Ditch The Pricey Spice Rack For A Cheaper DIY You Can Make With Old Soda Boxes

Keeping your kitchen neat and tidy gives you a better understanding of what you already own, saving you money by avoiding duplicate purchases. Spices are a classic example of when duplicate purchases are more likely to occur, and some of our favorite flavors can be notoriously expensive. Luckily, you don't need to go out and spend money on a new spice rack just to keep your collection within view. Instead, you can create an affordable DIY version by repurposing old soda can boxes. Creating a tiered spice shelf from excess cardboard will keep material prices low, or even nonexistent, and bring you a unique result that's more aligned with your taste in kitchen decor.

For this DIY project, all you'll need is an old soda box or two, a hot glue gun, scissors, and decorative materials, which can include contact paper, paint, or even tape. Plus, if you used a matching contact paper or paint color elsewhere in your kitchen, this DIY rack can make your space look more cohesive. Take a look at your spice containers too. Choosing the right size spice jars matters. If you have larger, heavier glass jars, you may need extra soda boxes to reinforce the shelves or even some stronger corrugated cardboard.

Begin constructing this spice rack by determining how big the shelves need to be to fit the width and depth of your containers. Once you have measurements, cut and form three shelves with a deep shape and walls high enough to hold the containers. Rather than cutting out flat pieces that you will need to bend or tape into shape, work with the existing box structure to make the process easier. Use scissors or a utility knife and cut so that the existing walls of the box become the walls of the shelf. From both ends of one rectangular soda can box, you should be able to form two shelves. Don't throw away the middle of the box though; slice it into square rings and give each one a floor with a little extra cardboard. Use hot glue to seal any open edges and make sure everything feels sturdy.

Next, you'll need to construct the outer pieces that will hold the shelves. Cut two long cardboard pieces that will be tall enough to stack the shelves with space in between them. The outer pieces should be the same depth or deeper than the shelf pieces to keep the whole unit from tipping. Use multiple layers of boxes or add a layer of sturdy corrugated cardboard to the shelf sides so they'll have adequate structural integrity. They'll need to be able to support the weight of your spices. Decorate each shelf and the side pieces separately, then glue everything together, making sure the bottom is even so the shelf can stand up — unless you plan to wall-mount it. Allow the hot glue to cure, which can take as long as a full day. 

Although it's not necessary for the basic DIY, decorating this soda box spice rack can make it look a lot prettier in your home. Contact paper will give you a nice, smooth finish, and finding options that look like faux wood, marble, or other kitchen materials can make the project look polished. Vinyl contact paper is especially good for a kitchen project like this because, if properly applied without gaps, its waterproof finish will help the DIY spice rack last longer, protecting it against spills. Just be sure to look for strong adhesive backings that will stick to cardboard.

Carefully applied paint can also look nice. Acrylic paint is a good option when working with cardboard. Because it has a relatively low water content, it's less likely to cause any warping or shedding of the cardboard beneath. You can find nearly any color in acrylic paints; choose a color similar to the rest of your kitchen for a seamless style, or make your DIY pop with a bold, contrasting color. Acrylic paints can also offer some water resistance once dry. 

Even if it's covered with a moisture-resistant material, keeping spices near the stove, dishwasher, or another source of heat or steam is one storage mistake that makes kitchen spices lose their flavor faster. Instead, try to find a spot where the spice rack won't be steamed, spilled on, or bumped over to make it last longer. Inside a kitchen cabinet or pantry shelf could be a good place. To use up any extra boxes, consider more unique and crafty ways to repurpose soda boxes around the house.