Simple Spice Rack Upcycle
The thrift store. You either love it or hate it.
Personally, I love it.
I like being able to bring something beat up and worn back home, and give it new life. I also love occasionally finding a diamond in the rough for next to nothing. Plus, even if I don’t purchase anything while there, it’s always interesting to get a glimpse into other people’s lives through the things that they discard.
If you read this post last month, then you already know that I have teamed up with a group of other bloggers for a super fun monthly blog hop. Each month, we have to complete a DIY project based around a given theme. This month the theme was right up my alley – Thrift Store Upcycle.
I had a couple of different potential projects in mind, but ultimately settled on giving a little old spice rack a makeover.
I actually picked this spice rack up months ago (as in sometime over the past summer…) at a local estate sale. I visited the estate sale on the last day, and everything in the house was 50% off. The ticket on the spice rack, including all 12 glass bottles, was $6. So, I ended up paying $3 for this bad boy.
With just a can of spray paint, a bit of sandpaper, and minimal time, I transformed it into this.
Here’s how I did it –
Step 1 – Clean
The first thing I did was dump all of the contents within the bottles in the trash, and clean the bottles up. I peeled the labels off of them, soaked them in water for a while, and then hand washed each one as best I could. A few of the bottles cleaned up really easily, but most of them, I ended up putting in the dishwasher for some extra scrubbing.
I also wiped down the wooden rack with a damp cloth to remove all dust and dirt from it.
Step 2 – Paint
The next thing I did was paint the rack. I decided to go with spray paint for this project as I felt it might be difficult to get into all of the small, tight spaces with a brush. Plus, I knew it would be way faster with spray paint.
I ended up doing three coats of paint, plus some touch up beyond that in a few areas, because the wood of this piece really soaked up the paint.
Step 3 – Distressing
I decided to do some very light distressing to this piece. I took a small piece of sandpaper, and simply ran it across the edges of the piece to reveal some of the wood beneath.
This literally only took about a minute, and I just hit the areas that would naturally distress through wear and tear.
Step 4 – Decorate
And that’s it. I added some flowers that I already had on hand to the top rack and used a cute little sign from Target on the bottom, and voila – an adorable piece of decor now.
I haven’t decided exactly where I want to put it yet. I like it on the kitchen counter, but I don’t really have a spot for it that doesn’t feel crowded. It does have hangers on the back, so I could hang it anywhere really. I’m just not sure yet.
If you have suggestions, feel free to pass them along!
Also, don’t forget to check out all of the other thrift store projects that my fellow bloggers have posted below.
1905 Farmhouse, Abbots at Home, By Brittany Goldwyn, Creative Ramblings, Cribbs Style, Delicious & DIY, DIY Beautify, DIY Danielle, Dukes and Duchesses, Girl, Just DIY, Happily Ever After, Etc, Health, Home & Heart, House by the Bay Design, Just Measuring Up, Kenya Rae, Little Bits of Home, Living Letter Home, My Family Thyme, Pinspired to DIY, Red Cottage Chronicles, Refashionably Late, Savvy Apron, Shrimp Salad Circus, Songbird Blog, Southern Revivals, T.Moore Home, The DIY Dreamer, The DIY Village, The Frugal Homemaker, The Handyman’s Daughter, Two Feet First, Weekend Craft, What Meegan Makes, Zucchini Sisters
How cute is that upcycle!! Such a fun way to display flowers! Love it!
Thank you so much, Christine! I am loving it (and the spring flowers!!), too. 🙂
WOW!!!!!!! What a transformation Amy. That’s a keeper for sure. and such a bargain too.
Thanks, Michelle. 🙂 I love a good bargain, and I love it even more when a dramatic transformation is so easy!
What a great way to use the rack and the bottles. Love the idea to use it as a flower stand. Pinned
Thank you for sharing! I am loving the way it turned out, as well as the spring flowers!
Now that is a brilliant idea! I see those old spice racks all the time. What a great upcycle.
It was seriously so easy. And cheap! I love the way it turned out. Thank you!
What a pretty way to celebrate Spring! Awesome upcycle and refresh. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much, Meegan! It is definitely a great way to help usher in spring. 🙂
A truly stunning transformation!
Thank you so much!
Amy,
Thanks so much for stopping by!! Glad that you were able to find some copper canisters!! This is a great transformation!! Love it!!
Hugs,
Debbie
Thanks so much, Debbie! And yes, I’m loving the canisters. 🙂
Wow! It looks completely different now. Love it! Also I am chuckling because I hate the old stain colors from that generation… I LOVE the whites that seem to be popular now. But I can just imagine our kids or grandkids being like ‘Ugh all this white, what WERE they thinking.” I only assume the fads will change. Even if whites are superior. 😉
Haha! I’ve thought that myself. I do have some antique family furniture that I wouldn’t even consider painting. Some things are better left as is, although I do love me a good piece of white furniture. 😉
hahah so funny, Danielle! I was thinking the same thing – everything seems to cycle back so I’m sure the future will feel a certain way about the white that we love LOL. Amy, this is gorgeous!!! What an amazing transformation 🙂
Yep, it all goes around eventually. 🙂 Thanks so much, Eileen! I love an easy makeover!
Amy that is one great transformation. I love the color change but the thing that really makes it shine is the addition of the “Hello”!!
Thank you! I had another sign in mind originally that said “bloom,” but it was just a tad too big. So, I’m glad that the “hello” sign fit. It was just what the piece needed. 🙂
What a beautiful transformation, so pretty! That is a creative idea for upcycling an old spice rack.
Thanks so much, Christine! I love the way it turned out. 🙂