The Unexpected Kitchen Item That Instantly Adds Storage To Any Room

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Did you know that a kitchen implement designed and popularized in the 18th century can actually be used today as a brilliant storage device for your living room, kitchen, dining room, and even your home office? Toast racks were originally created to hold individual pieces of toast upright, preventing the bread from going soggy by allowing excess steam to escape into the air. While not quite as popular today as they once were for their original purpose, these charming racks thankfully still have plenty of potential when it comes to organizing domestic items other than toast.

Think for a moment, if you will, about the various items around your home that you might struggle to keep tidy. Letters and bills, books, documents, washcloths, and magazines are all common items that can be difficult to organize, and a toast rack is a great way to stop these items from being spread out on tables or shoved into drawers. The different sections of the rack mean you can organize all the papers around your house, along with other items, based on color, level of importance, or any other metric that helps you quickly find what you need. Additionally, the vertical design of the rack is a great way to maximize space as it allows objects that are typically stored flat to be collected together, conserving surface area on tables and countertops. So, if you're charmed by the sweet designs, interesting history, and useful properties of the toast rack, why not have a look at where you can find some for yourself?

There are a variety of toast racks available at stores and online, which can help you sort your items and add a decorative flair to the space, too. When searching for one, it can be helpful to consider what you are likely to use it for. Are you hoping to store light objects like papers? Then, a smaller, decorative one can be a great fit as it won't take up too much surface area and doesn't have to be too sturdy. However, if you plan to place heavier items like books or kitchen implements on your rack, then a more robust version may be a better choice for you.

It can then be helpful to think about your design preferences and which rack will fit in best with your existing decor. For example, this simple gold Stainless Steel Toast Rack would be great for adding a sleek sense of luxury and shine. Alternatively, a ceramic version provides a vintage, handmade feel perfect for more whimsical cottagecore designs. If your home features a rustic design scheme, you may want to look for a wooden one like this Personalized Oak Toast Rack, which emphasizes the natural materials essential to cabin and farmhouse styles. So, once you've found a toast rack that reflects your tastes, you can utilize it to level up your storage.

Many toast racks come in pretty designs or striking colors, making them a great decor item that can double up as storage. This is particularly true in the dining room, as they can be used to display napkins or hold plates on the table or a side console. Just keep in mind that, if you'd like to use the rack to hold larger plates, you will likely need to find one with a strong base and tall supports to ensure it doesn't fall over and break your dishes. In the kitchen, a toast rack can be used as a storage solution in a variety of ways, such as holding sponges by the sink or organizing tea towels for easy access.

The living room, too, can benefit from this unexpected yet delightful item. Why not try using it as a place to hold phones while they charge, keeping them collected and upright rather than taking up space on the table and floor? Alternatively, the rack can be used to organize and display your vinyl collection. You can also utilize a toast rack to tidy up a variety of stationery that often ends up on the hallway table or your desk, such as wedding invitations, greeting cards, documents, and letters. Finally, if you like to have multiple books on the go at once, you can keep a toast rack by your bed to hold the volumes you are currently reading, saving space and helping to organize your bedside table at the same time.