The Affordable IKEA Hidden Gem That's Perfect For Storing & Displaying Vinyl Records

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

For those of us who are unabashed nostalgia buffs, few vintage items have the cool factor that vinyl records do. Aside from having those slick grooves etched into their surfaces, LPs come with album covers that boast some of the most viscerally stunning artwork around. Leave it to IKEA to create items that, when used just right, become the perfect storage and display option for your vinyl records and all that gorgeous artwork — it all starts with repurposed hooks and pot lid holders.

The hooks in question are IKEA's JORDMÅNEN hooks. They sport a curlicue design that looks a bit like a flattened stock market blip. It's their flatness that makes these hooks a natural for vinyl record storage. They come in a two-pack — you'll need to consider that as you plan your LP display. For example, if you have nine LPs to show off, you'll need to order at least five packages of the JORDMÅNEN hooks to have enough display space for all nine albums. You may also need a DOWELL 9-inch magnetic box level or a similar small level (to ensure that the hooks hang straight), a tape measure, and a pencil to mark the wall.

If you have a substantial vinyl collection, you may want to take advantage of another IKEA tool: the VARIERA pot lid holder. While some of your LPs will hang up on the wall on the JORDMÅNEN hooks, those that don't make the cut for the wall display need another resting place. That's where the VARIERA pot lid holder comes in handy. You may also need more than one of these, though the exact number will depend on how many LPs you need to organize. If you don't have an IKEA nearby, look for similar hooks or lid holders.

To create a wall display, simply attach the hooks where you want the album cover to be. Attach a single hook or several rows in whatever configuration you prefer. You can spray paint the hooks before you attach them if you want to customize the look. IKEA's JORDMÅNEN hooks screw into the wall in two places: one at each end of the hook. And because the hooks attach to the wall in two places, you'll need to install them carefully to avoid a lopsided finished product. If you have a good eye, you can attach the hooks to the wall without the help of the level. However, there is an argument for using it, particularly if you're hanging up a bigger display of nine to 12 albums. All of the hooks need to hang at a level angle. 

There's also a common sense reason to use a tape measure to measure the distance between each hook. You want each vinyl record to be equidistant to the ones around it to create the perfect gallery wall of LPs. To achieve this goal, you may need to lay out all of the LP's on the floor first. Arrange them in the order you want them to be in before hanging them up. Measure the space between each one with the tape measure to make the display symmetrical. Hang the hooks accordingly. Once you have finished your vintage decor wall, set up the VARIERA pot lid holder on your record cabinet below the wall display. Each lid holder has six slots where you'll put your stacks of records. If you have a lot of records, you may need several to complete the arrangement.

When many people think of LP records, they automatically think of the larger 12-inch 33's instead of the 7-inch 45's. This is too bad because some of those 45's are neato in their own right, and therefore, deserve their own spots on the wall. However, unlike the 33 records, which have a center hole that's about the width of a pencil, the 45's boast a bigger hole that won't fit around the spindle of the record player without a plastic adapter in the middle. This means they need something different from a decorative display standpoint, too.

If you want to treat this valuable vintage item right, then you should consider getting some of IKEA's SKOGHALL hooks for 45 records in your display. They're thicker than other types of hooks. They also come with a divot in the center of the hook, which would be perfect to keep a 45 record from sliding off the hook. You just need to slide the hook into the 45's center hole to hang them up.

Finally, if you want to turn this area of your home into a music lover's escape, then you'll need a way to hang some music-related accessories, like headsets and band posters, next to your LPs. If it's your aim to make a complete gallery, then you'll want to find ways to incorporate these elements. The headsets will hang nicely on some of IKEA's KLYKET hooks. As for the band posters, those you could put in Plexiglass frames and then hang them on the JORDMÅNEN hooks next to the LP's.