Turn Simple Plastic Photo Frames Into A DIY Spice Holder With This Hack

Feb 20, 2024

Whether you're a professional chef or a novice in the kitchen, having a go-to collection of spices, herbs, and seasonings is absolutely necessary to create delicious meals. The problem? Storage. Organizing your spice cabinet is notoriously difficult because of how many seasonings people typically have and their small size, and finding a solution that both looks presentable and allows you to clearly see the labels for easy access when cooking is quite the challenge. Thankfully, however, clever TikToker @homegoodiys found a solution using something unexpected — plastic, borderless picture frames.

Most spice racks and organizers are designed with a pantry or cabinet in mind, but this solution is all about the drawers. In many homes, the drawers in the kitchen aren't deep enough to act as functional storage, but this hack can change that. Instead of standing your spices up, these DIY organizers allow you to lay them down while still maintaining and organized and clutter-free look.

To create your own spice holder, all you need is a few clear plastic photo frames. In their video, @homegoodiys uses this Special Moments Freestanding Borderless Horizontal Plastic Picture Frame in 6 by 4 inches from Dollar Tree. The exact number you need will depend on the size of your drawer and how many jars of spices you're storing, so take a few measurements before heading to the store to determine exactly what you need. If you don't have a Dollar Tree nearby, you can also find similar frames on Amazon or at a craft store, though they might be a bit more expensive than $1.25.

From there, simply remove the insert and lay the frames in your drawer. The area you would place a photo should be facing up towards the ceiling and the foot of the frame should be acting as a support for your "shelf." Lay all of your frames this way, and then load up your spices on your newly-created organizer.

While this hack is helpful if your drawers are a bit too shallow to stand your spice jars up, it's still important to ensure that everything will properly fit before you go out and buy frames. According to the measurements listed on Dollar Tree's website, the foot of the frame is about 1 3/4 inches. Add on about an inch for the diameter of your spice jar on top, and you'll find this hack isn't the best bet if your drawer is under 3 inches deep.

If this doesn't work out in your drawers, however, you can still use this organizer on your counter or in a cabinet, though it's best when viewed from above so you can properly see the labels on your spice jars. Additionally, this hack could easily be repurposed for other small bottles that might be difficult to organize, like acrylic paint or nail polish, though it's important to make sure they're properly sealed to prevent leaking before laying them horizontally.