Create Kitchen Towel Storage With Some Old Enamel Coffee Mugs

Are you struggling with kitchen storage, particularly when it comes to hanging your tea towels? While a towel rack can help even the smallest kitchen, you might be looking for a more stylish solution. If you have some mugs lying around that need to be repurposed, consider transforming them into a chic towel organizer and hanger. This enamel mug solution will give your tea towels a home while upgrading your kitchen at the same time. All you need are a few old mugs, a piece of reclaimed wood or a wooden plank (anything that can act as a base for your mugs will work), and a drill. These items will combine to create hanging storage that allows you to keep your tea towels readily accessible.

The key here is to choose mugs and wood that will match your kitchen's decor. For instance, enamel mugs add a rustic, farmhouse finish that can work with a variety of layouts. If you have some of these lying around, utilize them for this DIY. If not, you can find budget-friendly versions in varying shades online, like these enamel ones on Amazon for $3.27. Two to three mugs are the optimum number, as you can get enough storage for several kitchen towels. 

Choosing your base for your DIY towel rack can be as simple as picking up a piece of wood from your local hardware store, but there are plenty of creative alternatives to consider. For a unique touch, you could use driftwood if you have some on hand, or repurposed wood pieces to enhance the provincial look of the project. You can also weather wood for a more rustic look, too. If you opt for plywood, make sure to select a thicker piece that can support both the mugs and the screws you will need to keep them attached. 

After preparing the wood — whether by painting, sanding, staining, or shaping it –  you can start attaching your mugs. You can place them any way you please, but one creative method from blogger Home Road DIY & Crafts involves mounting two mugs horizontally on the wood. Secure the bottom of each mug with screws, so their openings face outward like cubbies. You can easily slot the towels in here by folding them into quarters. A third mug can be attached right side up, so the opening is toward the ceiling. Here you can also add towels that have been rolled, or even fake plants, napkins, or a variety of other items that add to the decorative finish.

If you opt to get creative with your mugs, just keep in mind that ceramic options will be harder to secure to the plank of wood. You can use strong adhesive like Gorilla Glue or a hot glue gun, but make sure that the mug is secure before attempting to hang it. Your last step is to secure a piece of rope or even a chain to the top of your wood plank to hang it from.

If you can't find the enamel mugs you want in a specific color, don't be afraid to paint them or decorate them to suit your needs. Acrylic paint is great for enamel and metal materials, while decoupage can work on a variety of surfaces, including your mugs. Pick out your preferred patterns or prints from scrapbook paper selections, then either rip or cut these into strips and use Mod Podge to secure the pieces. You can paint around the rim if you need to disguise the ends of the paper, or just line them up with the lip of the mug so they don't look messy or wayward when you're finished.

Use tea towels that are also aesthetically pleasing inside this DIY holder, as it will likely become a focal point in your kitchen due to the creativity and uniqueness it exudes. You can make more of these holders for your bathroom or other areas of the house, too, whether for hand towels, wash clothes, or even smaller accessories that need a home.