Goodbye To Kitchen Clutter: Erin Napier's Smart Design Trick Frees Up Cabinet Space

When it comes to bringing style and function to modest spaces, HGTV design star Erin Napier is a true expert. On an episode of "Home Town," Napier utilizes a unique design trick to add stylish and functional storage to a tiny kitchen: She installs a long rail on the backsplash behind a stovetop to hang mugs using simple S hooks. This straightforward yet unusual design accent adds interest without stealing focus from the overall look and feel of the space. 

Cozy practicality meets modern design in this backsplash accent — a black rail offers a sleek, clean line while mugs add an inviting, lived-in feel to the kitchen. The thin, dark rail is set against the white granite backsplash with black veining, which allows the rail to pop without overwhelming the space. It feels like an essential feature in the kitchen akin to the appliances and cabinets, while also adding an out-of-the-ordinary element that fits seamlessly with the rest of the design. Napier matches the look with a black rod for the cafe curtains over the kitchen sink window to create a cohesive look.

Napier says in the episode that the rack provides "mug storage, but it's also display, and it frees up some cabinet space." She hangs a few small, earthy-toned coffee mugs on the far edge of the rail to balance the space, leaving the rest of the rail bare. Napier loves to incorporate charming coffee mug storage solutions in her kitchen designs, but this trick isn't just for mugs, or even just the kitchen. In fact, you can easily recreate this look in just about any room in your home where you need some extra storage and organization.

Recreating this storage hack in your kitchen is simple, and there are lots of options to suit your space, budget, and home modification limitations. Repurposing curtain rods for kitchen storage is a great option, especially if you want to mimic the length of the rail Napier uses in the episode. Want your rail to continue around a corner? Install a corner curtain rod to wrap extra storage space around your kitchen and create even more of a visual impact. Renters can customize their kitchen with this hack by using a self-adhesive rack that sticks to the wall or backsplash tile, no drilling needed. If you want to utilize a rail for a smaller space such as above a coffee bar, you can free up kitchen space with TikTok's storage hack of using a towel rack with S hooks to DIY a short kitchen rail.

One key in achieving the clean, cozy look is to be selective in what you hang on your rail while still making it functional for your needs. For kitchen use, try hanging pots, pans, colanders, cooking utensils, oven mitts, or just anything else you can think of that won't overload the visual space (or exceed the rail's weight limit). The same goes for using this design trick in other areas of your home. Grab a hanging glass jar lid from Dollar Tree and hang your toothbrushes and toothpaste in a glass jar, and use the S hooks to hold hair tools or a hand mirror. In your home office, use the wall rail to keep chargers neat and untangled and headphones within arm's reach.