DIY A Better Plate Shelf System That Will Get Rid Of Precarious Stacking

If you're like most of us, your plate storage system is pretty simple: stacked plates on a shelf. With small plates on top of bigger plates, and the occasional bowl balancing on top of it, it's a game of Jenga every time you need to grab something. Not only that, but the repeated stacking gets you lots of cracked and chipped plates, or even broken dishes to repurpose in your home. A solution is to build a shelf system that allows you to store these plates upright. No more precarious stacking, no more cracking — just a beautiful orderly display. It's a cheap plate hack that can protect even your fine china. 

The idea is to create a shelf insert with two flat wood pieces and evenly spaced rounded slits that each fit one plate. Each plate slit is separated with wooden dividers that will keep the plates standing vertically and apart from each other. That way, the plates don't touch or lean on each other, and you can grab one without disturbing the rest of the collection. This can go inside a cabinet or on an open shelf.

This is not a beginner-friendly DIY project, but rather a medium-difficulty build that requires some tools. First, a radial saw is needed to create the slits and cut the wood planks to size (make sure you follow safety tips when using a saw!). Additionally, you will need a drill with wide drill bits to assemble everything. This DIY also requires two wood planks, wooden dowels (the sticks) for dividers, and Gorilla Glue to secure it all together.

To make this DIY plate shelf system, start by cutting two equal-sized pieces of wood. Carefully mark the exact spots on each piece where the wooden dividers will be inserted, and make sure that they are precisely aligned. Pierce holes the size of your wooden dowels at those spots. Once that's done, use the radial saw to create rounded slits on one of the planks (whichever will be at the bottom). Finally, position the wooden dividers in the holes and assemble the shelf insert, using Gorilla Glue to secure everything, like in the video. 

A caveat of this project is that it can be difficult to clean the small spaces between the dividers. In addition, wood is not great with moisture, so make sure that your plates are fully dry before they're put away. Another option is to use oil or a sealant to treat the wood pieces before you assemble the organizer so that it is moisture-proof.

If you love the look of this DIY but you're not able to do it at home, there are some lower commitment alternatives. For example, buy pre-made vertical plate organizers like this Innerneed bamboo wooden dish rack. If you'd like the setup to be more sturdy, use some 3M command strips to secure the four corners of the dish rack. Another option is to use some construction adhesive to secure it directly onto a plank of wood, which you can place on a shelf, in a cabinet, or directly into the wall using some shelf brackets.