How to Make a DIY Plate Rack For a Kitchen

Are you looking for a stylish and functional way to organize your kitchen? A DIY plate rack is the perfect solution!

This wall-mounted storage solution keeps your plates neatly arranged and serves as a charming display for your favorite kitchen essentials.

Whether you have a small kitchen and need extra storage or want to showcase your collection of platters and cookbooks, a plate rack is the perfect addition to your space.

Why Build a DIY Plate Rack?

We want to build a DIY plate rack to create a designated spot for our large platters, cutting boards, and cookbooks, which took up space in our cabinets and pantry.

By mounting a custom rack on the wall, we can keep these essentials within easy reach while freeing up valuable space.

A well-designed plate rack will add architectural interest to a dull kitchen wall.

Do you want to know the best part?

This project is totally customizable!

You can tailor the rack size, color, and details to match your space.

We’re excited to walk you through the step-by-step process of building your DIY plate rack, from planning and assembling to mounting and styling.

Let’s get started!

Plan Your Design

Before you start cutting wood and assembling your DIY plate rack, it’s essential to plan your design to ensure it fits your space and meets your storage needs.

Taking the time to map out your project will prevent costly mistakes and help you create a functional and beautiful rack.

1. Determine the Size & Placement

Here is the right side of our refrigerator.

It is the perfect width for a plate rack!

When we measured, we determined that spaces 18 inches by 21 inches would look and function the best.

• Measure the wall space where you want to install your plate rack.
• Based on your available space, decide on your rack’s width, height, and depth.

2. Choose the Number of Shelves

• Think about what you plan to store. Fewer but taller shelves may be best if you primarily store large platters and cutting boards.
• If you want to include smaller plates or cookbooks, consider adding more shelves that aren’t as high.
• A common approach is to have a couple of larger shelves on the bottom and shorter shelves on the top.

3. Decide on the Rack’s Style

• Open-Shelf Design: Simple shelves with a backboard for a clean, modern look.
• Dowel Rods or Rails: Horizontal dowels across the front of each shelf to keep plates upright and prevent items from falling forward.
• Decorative Details: To match your kitchen decor, consider adding crown molding, beadboard backing, or a painted/stained finish.

4. Sketch Your Design

• Draw a rough sketch or use graph paper to match the dimensions, shelf placements, and spacing between dowels or dividers.
• If you prefer digital planning, use an online design tool or woodworking software.

By carefully planning your DIY plate rack, you’ll ensure it’s the perfect fit for your kitchen, both in function and style.

Gather Materials

Gather the following materials to complete this project:

• Wood – two 1 in. X 3 in. X 8 ft boards
• Molding – 11/16 in. x 1-3/8 in. base cap molding for shelf fronts (1) 8 ft piece
• Screen Molding – 1/4 in. x 3/4 in. x 96 in. Solid Pine Screen Moulding
• Wood Screws – 1 -1/2 in. wood screws
• Brad Nails – 18 Brad nails
• Brad Nail Gun – Dewalt air tank and nailer combo
• Power Miter Saw – Kobalt
• Power Drill – Dewalt drill and charger combo
• Measuring tape- 25 ft measuring tape
• Torpedo Level – 9 inch level
• I Beam Level – Dewalt Level
• Caulk- DAP White Caulk
• Wood filler- Minwax Color Matched White
• Sandpaper- Gator sander tool
• Painter’s tape- Frog tape
• Primer- BIN Shellac primer
• Foam brush- disposable
• Paint- Sherwin-Williams Emerald Semigloss in Pure White
• Paintbrush- Zibra

Steps to Build a DIY Plate Rack

Prep the space

• Remove the quarter-round and baseboards

• Push the refrigerator out from the wall if needed.
• Ensure the water line to your fridge does not come loose or leak when sliding the refrigerator out (ask us how we know this could be an issue, lol).
• Clean the area and the back of the refrigerator.

Cut and Assemble the Frame

• Measure and cut the wood pieces for shelves, sides, and dowels with a miter saw.
• Start by cutting the 1 X 3 sides to length and the number of shelf boards required.
• Next, lay out the position of the shelves on the side boards.

• Mark a pencil dot where screws will go on the side board to secure the shelves and drill small pilot holes so the wood will not split.

• Take a larger bit and counter-sink the hole about 1/8 in. so the screw head embeds.
• Attach the bottom and topmost shelves to the side boards.

• Use clamps to hold it in place, and ensure the frame is square.
• Sand all edges for a smooth finish.

• Secure the other shelves at the appropriate heights by lining up and leveling. Tap into place with a mallet.

Mount the Plate Rack on the Wall

• Mount the frame with shelves onto the wall and hold it in place while checking that it is level.

• For our rack, we secured it by shooting brad nails through the side of the frame and into the adjacent wall.

• We pulled out our fridge to access behind the cabinet wall and secured it by nailing through the back.

Add DECORATIVE TRIM To SHELF Front EDGE

• Add decorative trim to the edge of the shelf.
• Attach the trim about a 1/4 inch above the shelf surface to create a lip to help secure plates.

Add Dowels or Rails for Plate Support

• Now measure and space dowels/rails evenly to hold plates in place.
• Check with a level.
• Secure the dowels/rails using brad nails.

Fill Holes and Sand

• Fill holes with wood filler

• Sand smooth
• Screw holes may require multiple coats and sanding.

Paint Shelves

• Apply painter’s tape to the floor, wall, and any areas you don’t want to get paint on.
• Prime the shelves and let them dry.
• Paint to match your kitchen decor.
• Allow to dry completely.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even with careful planning, DIY projects can come with unexpected challenges.

To help ensure your DIY plate rack turns out sturdy, functional, and beautiful, watch out for these common mistakes:

1. Not Measuring Accurately

• One of the biggest DIY mistakes is taking incorrect measurements, leading to a rack that doesn’t fit your wall space or store your items properly.
• Solution: Measure twice before cutting and double-check dimensions using a level and measuring tape.

2. Choosing the Wrong Depth

• Large platters and cutting boards won’t fit properly if the shelves are too shallow. The rack may look bulky or extend too far from the wall if it is too deep.
• Solution: A depth of 3-4 inches is ideal.

3. Weak or Insecure Mounting

• Since the rack will hold heavy plates and cutting boards, failing to mount it securely can cause it to detach from the wall.
• Solution: Always mount into wall studs using heavy-duty screws or use appropriate drywall anchors for added support.

4. Incorrect Dowel or Rail Spacing

• If the dowels or rails are spaced too far apart or close together, storing and removing items can be difficult.
• Solution: Space dowels 1.5 to 2 inches apart to hold plates while allowing easy access.

5. Forgetting to Account for Plate Sizes

• Some plates, platters, or cookbooks may not fit if the shelf spacing is too small.
• Solution: Measure your largest plate or platter and add at least 1-2 inches of extra height between shelves for easy access.

Style and Organize Your Plates

Now that our DIY plate rack is installed, it’s time to style and organize it!

Are you ready for the fun part?

I started by arranging my collection of white platters for a clean and classic look.

It looks terrific like this, but you know me, I like to add a little bit more!

So let’s style the rack a couple of different ways!

To add a decorative touch, I hung a small wreath on one of the shelves for texture and warmth.

We walk past this rack numerous times daily to get into the pantry, so I can’t have anything bulky or that sticks too far out.

This adorable bead wreath is perfect!

It cost $1.25 at Dollar Tree, and I added a sweet bow!

This time, I incorporated wooden cutting boards alongside the platters.

Combining natural wood tones and bright white dishes adds depth and interest while keeping kitchen essentials within easy reach.

I can’t wait to experiment with different arrangements and maybe add seasonal touches!

Conclusion

Building your own DIY plate rack is a rewarding project that adds function and character to your kitchen.

We’re so excited to have a stylish way to store large platters, cutting boards, and cookbooks!

With the proper planning, materials, and a little creativity, you can customize a plate rack to suit your kitchen’s style and storage needs perfectly.

We hope this step-by-step guide has inspired you to tackle this project confidently!

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Blessings, Donna and Rich

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