Don't Toss An Old Ironing Board - Turn It Into A Useful Kitchen Storage Piece Instead

Ah, traditional homes — we love them for their quirky features. One such gem that graces some of these spaces is the vintage ironing board cabinet. Built into the wall, you'll often find this wooden fixture in old kitchens. Just swing the cabinet door open, and the ironing board is at your service. Convenient, right? Back in the day, yes, but not anymore. People don't iron as much as they used to in the 40s. Many would also now rather use clothes steamers for easy wrinkle removal. Hence, your first instinct might be to rip the whole unit out and replace it with drywall. But the real question is, why go through all that hassle when you can easily flip it into a spice rack?

The narrow depth of these built-in cupboards fits spice jars perfectly — it's almost as if they were designed for that purpose. Not only that, but it's also a great way to organize your spices so you can see all of your options at a glance. Only little changes are needed, and for the most part, this DIY requires: a screwdriver, a few slim wooden boards, a hand saw or electrical saw, finishing nails, and a nail gun (which can be replaced with the old-fashioned hammer).

First on the to-do list is to unscrew the old ironing board so that you can take measurements. Decide how many shelves you want to put inside the nook. Don't forget to also factor in the space between each shelf. Measuring your tallest spice bottle can help. Once you've done the math, cut your wood accordingly. Then, mount leftover boards (or these DIY Wooden Square Dowel Rods by Woodpeckers) on the sides of the cabinet to act as shelf brackets.

You can stop there like TikTok user bkernal14 did, and jump straight to installing the shelves and moving in your spice collection. Or, you can amp up the design with a fresh coat of paint/patterned wallpaper. In this case, fill holes, cracks, and gaps with Gorilla All-Purpose Wood Filler first. Next, lightly sand the shelves and the cabinet's surfaces so the paint sticks better. Now onto the fun part: customizing it however you like! Consider a sage green finish to carry on with the retro feel. Maybe even add a pop of color to your kitchen by painting the door a vibrant hue, like a shade of blue for example. Choosing two different colors for the shelves and interior walls can be a fun idea, too. And if all else fails, stick to white for a timeless look.