Artful Organizers: Jars for Pretty Pantry Displays

The jar is a wonderful tool for exhibiting the beauty of everyday ingredients. Jars give beans, lentils and pasta a stage upon which they are allowed to show off their colors and shapes. Separated from their boxes and plastic wrap, jarred rices, honeys, sugars and cereals are allowed to express their vibrant personalities. Tea bags, tea leaves and coffee beans, too, look so much better naked behind glass.

Shed the packaging that's hiding your foods and spices, and let each staple add its own artistic quality to your pantry while staying handy.

Candy jars. Let's start with the fun stuff. Candy shops are mesmerizing, both to adults and children. Why? Because shopkeepers know how to display these hypnotically colorful delights in an appealing way.

Create the same effect in your pantry with conveniently shaped jars like the ones here; they have wide mouths to allow hands or scoops to take whatever amount is desired.

Don't be fooled by the name "candy jar," by the way. What you put in a candy jar (heart-healthy grains or dried legumes — hint, hint) is up to you.


Vintage Glass Jar With Mint Green Lid by Dudads - $28 » This vintage-style candy jar comes with a mint-green lid to add flair to an arrangement of jarred goods. Other candy jars come with stainless steel lids or metal stands for a more ornate look.

Tip: If maximizing pantry space is your number-one consideration, square-edge jars are the most space-efficient shapes.


It's all in the organization. This pantry was built for a variety of glass jars from tall to small and everything in between. White shelves on white walls provide a clean background to show off the jars' contents.


Think outside the jar (or at least the traditional selections). Repurposing matching containers, like these vintage spaceman drink bottles, provides even more visual appeal.


Consider color. Even when empty, colored glass jars display well. Green canisters of varying sizes gently contrast against white subway tiles here. Casting light toward colored jars punctuates the dazzling display.


Where to place a pantry of jars. Because of their attractive appearance, jarred goods can make a lovely exhibit out in the open, as shown here next to the refrigerator.


Arranged next to a stove, jarred spices and commonly used ingredients eliminate the need to hunt down items when you're cooking. Everything's where it needs to be and in plain view.


If you don't have shelf space for all the jars you wish to surround yourself with, hang them high. Here's how to attach jars to the undersides of cabinets or shelves.

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Label what you've got. No matter where you keep the jars, make sure you know what's inside each and when its contents expire.

Labels on the front offer easy-to-read information; they can be purchased at office supply or craft stores. You can write them by hand or print them out from your computer on white or colored stickers. If you don't want to be stuck with labels, tie cardboard labels to the neck of each jar with matching ribbon or butcher twine.

Jars come in a variety of styles, finishes, sizes and shapes to create just the look you're seeking.

Using jars in other ways? Please share your idea below!

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