Keep Spices Off The Kitchen Counter With A Simple Dollar Tree Shelf DIY

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When it comes to kitchen organization, deciding where to store your spices can be complicated. The truth is, those tiny jars of ground-up herbs and seeds are hard to find a convenient place for. Spice jars are needed often while cooking, and if they're stored too far out of reach, using them becomes a pain. If your cooking area looks like Battle of the Spices or the jars are stored too close to the heat, a quick and easy Dollar Tree shelf DIY is a genius way to store spices without cluttering up your kitchen.

The Crafter's Square Wood Trays with Handles from Dollar Tree play a starring role in this DIY. You'll need three of them for the shelves, and they each measure about 6 inches by 7½ inches — small enough to be compact without taking up too much counter space or space in your pantry. For a unique look, grab three Crafter's Square Wooden Trays instead, which are a little smaller at 5 inches by 6½ inches and come in assorted designs. Both products feature a lip to keep your spice jars in place.

For the sides of the organizer, which provide all the support, you'll need two Crafter's Square Craft Wood Planks. Other materials you could use for the sides include scrap pieces of plywood or 1-inch-thick lumber. You could even use four Asrnten Ultra-Sturdy 21-Inch Paint Stir Sticks — two per side — and achieve a similar look.

You can use pretty much any glue you have on hand for home and garden upkeep, but a carpenter's glue, such as Gorilla Wood Glue, or a hot glue gun work best. Mark where the trays will sit on the wood planks that form the sides of your shelf. Then lay one of the planks flat — it's easier to assemble the shelf when it's on its side. Add some glue to one side of the first tray and the support plank, then press them firmly together. Repeat the process with the other two trays, aligning them with the marks on the planks to ensure the shelves are level.

After attaching all three trays to the first support, add glue to the other end of each tray. Lay the second support on top of them and press down firmly. Leave the shelf on its side until the glue has dried, then stand it upright. You can put your new spice shelf within reach of the stovetop — on the countertop, inside a cabinet, or inside your pantry. Spices can degrade when exposed to heat, moisture, and light, so storing them in a cabinet or pantry might be best.

While you can definitely keep kitchen spices organized with this clever repurposed solution in its raw form, you may want to decorate it to match your existing decor. Whether you choose paint or stain, it's easier to apply a finish while the shelf is in pieces. You could also line the inside of the trays-turned-shelves with contact paper or fabric to keep the spices from staining the wood. Be sure to let any cosmetic additions dry before gluing your shelf together.