The Country Kitchen Hanging Storage Hack To Keep Countertops Clear

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Your countertops play a key role in creating an even balance of form and functionality in your kitchen. For starters, they take up quite a bit of visual space and can make other nearby elements, such as your hardware and cabinets, look more appealing. On the other hand, they should be durable workstations for cooking and cleaning that you can use on a daily basis. If you often keep your bulky appliances, dishware, or food items out on your countertops, then you're probably reducing both the surface's aesthetic quality and its practical value. To solve this issue, you'll need to think carefully about what storage options you have available elsewhere in your kitchen so that you can free up some counter space. One clever solution you might not have considered yet is installing a rustic peg rail shelf on your wall and using it to hold up a set of sturdy woven baskets.

Putting up a peg rail shelf in your kitchen is a great way to utilize the room's open vertical space. In the baskets you hang from the fixture, you can store garlic, fruits, cooking utensils, or any other miscellaneous items currently sitting out on your countertops. Between the baskets, you could keep things like hand towels and measuring cups, which could potentially save you some drawer space as well. To top it all off, the way the shelf looks could help give your kitchen a rustic farmhouse feel that's both timeless and inviting.

To begin this project, you'll first need to decide whether or not you're going to build your shelf from scratch. If yes, then you'll need two identical-length boards, shaker pegs, construction adhesive, and wood screws. Sand down both boards and drill holes for the pegs in one of the boards. A drill press can be particularly handy for this step. Next, attach the pegs with your adhesive, and use the screws to connect the shelf to the top of the peg board, so that it's situated above the pegs at a perpendicular angle. If you're not building your own shelf, you can buy a coat rack with pegs instead. A Ballucci 5-Peg Floating Shelf, for example, should work great. Alternatively, get a picture ledge, turn it upside down, and attach the pegs in the same way you would when building the shelf from scratch.

Before you begin the installation, use a stud finder, and attach the back of the shelf to at least one of your studs if you're going to put heavy items in your baskets. If you are unable to do this, you should use wall anchors. Don't forget to watch out for your kitchen's plumbing or electrical work when you're drilling. Once your shelf is on the wall, simply hang your woven baskets from the pegs by one of their handles and fill them up so that the added weight holds them in place.

There are plenty of unique ways to customize the function and appearance of your new kitchen wall shelf. If you'd like to change the color, all you need is some paint and primer. Alternatively, you could give the fixture a new look with a wood stain. If you'd like to reinforce the top ledge of your shelf, try attaching a pair of shelf brackets on the far ends of the fixture with wood screws. A set of Midwest Craft House Antique Style Shelf Brackets, for example, would enhance the rustic, country-style look of the shelf and allow you to put heavier items on it. Looking for a way to improve the shelf's attachment to the wall? Where you're not hitting a stud, molly bolts are probably your best bet. If you're still concerned about the fixture's strength, you might want to read up on how to know if you're putting too much weight on your shelving units.

Your shelf's baskets are a great place to keep fruits and veggies that you'd prefer not to put in the refrigerator right away, such as bananas, tomatoes, and onions. They could also be useful for baking or cooking utensils that don't have a sharp edge. You can use your pegs for hanging up oven mitts or for drying fresh herbs. On the top of the shelf, you can keep coffee or tea or organize your spices so you can see all your options.