The Vintage Kitchen Essential That Makes The Perfect Storage Solution For Small Items

It's easy for small items to quietly take over every inch of your home. Jewelry ends up scattered across a dresser. Craft supplies migrate from drawers to worktops. Odds and ends with no real home pile up on your entryway console or kitchen island. While there's no shortage of modern organizers on the market, many of them are overpriced, lack charm, or are made from cheap plastic. They do the job, but they don't add much personality to your space. That's where an unexpected vintage kitchen essential comes in: the sugar mold. Whether you decide to use your sugar mold in your home office, on a dresser, or even in the bathroom, it will double as rustic décor.

Old-fashioned sugar molds are a fantastic storage idea for keeping small items organized without hogging space. Traditionally used to shape raw sugar into cones, sugar molds were once a cottage industry staple. Today, these nifty devices are finding a new life as a charming and highly practical storage solution. Most are made from solid wood and feature numerous cylindrical wells, making them perfect for organizing small items. Each compartment acts as a designated home for a specific type of knickknack. To find one, take a look at thrift stores, vintage markets, and estate sales. Or buy one new — this Woodynlux Four-Hole Wooden Sugar Mold costs about $45.

What makes a sugar mold so effective as a storage solution is the built-in holes. The deep wells are perfectly sized for holding tall, thin items upright, stopping them from rolling around. It's also great for tiny items you'd typically stow away in a canister or lidded box. In a bedroom or bathroom, sugar molds work beautifully for jewelry and accessory storage. Each well can hold earrings, rings, hair ties, or bobby pins. The items are visible and easy to grab when you need them. On a vanity, use them to hold makeup brushes, lip glosses, and clips.

Sugar molds are a genius craft room organization hack for storing paintbrushes, pens, scissors, spools of thread, or small tools. You could even use one in your home office for stationery storage. These functional items also make for great seasonal tabletop décor. Line each cup with Spanish moss or faux greenery and top them with decorative items — think small painted eggs for Easter or candy canes for Christmas. If you want to display a sugar mold on your living room coffee table or mantel, fill each indent with scented tealight candles or air plants. Line the hollows with glass votive candle holders or paint them dramatic black or a bright hue for a pop of color. Don't be afraid to have some fun with this historic kitchen essential!