Living in an apartment definitely presents its own set of unique challenges, with lack of storage being at the top of the list. We’ve lived in our rental for three years now, so I’ve had time to try various storage solutions and hacks to maximize our one bedroom unit. Some solutions weren’t solutions at all, while others were functional and worked for us. This is one of the spaces that has worked for us over the last few years. Prior to getting to this point I tried different spice racks and other spice containers, but none were as functional as this.

I’m all about having things that are aesthetically pleasing because I’m big on your home being your sanctuary, but in order for your sanctuary to truly stay clutter-free it has to be practical and easy to maintain. This spice and tea cabinet checks all those boxes. Also, it’s completely renter friendly, because there is no drilling involved and the items I suggest will fit in most standard rental cabinets. Likewise, if you’re a homeowner who’d rather not drill into your cabinets but still want to maximize your space, this solution could work for you too.

EVERYTHING I USED:

1. Adjustable spice rack. They no longer make the exact one I have, but here are similar options:

2. Spice jars. These are the exact ones I have. I have linked them, as well as other options below:

3. Oil dispensers. These are the exact ones I have. Other options:

4. Spice labels. This is where I bought mine and I can’t recommend this Etsy store enough. I’ve purchased more labels from her for other projects and they’re amazing quality and can be wiped with a damp cloth if need be. The labels I ordered are: 2.25t x 1.25w white.

5. Acrylic shelves. These are the exact ones I have. I spent a lot of time researching and reading reviews of acrylic shelves and these have over 2,000 5-star reviews, so they’re what I recommend. I ordered the 6-pack, because I’m planning on using them in my bathroom, as well.

6. Command strips. I used two different kinds for this project. The clear ones hold my measuring cups and the velcro ones are stronger and are affixed to the back of the acrylic shelf. Both are completely removable and have held on strong.

7. Salt and pepper grinders. This is the first time I’ve had a nice set of salt and pepper grinders and I don’t know what took me so long. These are compact, work well and look nice in the cabinet or on a countertop. I love that you just click them and they release the perfect amount of salt or pepper. I read through lots of reviews before landing on this set. Over 1,000 almost 5-star reviews.

8. Oil and jar labels. The exact labels I ordered were: 1.8 square white.

9. Glass jars with airtight lids. I got my glass jars at Ikea, but I recently ordered these to replace them, so I can put the label on the front instead of the top. The glass jars from Ikea are too bulbous and the labels don’t adhere well to them.

10. Small plastic organizer for teas.

Hopefully this was helpful! If you end up reorganizing and using any of the items I suggested please tag me on Insta @its_melanie_thomas, because I’d love to see how your space turns out.