How I Organized a Spice Drawer Using Dollar Store Jars and Printable Labels
If you drop by our place for a summer cookout or a Friday night get-together, it might look like we have everything perfectly organized. The truth is, clutter happens—especially in the kitchen. After several recent kitchen projects, I realized the inside of our cabinets needed some attention, and the spice cabinet in particular was overdue for a refresh.
Our spice area had become a jumble of mismatched bottles and half-used containers. I decided to start fresh with budget-friendly glass spice jars I picked up at the dollar store. This simple swap, along with printable labels and a couple of small tricks, turned the chaos into a neat, functional spice drawer that’s easy to use while cooking.
Before filling anything, I cleaned the new jars in the dishwasher. A quick note: some inexpensive lids can change appearance after washing, so be prepared for that—fortunately, these were inexpensive and worked perfectly for my needs. To be safe, I added a bit of uncooked rice to each jar after washing and left them to dry thoroughly; the rice helps absorb any remaining moisture.
Supplies used:
- Glass spice jars from a discount store
- Printable kraft-style labels for jars
- Computer and printer to print labels
- Tension rods to use as separators in the drawer
For the labels, I created simple printable designs and placed them over the store stickers that came on the jars. The kraft-style labels give a clean, consistent look and make it easy to identify spices at a glance. If you prefer, you can print your own set with a basic label template and a standard printer.
Once the jars were clean and labeled, I emptied our spice cabinet and sorted through every bottle. Anything old, duplicate, or no longer used was purged. Then I placed a couple of tension rods inside a drawer next to the stove to create organized rows where the jars could sit upright and be easy to grab while cooking.
Using tension rods as dividers is a cheap and flexible solution. They keep rows of jars separated, prevent shifting when you open the drawer, and allow you to fit more jars in a smaller space without them toppling over. I spaced the jars evenly so each label is visible when the drawer is open.
After transferring the spices into the new jars, I arranged them in the drawer by category and frequency of use—basics like salt, pepper, and garlic powder near the front, less-used seasonings toward the back. I also added my measuring cups and spoons to the same drawer so everything I need for seasoning and measuring is in one convenient spot.
I kept a few items in the cabinet that didn’t fit well in jars—like a salt canister, baking extracts, and seasoning packets—but the worst of the bottle clutter is gone. The drawer now looks tidy and functions smoothly when I’m cooking, which saves time and reduces frustration.
This project was inexpensive and quick, but it made a big difference in how the space functions. A simple set of matching jars, clear labels, and a couple of tension rods turned a messy cabinet into a helpful, attractive spice drawer.
I never expected a spice drawer to make me so happy, but small organization wins go a long way. If you’re thinking about tackling a similar project, focus on decluttering first, choose uniform containers, label clearly, and use inexpensive dividers like tension rods to keep everything in place.
Have any favorite dollar store organizing tricks or other ideas for keeping a kitchen running smoothly? I’d love to hear what’s worked for you.
More spaces I’ve organized:
How to Organize a Craft Closet Like a Rockstar
The Most Frugal Way to Organize a Pantry
