Turn A Magazine Rack Into Appealing Mug Storage With A Savvy DIY

If you're a coffee connoisseur or tea devotee with an overflowing cupboard full of mugs, it may be time to think about a different storage system. Although you can find plenty of specially designed mug display shelves and racks available online, not everyone wants to spend time or money shopping for one. Instead, you could get creative and work with something you already have at home — like an old magazine rack. You know the ones: They were made from wood, had spindles around the sides, and sat on the floor. We got the idea from YouTube creator Canterbury Cottage, who posted a fascinating video about how to upcycle different household items into home decor. This includes a magazine rack — it was taken apart, and its frame was transformed into a wall-hung mug holder.

You might not come across old-school magazine holders as often as you used to. In fact, most of the ones for sale on eBay are listed as "vintage" items. But if you've got a spare rack hanging around your house (or perhaps your parents' place), you can easily turn it into a stylish new home for your mugs. Alternatively, you can check nearby thrift stores, vintage shops, or estate sales. To upcycle it into a mug holder, you'll also need supplies such as wood filler, wood glue, primer, and paint.

Before you begin building, there is some prep work to be done. Since your magazine rack has likely been around for decades, you should clean it before doing anything else. To make a wood-safe cleaning solution, add a few drops of dish soap into a bowl of warm water. Dunk a microfiber cloth into the bowl, wring it out, and wipe down the rack. When you're done, dry it with a clean cloth.

After cleaning, your next task is to disassemble the magazine rack by removing the spindles and handles. Then decide how many mugs you want to hang on the rack. If it's less than the number of holes already drilled into the wood (where the spindles were), seal up the extra ones with wood filler. If you want to repurpose the spindles into hooks for your mugs, you can use a saw to cut them to your preferred length. Otherwise, measure the holes and buy pegs that fit into them. From there, use an orbital sander to even out the wood surface.

Now, it's time to put your mug storage rack together. Using wood glue, attach the shortened spindles or pegs into the holes and gently hammer them into place. Then, apply primer and let it dry before adding a couple of coats of your favorite paint. Attach mounting hardware (like D-rings) to the back once the paint has dried, then hang the unit on the wall. 

Aside from using it for your mugs, there are other ways to turn a thrifted magazine rack into kitchen storage, too. For example, they're excellent for holding large items (like cutting boards, cookie sheets, and muffin tins), displaying your favorite cookbooks, or storing a few bottles of wine. You can also repurpose a magazine rack in your bedroom for shoes, purses, and toiletries.