A Clever Upcycle That Gives Mugs An Eye-Catching New Home

If you view your coffee mugs as less of a vessel for hot drinks and more like a piece of art, then the last thing you want to do is store them away behind closed cabinet doors. Whether they boast a unique shape, a bold pattern, or cute graphics, your favorite mugs deserve to be out in the open, not stuffed next to the dinner plates. Storing them on a wall-mounted organizer makes them more accessible and easier to grab on busy mornings. So if you're ready to stop cramming coffee cups into stuffed kitchen cabinets and put your best mugs on display, this DIY is just what you need. With just a simple accordion-style hat rack, you can create a wall-mounted mug display in minutes.

Repurposing a hat rack for coffee mug storage is an easy way to fill a small blank space on your wall. Alternatively, you can grab a bunch of hat racks and create a gallery-style wall display with your entire mug collection. Either way, this is one of those genius coffee mug storage ideas that doesn't take up any cabinet space. It serves as a durable, affordable, and easy-to-install option for mug collectors, especially those on a budget or with minimal crafting experience.

Accordion-style hat racks come in all different sizes, from typical 10-hook options to huge vintage racks that have upwards of 100 hooks. It's pretty easy to find these racks at your local discount chain, home goods store, or on Amazon. Once you get your hands on one, expand the rack to your ideal shape, then use a level to ensure it is mounted straight before screwing it to the wall with a drill. If you want your mugs to really pop, consider painting the hat rack the same color as your wall to help it blend in.

One potential downside to look out for with this upcycle is the weight limit. Most racks can handle a weight limit of 35 to 40 pounds, so plan accordingly. If you're buying a new rack, be sure to check the weight limit before making your purchase. If you're sourcing a secondhand rack, test it incrementally, adding one mug at a time in a controlled environment to prevent breaking your precious mugs. If you ultimately decide that the wall-mounted hat rack is not a great fit for your space, don't sweat it. There are tons of brilliant ways to repurpose an accordion hook rack in your home — use it as a makeshift curtain rod, a handbag organizer, or even an indoor trellis for leafy houseplants.