File this under simple project that I should have done (way) sooner.
You may recall our handy little spice rack.
Strangely enough, blog friends love this spice rack. Every time I post photos of the kitchen, I get questions about the origin of the spice rack and clock.ย (Spice rack: Bed, Bath and Beyond. Clock: Hand-me-down from mom, which you can apparently also find at Bed, Bath and Beyond.)
But my dirty secret is that I rarely use any of the spices on that rack. Maybe two or three of them. In fact, most of the spices on the rack have gone unused since we received it as a wedding gift in 2007. Most of the spices I used on a regular basis live in the abyss that is my spice cabinet. This is what it looked like when I last cleaned it in 2009. It hasn’t looked this good since… well, the day after this photo was taken in 2009.
I could never find the spices I used. For goodness sakes, Arizona Lainey couldn’t even find the vanilla when she wanted to make us cookies. (Yes, my mom sometimes comes to my house to make us cookies, are you jealous?) So, the inability for my mother to make us cookies was the last straw! The humanity!
Since the spices all came with the rack and were probably out-of-date anyhow (I don’t really know that, but I would assume they don’t have an indefinite shelf-life), I dumped all the spices, cleaned out the jars and got to work putting things I actually use into the jars.
So much better, right?
And pretty darn simple, too. I sprayed the lids with chalkboard paint after cleaning them. Then, I just wrote the name with a chalkboard pen. If I want to change the jar, I’ll just wipe and re-write.
And, some other benefits of the new setup:
- It’s pretty. I like the look of the black lids and the bright colored spices. This is number one because I like having things in my home that look pretty and make me happy.
- I’ll know when the spices I use a lot are running low. Because I can see them. No more running to the store because I didn’t realize we were out of cumin.
- I won’t buy four of the same spice because it’s right out in the open. I may have had four jars of cumin.
- I won’t have to dig through a cabinet when I need something for cooking/baking. Boom! Right there.
- I can buy spices from the bins in the future, saving money and packaging. I’ve always wanted to do this.
- The spice cabinet is actually spacious now. NO MORE LOOKING FOR VANILLA! (Momma – do you hear me?)
- Ryan won’t ask me where the red pepper is. Every.time.he.eats.pizza.
When’s the last time you took on a simple project that made a bigger impact?
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Amanda @ Little House on the Corner says
Love those chalkboard lids! What a great idea. We also have one of those revolving spice racks we got as a wedding gift. And nearly 4 years later, there are several spices we’ve never even opened! I’m pretty sure they’re past their shelf life too….. This post is inspiring me to update our spice rack!
Oonafey says
I started a project for my spices like over a year ago and I still haven’t finished it! I bought little jars for everything, transferred most of my spices, but not all, and never came up with a quick and easy way to label all the jars… Maybe chalkboard spray is the answer. Where’d you buy the chalk pen? The feel of chalk in my hand gives me the heeby-jeebies!
Real Housewife in MN says
Holy genius. Makes so much more sense! I love the chalkboard paint too. Lookin good!
Liz @ It's Great To Be Home says
Excellent! Ha, I have a really cute spice rack (one of those test tube looking ones) that sits next to our stove and NEVER gets used – I have a spot in the pantry that looks just like yours used to. ๐ I should follow your lead!
Jennifer says
I have the same problem you did! Half-empty, half-unused set we got the year we got married (also 2007) and a cabinet full of duplicates. Been meaning to do this to the set of matching jars using some labels from Martha. Thanks for the reminder/motivation!
Amy@My Front Porch says
I was literally JUST thinking of doing the exact thing with our spices. Just like you, I’ve got a rack (only ours is a spinny one) full of spices I haven’t used once since we got married and a cupboard full of spices I use all the time. You might’ve just given me the kick in the butt I need to get this done myself!
Lauren says
Looks great! Chris just installed our under cabinet lights that we bought.. oh about 2 years ago. They make our kitchen look fancy!
Comeca Jones says
I like it!
Carrie @ Hazardous Design says
Have I mentioned before how brilliant you are? Spray chalkboard paint and a chalkboard pen? I didn’t even know that these products existed. I totally need to do this.
Leigh says
Cool beans! I loved redoing my spice rack this fall. Mine are also clear glass and I also love seeing the colors. I arranged mine in abc order- John rolled his eyes.
DecorandtheDog says
Nice work!! I need to invest in a chalkboard pen. You may have inspired me to clean out our spice cupboard…maybe…
Arizona Lainey says
โคโคโค it! It looks incredible. Another brilliant idea! I’ve come to expect nothing less daughter!
Lisa says
What a great idea! My husband would love it (he does all the cooking). I love the chalkboard paint/pen idea. It come in handy for other non-cooking related projects. Where do you get the pen?
LizzieBeth says
So here is a fun fact: you can’t hang magnets from stainless steel fridges. I did not know this when we bought our house.
Not having a place to hang our 2984393274827 wedding/shower invites was driving me bonkers so I took a frame, sprayed it white and had JEGs attatch some scrap metal and- voila!- a message board for my sanity.
The simplest thing in the world, but it has maximized my happiness.
LB
Emily says
I love that!! I need to make me one of those :]
Michael - Innkeeper says
kim – it looks great! you smart girl.
i laughed a little that ryan uses red pepper on his pizza … my dad and brothers do that. i always thought they were weird, but i guess their not the only ones!
Tyler and Emily Forrest says
I haven’t heard of a chalk pen! I recently made some custom chalk boards for our new store we opened. I have been using regular chalk!I am on the hunt now!
-Kasey says
Great idea! I love me some spiced but I too have quite a bit of spice jars filled and sealed with spices I have never used and probly never will use. This im adding to my to-do list of small projects ๐
Amanda @ Serenity Now says
Nice update, Kim!! I love the black and white combo. ๐
Ches says
Great idea to use the chalkboard paint and pens for the spices, looks very pottery barnish.
Jessica @ This Blessed Life says
love it, girl!
Katie @ Newcomb Home says
Love the dark lids and the chalk pen idea! The contrasting colors look great.
Funny, I have a spice rack too, but more often use my random collection of other spices. Guess we all have the same habits ๐ I cleaned out my parents spice drawer a few months ago and they had spices from the ’90s!
Jenny @ Words on Wendhurst says
That looks awesome. I love it. So functional and so pretty. ๐ Well done!
Meredith says
I agree with Suzanne–a chalkboard PEN?! That may help me with my aversion to all thinks chalkboard paint since I cannot STAND holding chalk!
I love the new spice situation by the way!
Cindy @The Flipping Couple says
Nice. We have a spice rack too….and then another collection of spices I actually use. I probably should do the same thing you did so I can find what I’m looking for. But I probably won’t. I’ll just keep thinking I should. Someday….
Kristi says
This is awesome, Kim. It looks great and is so practical. I too have a spice abyss. I have tried different methods to remedy this situation, but yours is by far the cutest.
Jordan@the2seasons says
Great idea our spice cabinet is overfilling with spices I never use. This might be a weekend project. Also LOVE the clock did you make that or buy it somewhere? It is perfect for a kitchen.
Jen@Notes From the Heartland says
Very nice. I’ve always envied folks who could fit the spices they use into a tidy spice rack. Our spices look like your cupboard…overfloweth. Love the look of the chalkboard lids…you know I love me a good chalkboard. ๐
The last simple project I did was to clean “my” drawer in the bathroom…yikes! I can actually FIND the tweezers now…and we all know a girl needs her tweezers.
Mrs. 5C says
I love this idea!!! Genius I tell you!!
Mrs. Adventure says
I love the changes to the rack, I’ve been looking for a spice rack that will hold 30+ spices for a year now with NO luck. Heck I’ve even thought about trying to make the “test tube” ones I’ve seen but I fear they won’t hold the larger amounts. Maybe I’ll keep my eye out for one at a thrift store and be savy like you and paint the sucker!
Suzanne says
Cute change!
A chalkboard PEN? Where does one get such a thing?
We had a spinning spice rack on the counter for…a really long time. My mom finally used up the last of the parsley or something (who even USES dried parsley?) and when I thought about refilling it I realized most of those spices had been sitting there since our wedding. In 2004.