Kitchen Details: Out-of-Sight Paper Towel Holder

16 Ways to Store Your Herbs and Spices

From super neat and organized to surprisingly artistic, there’s a seasoning-stashing solution for everyone

by Becky Harris

by Becky Harris

I keep my herbs and spices wrangled in an old shoebox that has “Herbs” scribbled on it in permanent marker. While I don’t need anything elaborate or fancy, my system is pretty sad, so I turned to Houzz for help. Here are some of the ways designers have helped home chefs keep their favorite seasonings close at hand. And if your herb and spice game is already strong, I hope you’ll add to this list by pitching in with advice and photos in the Comments.

1. At the window. We’ll mostly be looking at dried herb and spice storage, but this design for growing herbs is so ingenious it’s a great way to kick things off.

Just in front of the window is a copper herb bin that drains directly into the sink drain. The plants receive much-needed natural light, can be watered with the sprayer and there’s no mess.

2. Within a range alcove. Range alcoves have been trending for the past few years. They help emphasize the area as a focal point and provide plenty of clever ways to stash the herbs, spices and oils. In this Texas kitchen, recesses in the limestone surround keep ingredients handy.

This kitchen uses a similar strategy but includes a door to conceal the spice shelves.

Note that you want to keep your spices in a spot where they will not be damaged by heat from the stove. Place your hand on the surface of the spice shelves or drawers when the range is on to make sure the area does not get warm. You can also reduce the heat by using your fan when cooking.

3. Behind secret doors. This solution is extra slick. A pocket door covered in tile that matches the backsplash conceals the fact that there are spices here.

4. Upper-cabinet pullouts. This range mantel has pullout spice cabinets on either side.

5. Lower-cabinet pullouts. Pullouts also work well in lower cabinets. Note how the millwork conceals this one — the face of the cabinet looks like it’s a leg supporting the cabinets.

6. Open shelving. Here a serious cook has not only herbs and spices but also oils and vinegars racked up on easily accessible open shelves near the range. Be sure to keep your dried herbs and spices in a spot that does not get direct sunlight, which can degrade them.

7. Cabinet door racks. This is a great way to squeeze the most storage out of a cabinet. Remember to recess the interior shelves to accommodate the rack.

8. Magnetic containers. Turn herbs into a decorative accent. Round tins appear to float along a metal strip.

Minardos Group

9. A magnetic container-pullout hybrid. This solution combines a pullout shelf with magnetic containers. Note that they are clearly labeled on top so it’s easy to find the right one.

10. Herb wall. This artistic wall combines cute wooden racks, nice matching herb and spice containers and chalkboard paint. Writing the names in chalk on the wall adds to the charm.

11. Herb niche. Every inch counts in this compact kitchen. Creating a shallow niche in the wall not only provided room for the herbs but also turned them into a stylish composition.

12. Under upper cabinets. This clever solution makes the most of the usually unused space beneath upper cabinets. There are a few ways to secure the jars, including Super-Gluing the lids to the bottom of the cabinet and using Velcro strips.

13. The side of the island. Located in the middle of the work triangle, this side of the island is just the spot for neatly arranged herb shelves.

14. Island counter. Here’s a neat solution for someone who likes to season on an island countertop. The cook can see all these ingredients and keep them close at hand, but the way they are tucked below the higher entertaining side’s countertop keeps them out of others’ view.

15. In a drawer. This one is a no-brainer, but recent developments in inserts and containers have taken the herb drawer to the next level. For example, by labeling the tops of these containers they are easy to store upright in the drawer, rather than on their sides. Also note that this large drawer front actually conceals two drawers.

This insert and container system was made for someone who prioritizes clean aesthetics for everything in life. When my herb shoebox saw this he begged me to recycle him.

And likewise, slat inserts maintain neat rows. You just have to be very confident in the jar sizes when planning out a spice drawer insert. It’s worth buying a set of containers you know will always fit. That way if you buy an herb or spice that’s too big you can transfer the contents into your no-fail container.

Custom slanted inserts keep the containers easy to read and easy to keep neat.

16. Hanging plants. Let’s bring it full circle. A rod and hook system like this one functions a lot like that fancy copper herb bin we admired in the first photo, but is more accessible in terms of budget and DIY skills. Just remember that most herbs need bright sunlight to grow indoors.

Cabinet-S-Top, 1977 Medina Road, Medina, OH  44256 ~ 330.239.3630 ~ www.cabinet-s-top.com