Coffee Mug Storage Solutions That Don't Require Buying Anything

Who doesn't love a coffee mug? Not only is it the receptacle of Americans' favorite drink (that's coffee, in case you hadn't guessed), but it's also available in a huge variety of sizes, shapes, colors, and patterns. Unfortunately, that means it's sometimes hard to resist the urge to pick up another mug when you're out and about on your shopping travels, or just browsing the internet on an idle Sunday afternoon. And a large collection of coffee mugs tends to take up a fair amount of space. So, if you're looking for simple tips to declutter your kitchen, but can't bear the thought of parting with a single mug, these simple storage solutions are for you. From storing mugs in drawers to repurposing them in other parts of the home, these ideas help free up space without throwing anything away.

And you don't need to worry about spending money either, as all these ideas utilize items that most people will already have lying around their home. So, if your kitchen is overrun with coffee mugs and you fear that they might be breeding overnight, these simple storage ideas will help make your life more streamlined — especially when it's first thing in the morning and you're stumbling around looking for the right coffee mug.

Storing mugs in a drawer is the coffee mug solution that everyone overlooks, even though it's one of the simplest. Deep drawers are a fantastic place to store your coffee mugs. First, it makes mugs far more accessible and keeps them all collected in one place. Second, it removes the risk of reaching up and breaking a mug when grabbing one from a higher cabinet before your first injection of caffeine. We would also suggest storing mugs upside down in a drawer as this means there's less chance of them becoming dusty and dirty.  

We're prepared to bet that many of you have a lazy Susan lurking somewhere in the house, perhaps inherited from parents or picked up as a cute retro find. Using it for mug storage is a brilliant way to repurpose a lazy Susan, providing a simple yet effective means of storing mugs in deep cupboards. By placing mugs on a lazy Susan, you create a turntable that makes it easy to rotate them regularly, ensuring nothing gets lost in the depths of an overly deep cupboard. It's simple, but very effective.  

Quite often, we create our own problems when it comes to coffee mug storage, and this can be something as simple as not thinking about handle direction. Lining up your coffee mug handles immediately smartens up the look of your cupboards and storage areas, creating a more pleasing aesthetic. But it's also highly practical as it will help to create more room. With handles aligned in the same position, it's easier to move mugs closer together without a handle getting in the way and reducing the amount of storage available.  

As with the lazy Susan above, we know that many of you will have a fantastically retro mug holder lurking at the back of a cupboard. Or perhaps you've employed one of these genius ways to repurpose an old coffee mug holder in the past, but now it's lying around obsolete? It's time to put this old faithful back into action for its intended purpose and use it to store coffee mugs. A mug tree doesn't take up much space, so you'll be able to store more mugs in a smaller footprint this way.   

The humble kitchen roll holder is another great way to create storage for your mugs. You simply need to attach the kitchen roll holder vertically using a Command strip that can support the combined weight of three or four mugs. Leave this to adhere for the recommended amount of time, and you've instantly created storage that your coffee mugs can simply slide onto. If you decide you like the storage idea, you could also use permanent fittings and fixtures instead of a simple Command strip. 

Hanging mugs is an easy way to save on space, as well as a great way to showcase your favorite mugs and have them on permanent display. Many kitchens already have hooks installed, but if not, try repurposing some existing hooks in your house. An old coat rack set of hooks that's no longer in use could easily be moved to the kitchen and attached to any dead space to help create a hanging nook for your best mugs.

Stacking mugs immediately cuts down on the surface area they take up, but care and thought need to go into the process. Smaller mugs of the same size can be stacked inside each other, but you can also place one upside down on top of another. You can buy mug stacking shelves, but for a solution using items you already have at home, place a small saucer or coaster between each mug to provide a stable surface for the upside down mug to sit on. This means you won't run the risk of everything collapsing. 

For those of you who have impressive coffee mug collections, the best solution is going to be going all out and creating a dedicated mug shelf in one of your cupboards. This means your mugs will always be easy to find, and you won't be scrabbling around trying to locate your favorites. Store mugs upside down on your chosen shelf to help prevent dirt and dust from getting inside them. Also, make sure you've employed our tip above of lining up handles so you can fit as many mugs as possible into the space. 

If you're not averse to a little bit of DIY, a really simple way to store coffee mugs is by utilizing some old or slightly battered teaspoons. You'll simply need a nail to hammer the spoons into a wooden shelf or board in your kitchen, spoon-side up. You can then hang your coffee mugs over the end of the spoon. If your spoon isn't bent at the end, you can use a hammer to gently bend it upward to create a hanging point. You can also easily DIY a unique storage rack yourself. 

Sometimes, it's time to admit that your mug collection is a little bit out of control. Rather than throw cherished mugs away, simply put them into storage. You can use something as simple as a cardboard box, but for an easier way to keep track of what's in storage, consider using either a plastic storage box or bin. Most homes already have storage boxes lying around, and this is a simple way to keep your mugs organized in a safe space until you want to use them again.