Table of Contents

• Organize Spices in a Drawer
• Organize Spices on a Pantry Shelf
• Organize Spices in a Cabinet
• FAQs

If you've ever opened a cabinet or drawer only to be met with a jumble of jars, mismatched lids, and labels you can't quite read, you're not alone. Knowing how to organize spices is one of those small but impactful upgrades that instantly changes the way your kitchen looks and feels. When every jar is thoughtfully placed, beautifully labeled, and arranged with intention, the entire space starts to take on a more polished, serene energy. It’s a key principle of elegant kitchen organization. 

For our part, The Polished Jar's new spice jar collection makes it easier than ever to blend elegance with everyday function, giving your kitchen a sense of harmony from the inside out. (But more about that later.)

Let's explore the many creative and elegant pour bottle uses for every room of your home, from the kitchen to the bathroom to the laundry area. Consider it inspiration to make the everyday feel extraordinary.

Drawer organization has a quiet, understated luxury to it — everything tucked away yet immediately accessible. If you prefer your spices out of sight but beautifully ordered, a drawer layout might be the most satisfying option.

Start With a Clean, Cohesive Foundation

Spice drawers look best when the jars match in both size and style. The visual uniformity immediately refines the space, making even a busy kitchen feel intentional. This is an ideal setup if you like the simplicity of a seamless, uniform look. 

Use Drawer Inserts to Angle Your Jars

A tiered drawer insert is the secret to that "professional organizer" feel. Angling the jars makes the labels easier to read at a glance while also turning the drawer itself into a visually satisfying moment. This setup pairs beautifully with minimalist labels or handwritten designs, depending on your style. It's also an excellent way to organize spices by category while keeping everything looking cohesive.

Create a System That Supports Your Cooking Style

The beauty of a drawer is that it puts your most-used spices within arm’s reach. Keep everyday essentials like salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika, along with other often-used spices, in the front row. Everything else can move toward the back, but the consistent height and clear labeling ensure nothing gets lost. This system works especially well in narrow drawers where you want to maximize usability without sacrificing design.

This level of thoughtful organization is also a key detail for elevating the guest experience in a vacation rental or airbnb. 

Keep Everything Labeled in a Consistent Style

Labels bring clarity, yes — but they also serve as a design choice. A uniform labeling system ties your drawer together and helps prevent duplicate purchases. (We've all found three jars of cumin hiding somewhere.) If you change spices often, consider reusable labels to keep your collection fresh and functional.

A Drawer Layout Works Best When You…

• cook frequently and want quick, easy access
• prefer a minimal, clutter-free countertop
• appreciate clean lines and a uniform visual effect
• have a kitchen with at least one shallow drawer near the stove or prep area

Nothing beats opening a drawer and seeing neat rows of matching jars, perfectly angled, every label aligned. It's the kind of small luxury that transforms daily cooking into an experience.

Organizing spices on a pantry shelf allows you to create a beautiful, almost boutique-like display — one that feels curated rather than cluttered. With a little structure and a thoughtful selection of jars, a simple pantry shelf can instantly become a design moment.

Begin With a Visual Baseline

A pantry shelf works best when your spices share a common look and height. Matching jars and labels help the eye relax, especially in a space that often houses a variety of shapes, colors, and packaging. 

Use Risers to Create Levels

Pantry shelves are a sea of flat surfaces, so adding height variation is key. A few tiered risers give your jars dimensionality and make every label visible from the moment you open the door. It's also an easy way to separate everyday staples from special-occasion blends without breaking the visual flow.

Arrange by Category for Clarity and Flow

If you've been wondering how to organize spices by category without it feeling rigid, a pantry shelf offers the perfect balance. Grouping spices by cuisine (Mediterranean, baking, grilling), by usage (sweet vs. savory), or by frequency helps you find what you need instantly while still maintaining a sense of thoughtful styling. The beauty here is that your categories can shift with your evolving cooking habits — the display remains consistent no matter how often your favorites change.

Play With Symmetry and Negative Space

While drawers favor tight rows, a pantry shelf gives you the freedom to style your spices with a little breathing room. Try arranging jars in symmetrical clusters or leaving a touch of negative space between groups to let the design shine. A few small baskets or ceramic containers can fill out the shelf and store overflow items like infrequent blends or packet-based seasonings. This mix adds texture without disrupting the clean lines of your spice display.

Use Light to Your Advantage

Pantries can sometimes feel dim, but good lighting can completely transform the experience. Soft LEDs or under-shelf lights illuminate each jar and highlight the textures of your labels and lids. This is where high-quality jars truly stand out — the glow of clear glass and minimal design elements create a warm, inviting effect each time you step inside.

A Pantry Shelf Layout Works Best When You…

• prefer a styled, decorative look
• enjoy seeing your spices displayed instead of hidden
• have deeper shelves that accommodate risers and clusters
• want a system that's easy to expand over time

Organizing spices on a pantry shelf is about creating a moment of beauty within your everyday routine.

Cabinets offer the flexibility of open pantry styling but with the added benefit of being tucked neatly behind a door when you're not cooking. If you love a polished, clutter-free look without sacrificing accessibility, organizing spices in a cabinet may be the perfect solution.

Establish a Clean, Consistent Look

Cabinets vary widely in height and depth, so the key is choosing jars that bring harmony to an otherwise irregular space. Matching containers and labels immediately enhance the shelves, transforming what might have been a patchwork of jars into a beautifully curated collection. 

Use Multi-Level Solutions to Maximize Vertical Height

Cabinets often have more vertical space than you realize. To take advantage of it, integrate tiered shelf risers or slim turntables. Risers give you easy visibility of back-row spices, while a turntable helps you access blends with a quick spin. Both options work seamlessly with matching jars, creating a display that feels organized rather than crowded.

Create a Purposeful Flow From Left to Right

A cabinet setup lends itself well to soft zones. This is a great place to sort by cooking rhythm—everyday spices on the lower shelf, specialty blends on the upper; or quick-grab items on the right, baking essentials to the left. The goal is to let your cabinet support the natural flow of your cooking habits. When your jars are consistent in size and beautifully labeled, any system you choose works well.

Keep the Visuals Calm With Thoughtful Labeling

Because cabinets tend to hold a mix of jars, oils, and pantry items, visual quiet becomes essential. Labels are your anchor here. A simple, minimalist style keeps the entire cabinet serene, making it easy to scan for what you need without visual noise. It's one of the easiest ways to enhance your cooking experience: everything clear, everything beautiful, everything in its place.

Consider a Door-Mounted Rack (If It Fits Your Space)

For those who love efficiency, a door-mounted spice rack can be transformative. It adds storage without encroaching on the shelves themselves, keeping your most-used spices right at your fingertips. If you go this route, focus on maintaining jar uniformity so the look remains polished each time you open the cabinet.

A Cabinet Layout Works Best When You…

• want a blend of hidden storage and quick access
• prefer spices at eye level while cooking
• enjoy maximizing vertical space
• like a calm, uncluttered aesthetic that feels effortless

With a cohesive set of jars and a layout that supports your style, the cabinet becomes one of the most lovely—and functional—spaces in your kitchen.