Turn Plain IKEA Plate Racks Into A Chic Open Shelving Solution

IKEA is a great place to look for basic housewares at low prices with stylish appeal. While the internet and social media like Tiktok and Pinterest are full of perfect IKEA hacks for any needed solution in your home, many involve entirely new uses that vary greatly from their intended function. This includes an awesome shelf hack introduced by Dutch stylist Janneke Peters on Instagram created from inexpensive OSTBIT wooden plate racks. Usually meant for holding upright plates on a counter or cabinet, you can turn them on their side and they become an easy hack for additional narrow shelving. 

Not only are these rugged shelf holders fresh and modern looking with IKEA's usual Scandinavian flair, but they are also great additions to provide more storage in your kitchen or elsewhere in your home. Plus, these sturdy bamboo pegged pieces, serve as lighter and often less expensive alternatives to L-brackets or other mounts. You can easily adjust the height of your shelves as needed without putting additional holes in the wall, making it a great solution for renters. The slender profile of the shelves and pegs also makes it a great idea for areas in your home that need shelving but are too narrow to accommodate traditional shelves.

First, decide how long you'd like your shelf or shelves to be. Using a piece of wood about 2 to 3 inches wide, measure and cut it to your desired length. Keep in mind that longer shelves can be unstable, especially if you're using a thin material.

Then, hang two OSTBIT plate holders vertically on the wall the correct distance apart for your shelf to rest on the pegs. Use a level to make sure that your pegs line up to create even footing for your shelves. Be sure to mount the racks to wall studs for stability, particularly if you plan to place heavier objects like mugs or glassware on the shelves. 

You can also add more shelves to the unit by simply installing more racks above or below. If you are worried about the shelves being jostled in higher traffic areas, you can put a little bit of wood glue to the board where it rests on the pegs to add a little more stability and keep the boards securely in place.

Use your new shelf for narrower items like spices, teas, shakers, and measuring cups to keep everything visible and within reach. You can leave the lowest rung of pegs open to hang towels, potholders, and grocery totes all in one place. You can also create a small herb garden or seedling set-up near a window and use the pegs underneath for hanging gloves, shears, and other gardening tools at the ready. The shelves even make an excellent spot to store pet treats or cans of food, with open pegs to hang leashes and harnesses.

For a more customized feel, you can paint the OSTBIT and the boards a single or a mix of colors, or add a peel-and-stick shelf liner to the boards for a patterned look to match your design scheme. With each OSTBIT plate holder coming in at $5.99, and inexpensive wood planks used for the shelves, this is a budget-friendly alternative to other slender shelving units available from IKEA and elsewhere.