Coffee mugs and teacups can be some of the most cherished items in your home, not only as vessels for hot beverages, but also bringing beauty, memories, and character to your kitchen. While you can keep your mugs in a cupboard, there are benefits to displaying them elsewhere out in the open where they are easy to grab and can be enjoyed as part of your kitchen decor. Thrift stores and other secondhand shops are filled with options for displaying your mugs, from large capacity cabinets and peg board sheets to old wooden boxes and hook racks for just a few of your favorites. 

These options are not only a budget-friendly alternative to new racks and organizers that create opportunities to show off your coffee and tea mug collection, but many are DIY projects that allow you to fully customize your storage to your kitchen aesthetic, the size of your collection, and allotted space for display. Some can be immediately adapted as storage while others require elements like metal hooks, paint, and some simple construction or modifications.

Metal or wire coat hooks are typically very inexpensive in thrift stores. If you collect several, you can make a rustic mug rack from a simple slab of plywood or other scrap wood. Just use screws to attach the metal racks to the wood and you’re ready to hang your mugs. You can even add paint, stampings, ink transfers, and stenciled details to match your kitchen aesthetic or boost the character of this fun DIY mug rack.

Suspend a towel or curtain rod on the wall and add some S-hooks to hang your mugs. This works especially great if you have larger or unusually-shaped mugs that take up a little more room than a uniform layout can provide. Hang it right underneath a cabinet to take advantage of under-utilized space or add several stacked horizontally along a wall to make space for a large collection.

While it may be one of the most obvious solutions for mug storage, these popular items in thrift stores are exactly what you need for countertop storage that frees up cabinet space. You will often spot mug trees in a number of materials that fit any aesthetic, including vintage metal and wood. They come in a variety of sizes and are great additions to a retro kitchen.

Wooden crates and boxes can be hung on the wall in your kitchen to create fun rustic shelves. Old wooden fruit crates, wine boxes, and cheese boxes are great things to look out for. You can also take old dresser or desk drawers and turn them into shelves. Add additional shelves inside with pieces of scrap wood or cover the back in pretty paper for some extra punch.

If you have the space for a free standing piece, vintage hutches and sideboards can be a great way to add storage for a large number of mugs and teacups. You can even use the space below to set up a dedicated coffee bar with your machine, cannisters, and other supplies for making your morning cup. You can often find these cabinets at a budget-friendly price with details that fit a number eras and design aesthetics, including sleek mid-century modern pieces.

You can turn any piece of word art or novelty decor signage into a mug rack just by adding some screw-in hooks along the bottom spaced widely enough to hold your mugs. Or turn a vertical sign into a rack by adding the hooks along the outer edges. This also works for wooden letters and monograms that can be arranged and augmented with hooks for hanging your cups.

These accordion racks can be found in all kinds of materials, including metal, lightweight plastic, and solid wood. Their small pegs are perfect for hanging mugs by their handles. A small rack can usually accommodate around a dozen mugs. You may also occasionally find larger versions meant specifically for mugs with a greater capacity — some that span several feet vertically and horizontally.

Wood pallets are endlessly adaptable for all sorts of storage needs. Turn a thrifted or secondhand one into a stylish mug holder by adding a few simple screw-in hooks and then hanging it on the wall. Or add some small shelves supported by L-brackets underneath fastened to the pallet. Paint your tea and coffee mug wood pallet DIY or add custom lettering for a rustic addition to your kitchen.

Small curio shelves are typically just the right size to house mugs and teacups. You can also add hooks on the lower portion of the shelf to hang them for additional storage. These shelves are usually very cottage-style friendly with ornate lines and carving details. Hang one on the wall of your kitchen to hold your favorite drinkware or set one on top of a coffee bar or counter. 

Peg board sheets have an abundance of uses in your home anywhere you need hooked storage, but can be especially useful for displaying tea and coffee mugs. Hang a peg board sheet on your kitchen wall to provide a place for hanging mugs. You can use a small segment under your cabinets above the counter or use a large span on a wall above a coffee bar or cart to hold a large collection on out display. 

Repurposed tiered trays are excellent solutions for extra storage and can be a stylish way to display your mug collection right on a counter or tabletop. These trays, typically meant for holding baked goods, come in a variety of materials, including wood, ceramic, woven materials, and metal. Smaller ones can accommodate three to four mugs while larger ones may also have room for items like cocoa or cinnamon shakers, creamers, and sugar.

Small cubby organizers that are big enough to accommodate mugs and teacups are a perfect way to store a larger number of them without relying on their handles. These organizers and sorters typically enjoyed past use as mail sorters, craft storage, or old hotel desk organizers. Their small compartments, when hung on a wall or set on a counter, make a beautiful way to display mugs in your kitchen.