Average But Inspired

Inspiring creativity with crafts, DIY, and home decor projects.

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How to Update Mirrored Built-ins with Paint and Peel and Stick Wallpaper

You guys!  I thought I was excited about the limewash stone fireplace makeover I completed last month, but I think I’m even more excited about how I updated the flanking mirrored built-ins with paint and peel and stick wallpaper.  

Amazing! Previously dated 1970s mirror-backed built-in bookcases got a fresh new look with paint and removable wallpaper. See how she used grasscloth peel and stick wallpaper to hide the mirrors, and Behr Cabinet & Trim Enamel in Manchester Gray to paint these bookcases pretty!

This makeover totally transformed the look and feel of my living room in my new home!

And . . bonus . . it was very budget friendly.

This post contains affiliate links.  To read my full disclosure policy, please click here.

In case you haven’t been following my progress on Instagram, here is what one of the mirrored built-ins looked like after the fireplace makeover but before I got to work.  So reflective.

Before these dated 1970s mirrored built-in bookcases got a makeover, they were an eyesore with thin trim and mirrored backs!

I started by ripping off the top piece of trim on each built-in, simply because I thought it was a little flimsy and I wanted it to be a bit more substantial.  

To updated 1970s built-ins, she removed the top piece of trim, which was too thin.

Once that trim was down, I built craftsman-style headers with two 1×2 pieces of lumber and one 1×4 piece of lumber per header.  I used this tutorial for building craftsman window trim as a guide, but modified the tutorial to just use my trusty Ryobi brad nailer instead of screws.  Much easier, in my humble opinion.

To update 1970s built-in bookcases, she built a new craftsman-style header.

And yes, I did all of the building myself.  I also installed them myself, though my husband held them in place while I nailed them up so they wouldn’t move out of place.  (If you do this please make sure to find studs to nail into!)

To update 1970s built-in bookcases, she built a craftsman-style header and attached it to the top of the built-ins.

Once I had the new headers on the built-ins, they already looked nicer!  

To update 1970's mirrored built-ins, she built a new craftsman-style header for the built-ins.

Next, I removed the shelves from the built-ins and admired myself in the mirrors.  It was wonderful. (ha!)  Then I primed the built-ins and the shelves.  I used the same Multi-Surface Primer that I used on my painted marble fireplace hearth, and I’m so glad I did because the shelves had A LOT of stains.

To prime 1970s oak built-ins, she used Behr Multi-Surface primer.

I set up folding tables all over my house and painted away.  My family wasn’t really thrilled but I told them sometimes you have to suffer for beauty.

When priming built-in shelves, she set out folding tables to have plenty of space for painting.

After priming, I painted with Behr’s new Cabinet & Trim Enamel paint in Manchester Gray.  I plan to paint my kitchen cabinets, so I wanted to give this product a test run in here first.     

Behr's Cabinet & Trim Enamel in Manchester Gray was used to update these 1970s built-in bookcases.

The Cabinet & Trim Enamel was a great paint to work with.  It had very little odor, covered well, and self-leveled nicely (meaning fewer brush strokes).    

As part of a makeover of these 1970s mirrored built-ins, she painted the wood portions with Behr Cabinet & Trim Enamel in Manchester Gray.

I used a synthetic brush to paint it on, as well as a 1/4″ nap foam roller to roll it on wider swaths of the built-ins as well as the shelves.  To efficiently paint built-in bookcase shelves, she set out numerous folding tables as painting stations.

It took two coats of paint (plus the primer) to cover the old oak bookcases. 

If you don’t have mirrored built-ins, this is where your project can end!  Unfortunately for me, I had a lot more work to do.

I let the paint cure for a few days, and then I got to work covering the mirrors with peel and stick wallpaper.

My original plan was to cover large foam boards with fabric and rest those foam boards in the backs of the shelves, but for some reason I changed my mind and chose to use this grasscloth peel and stick wallpaper instead. 

I am going to write an entire post on covering mirrors with removable wallpaper (because it is a process!), so for now I will fast forward to the good stuff and show you how that self-adhesive wallpaper looks in my newly re-finished built-ins!  (P.S. you may notice we removed the carpet and had new floors installed – more on our choice of luxury vinyl plank soon! And yes, we don’t have baseboards up yet!)

These 1970s mirrored built-in bookcases got a gorgeous makeover with cabinet paint and peel and stick wallpaper! Grasscloth peel and stick wallpaper is a beautiful way to cover mirrors.

Outdated 1970s built-ins got a new look with cabinet paint and peel and stick wallpaper. You won't believe the transformation.

Totally different, huh?  So much less shiny!  

Dated 1970s mirrored built-ins got a gorgeous update with paint and peel and stick wallpaper.

Do you need a BEFORE photo to remind you where I started?  (I think you do!)  

This is the before of this blogger's stone fireplace and mirrored built-ins. See the after - you won't believe it!

Quite a difference!  Dated 1970s bookcases got a beautiful update with paint and peel and stick wallpaper.Peel and stick wallpaper covers mirrored backs of built-ins from the 1970s.

Instead of being an eyesore, these built-ins are now a perfect place for me to display my thrifted and vintage finds, family photos, and other little decor items I love.

Formerly an eyesore, these built-ins are now beautiful with a fresh coat of paint and peel and stick wallpaper to hide the mirrored backs.

The baskets on the bottom are also a perfect place to store blankets and other random junk I don’t want out on display!

Grasscloth peel and stick wallpaper covers mirrored backs in these 1970s built-ins.

I’m proud to say that those two baskets are the only new things I bought to style these shelves, as I had everything else already.  Yay for being fiscally responsible! 🙂

If you have dated built-ins that could use some new personality, give this a try!  At the very least, paint will work wonders.

-Bre

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How to Paint a Marble Fireplace Hearth in Four Easy Steps!

I recently shared the first makeover in my new house – my limewashed stone fireplace – and I am thrilled with the impact it made in the living room!  As part of that makeover, I also had to paint the marble fireplace hearth because it stuck out like a sore thumb once the orange stone on the fireplace facade was limewashed.  See what I mean in this before picture?  BEFORE this marble hearth was painted, it stuck out against the limewashed fireplace stone.

Painting the marble hearth was a little risky because I wasn’t sure if it would actually work, but I painted and stenciled the tile hearth in my old home, so I decided to chance it here, too! 

I’m happy to report that the painted marble finish is beautiful and it’s holding up fantastically.  One caveat: we haven’t made a fire yet, so I can’t vouch for the durability of the finish with heat yet.  BUT . . . I am pretty sure it’s going to be OK because the hearth never got very hot anyway!  I will report back once we’ve had a fire and confirm or tell you not to do this if you want to have fires.

How to Paint a Marble Fireplace Hearth

It was so easy to paint my fireplace hearth, and it only took four steps.  You can do this project in a matter of hours!  The hardest part is waiting for the paint to dry!Learn to paint a marble fireplace hearth in four simple steps! It's easy to get a durable finish for your fireplace hearth by painting it.

This post contains affiliate links.  To read my full disclosure policy, please click here.

Supplies Needed to Paint a Marble Fireplace Hearth

These are the supplies I used to paint my fireplace hearth as shown in this post:

Step One: Sand the Marble Hearth

As with all painting projects, the first step is preparation.  Preparation is so important for getting a quality finish!  I always want to get to the “pretty part,” but for a slick surface like marble, this step is not to be missed.  So, make sure to use a fine grain sandpaper and lightly rough up the marble hearth.  Before painting a marble hearth, make sure to sand it.

Step Two: Clean the Hearth

Next, you need to clean the hearth.  Think about the gross stuff that accumulates on a hearth over time.  Dust, dirt, ash . . . the list goes on and on.  And, with the roughed up surface you’ve just created by sanding, you definitely don’t want to skip this step.

Mix up some TSP, which is a great cleaner to use before painting (it even says so on the box – ha!), and wash the entire hearth.  

Step Three: Prime the Marble Hearth

Next up comes priming!  Because marble is porous and slick at the same time, you MUST PRIME before painting!  I don’t care if you’re using paint that tells you don’t have to prime (like chalk paint), you absolutely must prime the hearth prior to painting it. 

For this project, I used Behr Multi-Surface Primer because it specifically says that it works on glossy surfaces.  I wanted to make sure that the primer and paint I used didn’t wipe right off, so I gave the product a try. 

First I applied a thin coat of primer with a brush along the rough edges of the hearth.

Use a multi-surface primer before painting a marble fireplace hearth.

Then, I applied a thin coat on the top of the hearth with a tiny foam roller, and it worked wonderfully.

 Prime the marble hearth prior to painting it.

I let the primer dry for a few hours until I was sure it was ready for a topcoat.  The fireplace looked better with just primer on it.  This is the fireplace with a primed marble hearth.

Step Four: Paint the Marble Hearth

Finally, the moment you’ve been waiting for!  The actual paint gets to be applied!

For my marble fireplace hearth, I chose to use Americana Decor Satin Enamels Paint in Neutral Beige.  I used this paint because it’s a multi-surface paint that self-seals – meaning it doesn’t need a topcoat!  I previously used this paint on my blue painted bathroom vanity makeover and in my mom’s bold powder room green vanity makeover, so I knew it has a durable finish with a sheen that I like.  DecoArt Americana Decor Satin Enamels works for painting a marble fireplace hearth. This is Satin Enamels in Neutral Beige.

I used the same process of painting the edge of the hearth with a brush and rolling the paint on the top of the hearth with a foam roller.  Use a brush and a foam roller to paint the marble fireplace hearth.

After two coats of paint the marble was flawless and looked amazing with the newly limewashed fireplace stone.  Thank goodness the orange marble was gone!  This painted marble hearth now looks perfect with the limewashed stone fireplace.It's easy to paint a marble hearth on a fireplace!

I know marble is not typically a surface that gets painted, but in this case, I just had to update it. This limewashed stone fireplace and painted marble hearth are an amazing DIY makeover! You can easily paint a marble hearth in four steps.

I have a feeling there are others out there living with dated marble fireplace hearths or ugly marble fireplace surrounds, too, who are hesitant to paint their marble.  I say just jump in and do it!  This is an easy project with a huge return.  Don't live with ugly marble! Paint it! In just four simple steps, you can paint your marble fireplace hearth and get a brand new look!

Next up, I will be showing you the makeover I’m giving the built-ins that flank this fireplace! They’re looking beautiful so far!

-Bre

You May Also Like Learning How to Refinish Your Front Door the Easy Way!

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Limewash Stone Fireplace Makeover: Bye Bye Orange Stone Fireplace, Hello Neutral Stone Beauty!

Last September I announced that we were moving from our beloved home outside of Chicago to the Milwaukee suburbs.  On December 21 we moved in to our new home, and since then, I have been busy unpacking and trying to make this house feel like our home!  I tackled my first big project, which was a makeover of our massive 1970s fireplace, and I am thrilled to share my limewash stone fireplace makeover with you now!  This DIY stone fireplace makeover is amazing! For under $70 see how she transformed her dated 1970s stone fireplace with limewash.

Before I show you all the pretty “after” makeover fireplace photos, I have to show you the beast I was working with!  Complete with a wide variety of orange rocks, this extra large fireplace really clashed with my living room decor.  This 1970s orange rock fireplace got a much-needed update and makeover with Riposo Beige limewash.

As much as I can, I like to work with what I’ve got, though, and I did not want to tear down this fireplace (can you imagine the dust and mess?!?), concrete over the rocks, or frame it out with wood and ruin the 70s vibe we’ve got going on here.  So, I did some research and decided to do a DIY stone fireplace makeover with Romabio brand limewash.

What is Limewash?

Sorry if you already know this, but I thought that some of you might be unfamiliar with limewash, so let me fill you in!  Basically, limewash is a heavily mineral-based paint that produces a very chalky and matte finish.  The minerals seep into the porous surface to which the limewash is applied and give a really authentic and aged look.  It is VERY popular for painting bricks and other masonry, like stone!

This post contains affiliate links.  To read my full disclosure policy, please click here.

There are several brands of limewash on the market, and apparently you can even make your own!  I chose to use Romabio brand limewash because I follow the company on Instagram and love every makeover I see with their products, and because their limewash is affordably priced and comes in many colors.  I used the Riposo Beige shade for my limewash fireplace makeover.

Why Use Limewash on Stone and Brick Instead of Paint?

You might be wondering why I chose to limewash my stone fireplace instead of painting it . . . 

Well, there are several reasons!

First, I like that limewash is removable within the first five days of application.  This made the project seem less risky to me.  Although it probably would have been messy and tedious to remove the finish if I didn’t like it, I felt good knowing that it wasn’t permanent if I hated it.

Next, I like that limewash has little to no odor, unlike many types of paint!  I did this project in January with no windows open, and there were no stinky fumes invading my house.

Third, I liked that the finished look was completely up to me in terms of how much of the original stone color I wanted to show through.  Simply by thinning the limewash with water, I would have been able to get a more translucent effect and would have allowed more of the natural stone color to show through.  This is perfectly fine with limewash and does not affect the durability of the product!  In my case, I was trying to mask the orange tones, so I applied the limewash in a more opaque finish.  But had I wanted to, I could have allowed more of the stone color to show through.

What Supplies Do You Need for a Limewash Stone Fireplace Makeover?

Now that you have a little more background on limewash, let me fill you in on the supplies you need to limewash a stone fireplace.  Surprisingly, it isn’t that much!

These are the supplies you need for a limewash stone fireplace makeover.

All in, this project cost me just under $70, and that is because I had to buy things like painters tape, rags, and a protective tarp (since the ones I already had are still packed away from the move).  If you already have these items, your project cost will be less.

How to Limewash a Stone Fireplace

I think you won’t believe how easy it is to limewash a stone fireplace!

First, make sure to protect surrounding surfaces with a tarp and painters tape.  Before limewashing your fireplace, protect surfaces with a tarp and painters tape.

Next, clean the stone with a wet rag.  Make sure to get rid of any cobwebs hiding in between the rocks, and get the rocks wet (but not dripping wet).  Before limewashing your fireplace, wash the rock and remove cobwebs.

After the stone fireplace surround is clean, get out your water bottle and spray the rocks.  You want the rocks to definitely be wet, but you don’t want water running down the rocks. Spray the rocks on the fireplace to get them wet prior to limewashing.

Now it’s time to mix up the limewash!  For this step, make sure to read the product instructions that come with the limewash you have purchased.  Romabio Classico limewash in Riposo Beige, prior to being mixed.

I chose to mix my quart of limewash with half the amount of water (so, 16 ounces in this case), and this resulted in a thicker cover of limewash.  Remember to mix, mix, mix the product so that there is no extra water left at the top of the bucket, and so that everything is all mixed together.  This could take up to ten minutes because limewash is very thick to begin with!  Mix the Romabio Classico limewash with water prior to applying it to the fireplace.

Once the product is fully mixed, it’s time to apply the limewash to the fireplace.  I started on the top side and worked my way down.  I watched carefully to see when the limewash was almost dry (but not totally dry), and then began to wipe it off very lightly.  Apply the limewash to the top of the stone and work your way down.

Doing this let some of the rock tones show through – but not too much!

I repeated this application / drying / wiping process across the front and couldn’t believe the immediate difference the limewash made!  I won’t lie – I did have a minor time of doubt as it was such a drastic difference, but I know that I always do that with any project, so I calmed down and kept working.  This is the halfway point of the stone fireplace makeover. The left side has Romabio Classico limewash on it in Riposo Beige, and the right side is natural stone.

Once I finished the entire fireplace, I went back in to the nooks and crannies I missed with the bulky masonry brush, and touched up those spots with a small paintbrush.  (If you’re working with a limewash solution that is more diluted than my mixure, this may not be an issue for you!)  After the stone has been limewashed, you may want to go back to the crevices and apply more product.

I stood back and admired the look of my limewashed rock fireplace, and then noticed how awful the orange hearth looked against it.  I felt a pit in my stomach because I couldn’t let this orange hearth ruin this makeover!  The limewash did not work on the marble hearth (I accidentally got some on the hearth and it wiped right off even though it had dried), so I had to think of a different solution.  This stone fireplace has been limewashed, but the hearth has not yet been painted.

The good news is that I did come up with a way to paint my marble fireplace hearth, and the whole project came together gorgeously!  (Click that link if you want to learn how to paint a marble fireplace hearth, too!)

The Completed DIY Stone Fireplace Makeover

I know, I know – you want to see it!  Here is the completed fireplace makeover – it looks so different!  This 1970s stone fireplace features a limewash finish in Romabio Classico Riposo Beige.

I cannot believe what I accomplished for under $70!  This stone fireplace makeover is gorgeous! The natural stone shines through the Riposo Beige limewash finish.

And in case you’re wondering why I didn’t paint the brass fireplace doors – it’s because I like them!  Brass is one of my favorite finishes.

This 1970s stone fireplace got a beautiful makeover with limewash. This is an easy DIY project that takes one day to complete.

Decor should be about what you like and not what others say you should do, so I am leaving them.  (For now, at least.  ;-)).  See how this dated stone fireplace got a fresh new look with limewash!

Final Thoughts and the Nitty Gritty on a Limewash Fireplace Makeover

In total, I spent just about 4.5 hours on this DIY stone fireplace makeover – from cleaning, to wetting the stone, to mixing the limewash, and applying the limewash.  Note that if your limewash solution takes longer to get to the “wipe off” phase, your project time could be longer.

It was TOTALLY worth it.  My living room is so much brighter, and my fireplace looks so much better.  I didn’t have to spend a ton of money to make it look fresh, and I am so thankful to have found out about limewash!  This dated 1970s stone fireplace got a beautiful new look with limewash.

I used an entire quart of limewash in the Riposo Beige shade for this fireplace and I didn’t have any left over. If you use Romabio Classico Limewash, they have helpful tools on their website that will let you figure out how much product you need for your specific project.  They say that generally, a quart is enough for a fireplace makeover.

The next step in this living room overhaul is to paint the wall surrounding the fireplace (it’s currently a gray/purple color), and then paint the built-ins and get rid of the mirrored backs!  UPDATE: I finished the mirrored built-ins makeover, and we replaced the carpeting with luxury vinyl plank flooring (you can read my luxury vinyl plank review here!)  We would also like to have a mantel built for the fireplace, but it is surprisingly expensive (according to the one quote I’ve gotten), and my large round wood mirror gives the natural wood look we’re after – at least for now!  

So, what do you think?  Was this 1970s stone fireplace makeover a success?  Let me know in the comments and please share this post to Pinterest to help others learn how to limewash their fireplaces, too!  Us stone fireplace people need to stick together!  🙂  For under $70 you can give your dated stone fireplace a whole new look! Read this post to learn how to limewash the stone and freshen it up.

-Bre

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IKEA Bathroom Vanity Hack: IKEA Silveran for a Shallow Space

Like many bathrooms in old homes, our upstairs hall bathroom is small!  We just renovated it (check it out in this 1920’s bathroom renovation post), and knew we had to work in as much storage and countertop space as we could, while getting the period-correct look we wanted.  That’s where our IKEA bathroom vanity hack comes in!  We hacked the $89 IKEA Silveran sink cabinet and turned it into the perfect bathroom vanity and bathroom storage solution for a small bathroom!  This IKEA Silveran bathroom vanity hack is a perfect small bathroom storage solution! Customized with turned legs and a quartz countertop, this Silveran cabinet is the perfect addition to this small bathroom.

This IKEA bathroom storage hack might be perfect for your small bathroom, or it might inspire you to modify a different IKEA piece for your bathroom!  There are so many possibilities if you think creatively about how to use IKEA furniture in your space.

This post contains affiliate links.  To read my full disclosure policy, please click here.

Before I show you what we did here, I want to thank Marti at Project Palermo (also a Chicago girl!), who previously posted an IKEA Silveran hack, and who gave me the inspiration to also hack this piece!  Although my hack is slightly different from hers, she definitely deserves credit for being the hacking pioneer!

OK, so anyway, I desperately needed a shallow depth vanity to fit this tight spot next to the console sink, and my Google searches revealed the Silveran.  At just 9 7/8″ deep, it was the perfect fit!  It comes just like this – white, and with no legs or countertop.  It’s super basic, and meant to work with legs and a sink you purchase separately from IKEA!  The IKEA Silveran sink cabinet in white.

When assembled, it doesn’t even have a back!  The IKEA SIlveran sink cabinet can be hacked to create a beautiful sink vanity in a small bathroom.

We started by cutting a piece of plywood to fit the back and the bottom, and used my not-so-scary nail gun to secure both pieces into place.  TIP: Some of the nails went in crookedly and poked out in places we didn’t want.  No problem! We used a metal file to sand and smooth them, making them a non-issue.Adding a plywood base and plywood back to the IKEA Silveran sink cabinet is the beginning of a useful IKEA bathroom vanity hack.

We also secured the back part of the cabinet with the wall mounting hardware provided with the sink cabinet.Learn how to customize the IKEA Silveran sink cabinet to create small space storage.

Once the back and bottom were mounted to the vanity, we attached these 6″ unfinished wood table legs using the corresponding furniture leg mounting plates.  We initially attached these 9″ legs, but they were too tall and made the vanity quite unsteady, so I went back and got 6″ legs instead.  Those worked much better!  Add turned wood legs to the IKEA Silveran sink cabinet for a custom look.

Next, we attached trim pieces along the bottom front and sides, where the plywood meets the Silveran cabinet.  We used wood glue only for this!  Adding wood trim around the base of the IKEA Silveran sink cabinet gives it a finished look.

Once that dried, we attached trim pieces at the joint of the back plywood and the cabinet, also in order to give a more finished appearance.  Adding trim around the IKEA Silveran sink cabinet gives it a finished appearance.

While the glue on those trim pieces dried, I ran up to Sherwin-Williams and got my own custom IKEA white paint color made!  I brought one of the pre-finished doors with me and they color matched it.  Brilliant!  Need the formula for IKEA white furniture finish? Get paint custom color matched and get the finish right every time. See how the IKEA Silveran sink cabinet in white looks when customized.

I got to work priming and painting all of the newly-added unfinished wood pieces, and was so happy that the white was a super close match to the original finish of the Silveran cabinet.  Because of that, I left the original cabinet the color it came to me, and just painted the pieces we added.  Less work = happier me.Add prefinished shelving to the IKEA Silveran sink cabinet for more functional storage.

Although the Silveran came with an interior shelf, it was shallower depth than the cabinet, and not very functional.  Because of that, I cut pre-finished Home Depot shelving to size and used that instead.  

I added some cute blue and white ceramic knobs, and then the final step was getting a custom countertop made! Add pretty drawer knobs to an IKEA piece for an easy upgrade.

My contractor took the measurements to his “guy” and had a quartz scrap cut to size. He added it to the hacked Silveran vanity and got it into place in the bathroom.  It is perfect for this tight bathroom spot!  TIP:  Our contractor fastened the Silveran to the wall for maximum stability.  Because he had to drill through the wall tile, we saved extra wall tiles so that if we ever decide to remove our Silveran vanity, we can replace the wall tiles with perfectly-matched tile.The IKEA Silveran sink cabinet is customized with a quartz countertop and wooden legs. It is the perfect small bathroom storage vanity!

It gives us just what we need in here – a place to store necessary supplies and a spot to set things while primping and cleaning up.  🙂

This IKEA Silveran hack is a great bathroom vanity storage solution! Learn how to customize the Silveran to fit your bathroom needs in this post.

The perfect small bathroom storage solution!  This IKEA Silveran bathroom vanity hack is fantastic! See how a plain sink cabinet became a functional vanity and storage spot for a small bathroom. The shallow depth cabinet is perfect for tight spots!

Although this particular IKEA bathroom vanity hack might not be the perfect bathroom storage solution for your space, I hope it gives you some inspiration and ideas on how to modify IKEA furniture to fit your needs!  Don’t be scared – just get started and figure things out as you go along.  We made about four separate trips to Home Depot for this project because we modified our plan as we went along.  🙂

-Bre

You May Like This IKEA Bar Cart Hack, Too! 

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DIY Hanging Mason Jar Storage

Most of the time I share “pretty” things on my blog – like decor or design projects.  But sometimes projects that aren’t as “Instagram worthy” (as the kids say these days), are the ones that deserve the most love because they’re actually useful!  That’s how I feel about this DIY Hanging Mason Jar Storage project, which is a BRILLIANT* way to gain some extra storage space for small things by using the space above your head (or under a cabinet or shelf, perhaps)!  (*No, I’m not full of myself calling this project brilliant – it was my husband’s idea so he’s the brilliant one!)  This is SO SMART! Take advantage of unused space on the ceiling or under a cabinet to create hanging mason jar storage! Use the mason jars to store and organize all kinds of small things - from tools to screws to craft supplies to spices! It couldn't be easier to create a hanging mason jar storage system in your home. This post shows you how!

We installed our hanging mason jar storage in our utility room and filled the jars with screws and such, but you could use the exact same concept to store things like spices, craft supplies, and all other small odds and ends!  Keep reading to see just how easy this is to make!

Supplies Needed for DIY Hanging Mason Jar Storage

This post contains affiliate links.  To read my full disclosure policy, please click here.  

  • Wood Strip cut to fit the space where you’re hanging the jars (we used a 1×4)
  • Plastic mason jars (note: we used glass mason jars because it’s what we already had, but if it were up to me, we definitely would have used plastic)
  • Drill
  • Screws to mount the mason jar lids onto the wood (make sure you use screws that are shorter than the depth of the wood into which you’re drilling)
  • Screws to hang the wood strip (and also anchors if your space requires it) – we used drywall screws
  • Label stickers

How to Make DIY Hanging Mason Jar Storage

Begin by cutting a wood strip to the correct length (and depth, if necessary), for the space in which you plan to hang it.

Next, drill pilot holes into the mason jar lids.This is SO SMART! Take advantage of unused space on the ceiling or under a cabinet to create hanging mason jar storage! Use the mason jars to store and organize all kinds of small things - from tools to screws to craft supplies to spices! It couldn't be easier to create a hanging mason jar storage system in your home. This post shows you how!

Place the lids onto the wood strip and screw them into place.  This is SO SMART! Take advantage of unused space on the ceiling or under a cabinet to create hanging mason jar storage! Use the mason jars to store and organize all kinds of small things - from tools to screws to craft supplies to spices! It couldn't be easier to create a hanging mason jar storage system in your home. This post shows you how!

This is SO SMART! Take advantage of unused space on the ceiling or under a cabinet to create hanging mason jar storage! Use the mason jars to store and organize all kinds of small things - from tools to screws to craft supplies to spices! It couldn't be easier to create a hanging mason jar storage system in your home. This post shows you how!

Once all of the lids are in place, screw the wood strip into the ceiling or area where you want to hang it.  Make sure to securely attach it to the ceiling!  Find your studs and/or get anchors that will hold the weight!  Obviously you don’t want this to come crashing down on your head.  Ouch.This is SO SMART! Take advantage of unused space on the ceiling or under a cabinet to create hanging mason jar storage! Use the mason jars to store and organize all kinds of small things - from tools to screws to craft supplies to spices! It couldn't be easier to create a hanging mason jar storage system in your home. This post shows you how!

Put the objects you’re storing into the jars and screw them onto the lids!  This is SO SMART! Take advantage of unused space on the ceiling or under a cabinet to create hanging mason jar storage! Use the mason jars to store and organize all kinds of small things - from tools to screws to craft supplies to spices! It couldn't be easier to create a hanging mason jar storage system in your home. This post shows you how!

Add labels to the bottoms of the mason jars to help you identify the contents of the jars.  This is SO SMART! Take advantage of unused space on the ceiling or under a cabinet to create hanging mason jar storage! Use the mason jars to store and organize all kinds of small things - from tools to screws to craft supplies to spices! It couldn't be easier to create a hanging mason jar storage system in your home. This post shows you how!

And that is IT.  So incredibly easy and such a great way to maximize space that would normally go unused!  This is SO SMART! Take advantage of unused space on the ceiling or under a cabinet to create hanging mason jar storage! Use the mason jars to store and organize all kinds of small things - from tools to screws to craft supplies to spices! It couldn't be easier to create a hanging mason jar storage system in your home. This post shows you how!

Before making this hanging mason jar storage system, we had boxes of screws and nails all over the place.  It was such a mess!  This truly helped us get our utility room area under control.  This is SO SMART! Take advantage of unused space on the ceiling or under a cabinet to create hanging mason jar storage! Use the mason jars to store and organize all kinds of small things - from tools to screws to craft supplies to spices! It couldn't be easier to create a hanging mason jar storage system in your home. This post shows you how!

So what do you think – was my husband’s idea brilliant or what?

-Bre

Looking for More Organization Ideas?  How About My Linen Closet Makeover? 

 

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