Ditch Pricey Wine Racks: Concrete Blocks Work Just As Well For A Fraction Of The Price

Everyone loves a good wine rack, especially for those weekend dinner parties. Being able to display your favorite wine stash is a fun way to keep all the bottles accessible without overcrowding your countertops. If you've been looking for a new wine rack, you've probably noticed that they can be a bit pricey these days. Luckily, you don't have to shell out tons of cash for a fancy rack when there's a creative way to DIY your own stylish wine rack out of something you might not have considered: concrete blocks.

Concrete blocks give a custom-made vibe, for gorgeous rooms that embody the industrial farmhouse aesthetic, without the exclusive price tag. In fact, you can find concrete blocks for just a few dollars at places like Home Depot or Lowes. You can even find them for free on many Facebook Marketplace listings. Besides being inexpensive, they're also extremely durable and are a highly efficient insulation source that's great for storing wine bottles. The best part about making them yourself (because who doesn't love a wine-related DIY?) is that they can be made as big or small as you need. Plus, you can tap into your creativity to fashion the blocks into whatever arrangement you like.

Concrete blocks come in several sizes. The more common have two openings, called cores. But you can find single blocks or even three-core blocks. Multiple sizes can be used for this project, but for the easiest construction, stick with one size. For the sake of this DIY, we're using two-core concrete blocks. Optionally, you can paint the blocks to add a pop of color or to match your home's color scheme. Let them dry completely before starting to build.

For a basic, six-bottle wine rack, use three two-core concrete blocks. Place two of them on the floor vertically so the openings align one on top of the other. Set the two blocks right next to each other with their sides touching. The third block should fit perfectly laid horizontally on top of the first two blocks. For a larger, 16-bottle rack, use eight two-core concrete blocks. Line up four of the blocks vertically, side by side. Repeat with the other four blocks, stacking them on top of the first row of blocks. You can also do the same thing with the blocks all laid horizontally, if that fits your space better. Of course, you can mix and match the arrangements to make any size or design you'd like.

To ensure the security of the wine rack, especially if you're building a larger unit, glue the blocks together with a construction adhesive like Gorilla Glue. If you're worried about setting wine bottles on rough concrete, lay a piece of soft fabric, like felt or fleece, on the bottom of the openings. And when you're done with your wine, you can check out all the ways to repurpose wine corks around the house.