, which is not the goal when Iโm at work in the kitchen, which is my happy place. I knew I needed a better solution to streamline everything and to make for a more relaxed and stress free cooking experience.
The Solution: Finding the Right Set
After quite a bit of online research, I found a set of spice jars that perfectly fit my spice drawer in terms of size and functionality.
There were a lot of options and it was quite overwhelming when I started but I had clear criteria in terms of height, shape and aesthetic so it was quite easy to filter. When I found the perfect set, I liked them a lot. They really matched the style of my kitchen: glass bottles with stainless steel lids, sleek, clean and modern in appearance. I think the aesthetics are important – I spend a lot of time in my kitchen and I want it to look good as well as be highly functional.
Another feature is because it comes with every tool you need to easily transform the spice drawer with ease.
It includes:
- a total of 45 filters in three different sizesโquite generous since there are 25 bottles per set
- a cleaning brush, for easy cleaning of the insides of the jars
- two collapsible funnels, intended for easy filling
- a labelling pen
- both blank and pre-printed labels, allowing you to customise the jars to suit your needs if you have no other labelling options to hand
In addition to all of the above reasons, the one standout feature of these spice jars for me is their lids, which claim to provide a tight seal.
I did a leak test, and as you can see, it passed!
This tight seal helps to keep my spices and herbs fresher for longer.
Overall, I find this set super handy and they really gave me what I was looking for: a hassle-free, very classy looking and well made storage solution. The brand is called Xsiuyue and they made the whole organising process a breeze, which pleasantly surprised me!
How to transform your spice drawer
Step #1: Cleaning
I washed the jars using the included cleaning brush. Due to its size, itโs perfect for cleaning into every corner of the jars which can be challenging to clean. Then I washed the funnels, filters and the lids, using normal soapy water and a sponge to ensure they were spotless. Once everything was dry, I was ready to start filling them with my spices and herbs.
Step #2: Filling
To fill the spice bottles, I initially used the funnel, but I found the herbs kept getting stuck in the funnel, so I decided to skip using it and pour the herbs directly into the bottles – this worked out much better.
How to choose the right filter for different kinds of spices and herbs.
For the herbs, I used the filter with bigger holes, to make pouring easier.
For the ground spices, I chose the filter with smaller holes for better portion control.
For the seeds, I chose a filter which has one side featuring small holes and the other side with a flip-top, making it much easier to dispense the seeds.
Step #3: Labelling Options
Now, letโs talk about labelling your spice bottles. There are several methods you can use, depending on the tools you have on hand.
- Pre-Printed Labels: these were included and would work well if your bottles stand up on a shelf or lay flat in the drawer. Theyโre neat, clear, and simple to apply.
- Write your own: using the blank labels and the labelling pen provided in the package. Stick them onto the lids; this can look personal and stylish (depending on your handwriting!).
- Customise Labels with a Label Maker: Iโve been using a Brother label maker for almost 10 years, and it still works perfectly. Simply type your text, print the label, using either Black on Clear Labelling Tape or White on Clear Labelling Tape. Once printed, cut them down to the right size for your jar and stick to either your bottle or lid (or both if you prefer). I know Brother has a newer model, PT Cube PTP300BT Bluetooth label printer, which allows you to design and print your labels straight from your smartphone via bluetooth. I bought one for my Mum last year. I found it fantastic and she loves it. If you don’t have one, I highly recommend checking this one out.
- Advanced Customised Labels with Cricut Maker: If you have a Cricut Maker, you can create customised labels using vinyl. This method allows for more design flexibility, and the results are clean and professional. Check out my video tutorial below as I walk you through the steps of designing, cutting, and applying these labels in Cricut Design Space.
These are how they look from different labelling options.
Check out my Spice Drawer Organisation video
Final Touches of Spice Drawer Organisation
Once your jars are labelled and filled, itโs time to organise them in the drawer. Before putting the jars back, I wiped the drawer with a damp cloth to ensure there was no powder or dried herbs left. Now, everything is neat, clean, and easy to find.
Bonus Organisation Tip
I store the excess and backup spices and herbs in this container. If I find any empty jars, I will go to this container first to check out my reserve supplies before adding the item to my shopping list. By doing this, Iโve cut back on randomly buying spices or herbs when Iโm walking round the supermarket โjust in caseโ I might need them. More control; less waste; save money. This is definitely an unexpected bonus after I did my spice drawer organisation.
My MOTTO is:
Being well-organised = Money Saving!
This applies to so many things in my kitchen cupboards, fridge and freezer. You can also check on my other two posts, Bakabeeโs Top 10 Functional Organising Tips For Your Baking Supplies Part 1 and Part 2, both I talk about how I organise my baking tools and supplies.
The equipment / tools that I use in this project
iDesign stackable storage container
Buy Now โ
Brother PT Cube Bluetooth Label Maker
Buy Now โ
Buy Now โ 
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Buy Now โ The Results of the Spice Drawer Organisation
My final reflection is that I feel blessed to be able to have a dedicated drawer for all my spices and herbs. I know this isn’t true for everyone where space is at a premium but you can always be well organised and, for me, this upgrade was totally worth it.
Aesthetic Look
The kitchen is the heart of the home and I’m sure you use your spice drawer more or less on a daily basis. This setup not only looks great, because of the uniform look with consistent sizes and shapes, it keeps the drawer so much cleaner.
Easy to access
Because of the uniform look, it is much easier to access and use your spices, I found it’s definitely inspiring me to be more creative in my cooking and baking.
Efficiency
I feel like I invested these things upfront:
- some money – for buying the Xsiuyue set
- some time – to create the labels and organise, and
- some effort – to clean, fill etc.
But, in the long run, it ultimately saves me money, time and effort. I no longer buy any unnecessary spices or herbs and I do not need to organise or search through the spice drawer anymore. All I need to do now, is to enjoy using my lovely spices and herbs.
I feel genuine pleasure when I open my spice drawer, no more stress looking for the right jar or finding it empty at a critical moment. I know exactly what and exactly where everything is in my drawer.
So, no matter where or how you store your spices, hopefully, this post gives you some practical ideas for organising them efficiently and saving yourself some money in the process.
Wrapping Up of this Spice Drawer Organisation
I hope you enjoyed this guide and found it useful and inspiring. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment belowโIโd love to help.
Donโt forget to sign up to my newsletter for more tips on home organisation so you wonโt miss any new posts.
Until next time, happy organising!
