Turn An Old Thrift Store Magazine Rack Into Adorable Kitchen Towel Storage

Kitchen towels have a funny way of multiplying. Maybe you picked up a few festive tea towels over the holidays, grabbed extras during a sale, or switched to reusable cloths to cut back on paper waste. Once you have more than a couple of towels, it becomes oddly difficult to figure out where they should live in your kitchen. Stuffed into a drawer, they're out of sight and easy to forget. Draped over the oven handle, they can look cluttered fast, and tossing them on the counter is rarely the look that anyone's going for. With a little rethinking, you can turn a thrifted magazine rack into useful kitchen storage that neatly holds and displays your cloth and paper kitchen towels. Simply fold the towels and store them over and inside the rack, and thread a paper kitchen towel roll over the handle.

The best part is there's no actual DIY involved. After all, they were originally designed to hold newspapers, magazines, or books upright. You don't need any tools and there's no drilling or modifying the piece in any permanent way. All you need is the rack itself and the towels you already own. The best types of magazine holder for this hack are wooden magazine racks with a carry handle. With readers increasingly online, magazine racks aren't commonly found in today's big box retailers. Instead, you'll spot them on thrift store shelves, at estate sales, or tucked into a corner of a secondhand shop — likely for just a few dollars a piece. Bonus: The warm tones of a solid wood holder work beautifully in cozy cottage, farmhouse, rustic, or vintage-inspired kitchens.

Once you've found your magazine rack, styling it couldn't be simpler. Fold a decorative tea towel lengthwise and drape it neatly over the front side of the rack. Make sure any patterning or embroidery faces outward. If you've got multiple tea towels, layer them so the designs are visible. Learning how to properly fold and store hand towels will help you create an intentional rather than bulky display. The interior of the magazine holder is just as useful; it's the perfect place to store your current favorite cookbook, a recipe binder, or folded reusable napkins. The carry handle also doubles as a spot to slide on a roll of paper kitchen towels, turning the rack into an all-in-one spill- and mess-cleaning station.

Customization is easy, too. You can lightly sand and then stain the rack if the original tone of the wood doesn't match your kitchen aesthetic. Sanding can be tricky; common mistakes when sanding wood projects include applying uneven pressure and over-sanding. Don't like wood stain? Paint the rack in a trending color for an updated look or to complement your existing décor. You can refresh the display seasonally or for festive occasions with themed towel swaps. Unlike wall-mounted towel bars or hooks, this countertop holder is transportable. Keep it near the kitchen sink, your coffee station, or your baking area — it all depends on where you need the towels the most. It's ideal for kitchens with limited wall space. Or you could use it as a bathroom towel and beauty product storage solution.