This $8 Renter-Friendly Storage Hack Let Me DIY a Fancy Spice Rack

Like most people who spent well over a year sheltering in place — and, yes, disinfecting more takeout containers than I’d like to admit — I used my time at home to flex my cooking muscles. As my repertoire of recipes grew, so did my spice collection. What was once a mere sampling of salt, pepper, and garlic powder quickly transformed into a complex cornucopia of coriander, cumin, cardamon, and so much more.

While I was (and still am) excited to expand my cooking chops and spice collection, figuring out where to put my herbs and spices has been a bit of a problem. I originally picked up a two-tier pull-out spice rack to make the most of my cabinets, but I eventually noticed I wasn’t using it to its full potential. Since it was hard to see the spices in the very back of my rack, I’d place my most-used spices elsewhere and completely forget I already had a jar of oregano lurking in the depths of my kitchen cabinet.

What I really needed was a spice rack that would put my entire spice collection on full display. The problem was, most spice racks need to be mounted to the wall, which is a big no-no in my rental apartment.

So I made my own solution. I’ve been a big fan of Command Strips since my college days and continue to use them in my rental apartment. (A damage-free way to hang up posters and frames? Sign me up.) Little did I know, however, the company also sells its game-changing adhesive strips with caddies. I picked up a few of these Command combos and stuck them on an empty wall in my kitchen. Large enough to hold about four spice jars each, these caddies are clear, so I can easily grab my dill at a moment’s notice. And thanks to the brand’s easy-to-remove strips, I can rest easy knowing that my DIY spice rack isn’t compromising my security deposit. Oh, and did I mention each caddy is $8?

While my DIY spice rack has definitely solved a major cooking dilemma, it’s not without its own problems. Since this storage solution is on full display in your kitchen, it’s important that these caddies look presentable — that means perfectly centered on your wall and leveled so your spices don’t go sliding all over the place. (If you choose to use multiple caddies, you want to make sure they’re all lined up.) That just means it’s going to take some concentration to get the setup just right.

On top of that, you’ll also want to give your adhesive strips enough time to really stick to the wall, otherwise you might wind up with your caddy and all those spices crashing down onto the floor. (I’ll admit, it did happen to me!) That said, once you work out the kinks, this small convenience will have lasting benefits.

But why stop at just spices? This storage trick could be great for small bathrooms, closets, and beyond. The caddies are available in two sizes (I got the medium, but there’s also a large) so you can really tailor this hack to your specific belongings. Regardless of what you use them for, you’re just a click and stick away from solving your storage slump.