Out Of Cabinet Storage Space? This Thrift Store Find Is The Solution

Most cooks would agree that there's never enough storage space in the kitchen. Cupboards crammed with pots and pans or those jars of spices you keep picking up because you've forgotten what you had in supply are not only frustrating, they're inefficient. But, you don't need to store that blender in the basement or invest in a new pantry cabinet to make extra storage space. The solution to your woes may be cheaper and easier than you think. Thrifted shelving options provide a practical and fun solution. From an old spice rack to a plate rack or coat rack with attached shelf, you can add a retro design element to your home. Tuck it into an unused kitchen corner or give it pride of place over the stove, showing off while it quietly does its job. Reusing thrifted furniture rather than buying new has the added benefit of being a sustainable practice, too.

Vintage shelving is in high demand at thrift stores, so be prepared to act fast if you see the perfect piece. Have the measurements of the space you want to fill with you, and be realistic about how willing you are to reinforce wobbly cabinet shelves and about how you'll use the piece you buy. A set of unfussy midcentury modern shelves with chrome accents might be a great space to store same-sized jars of dried beans and pasta, while a rustic unit with baskets added might be better in a cottagecore kitchen. Shaker style is one of the most popular design choices for kitchen cabinets, and you can complement them with solid wood, minimalist thrifted shelves.

Thrift store shelving can add a touch of personality to an otherwise cookie-cutter kitchen. While everyone else you know might have the same Ikea storage solutions, you can have a one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted shelf in pride of place. Depending on your storage needs, you may want to source a particular type of piece. For example, corner shelves are hard to find today but used to be all-the-rage. If you want to store deeper items like pots and jars, looking for wall-mounted bookshelves is a safe bet. Whereas, if you need to store your less-used dishes and plates, a trinket display shelf should do the trick. 

Once you've exhausted your local thrift stores in your search for kitchen shelves, put yard sales, estate sales, and going-out-of-business sales on your radar. Be prepared to make a quick decision at estate sales, in particular, where competition for the piece you want may be strong. No matter where you source your furniture, take a moment to make sure the shelf is sturdy or can be repaired.  Keep in mind that different styles of shelves have different load-bearing capacities, and that their structure (solid back? open back? metal or wood supports?) will determine how and where they're hung. Once you've bought a piece of furniture it's yours, and you can do whatever you want with it — so don't be afraid to give it a new lease on life with a coat of fresh paint or stain.