Need a gift idea for the wine lover in your life? Three words for you: DIY wine rack.
Sometimes the best gifts are ones you make yourself because they show how much you care. And thankfully, a homemade wine rack is actually pretty easy to pull off – even if you don’t consider yourself particularly handy.
So, follow these DIY instructions, and you can create a chic storage solution and even save some money.
Plus, if you become an expert wine rack maker, you may want to make an extra one for your own home. After all, who doesn’t need a place to store their wine bottles?
Whether you’re looking for a gift idea that you can make by hand, or a project to tackle while you’re at home, check out these 5 design ideas for a DIY wine rack.
WHAT MAKES A GOOD WINE RACK?
When making (or buying) a wine rack, you obviously want to consider your personal style, but you also want to consider the wine. What kind of wine rack is best for preserving your wine?
Great question! Some wine storage pieces look really cool, but aren’t that functional for one reason or another. Here are some things to consider when choosing a design:
- First, it’s best to store wine between 45 – 65° F before you’re ready to drink it. Over 70 degrees, and the wine could spoil. So, be sure that your wine rack isn’t going to be too close to the oven or stove.
- Next, wine lasts longer when it’s kept in darkness. This is one reason why wine cellars are underground. That doesn’t mean you have to keep all of your bottles hidden – in fact, we think it’s good to keep them out in the open so you remember which varietals you have on hand. However, you don’t want to position your wine rack right in front of a window that gets direct sunlight.
- Finally, when it comes to bottles with corks, it’s best to store them on their side so the cork won’t dry out. That’s why it’s a good idea to check out wine rack designs where the bottle(s) lie horizontally. If you prefer screw cap bottles, feel free to store them vertically.
DIY WINE RACKS YOU CAN MAKE AT HOME
THE WOOD & FRAMING NAIL WINE RACK
This easy-to-make wine rack allows you to display 6 bottles on a table or countertop. Get the tutorial here.
You’ll need:
- A wooden board cut 11.5″ x 18”
- Large framing nails
- Ruler and pencil
- Drill
- Hammer
Simply measure out where to put each nail, drill the holes, and hammer in the nails. You can either add a wall mount, or lean it against the wall.
THE BARN WOOD WINE RACK
For a simple, but super chic wine rack, check out this rustic design that incorporates barn wood and rounded wall mount hooks. Get the tutorial here.
You’ll need:
- Barn wood
- Copper spray paint
- Newspaper hooks
- Chalkboard paint
- Painters tape
First, spray paint the hooks to look like copper. Once they’re dry, screw the hooks onto the wooden board. Then, hang it on the wall with heavy duty screws.
THE ROUNDED COUNTERTOP RACK
For a slightly more involved project (read: you’ll need a saw), check out this adorable wine rack with round holes for up to 4 wine bottles. Get the tutorial here.
You’ll need:
- Miter saw or circular saw
- Power drill
- A sheet of pine
- A ½ dowel
- Wood glue
- Sandpaper
- 5” hole saw
- ½” forstner bit danish
- Stain
- Eye & ear protection
- A dust mask
First, saw the pine into two pieces and the dowel into four pieces. Drill holes for the wine bottles, and indentations for the dowels. Once you have all of the pieces you’ll need, stain or paint the wood. Once everything is dry, glue the dowels in place.
THE STACKABLE WINE RACK
Whether you want to keep your wine bottles on the kitchen island, or you want to insert this type of wine rack into a repurposed dresser, this one requires some tools, but is ultimately pretty easy to pull off! Get the tutorial here, and follow these instructions to incorporate your wine rack into a DIY bar cabinet.
You’ll need:
- Wood
- Band saw
- Chisel
- Stain or paint
- Screws
- Drill
Basically, you’ll need 4 identical pieces of pine. Saw indentations into the wood, and make sure they fit together in a criss-cross pattern. Stain the wood, then screw in the last two pieces.
THE ROPE & WOOD WINE RACK
This wine rack is easy to make, plus it has a nautical vibe that is totally charming. Get the tutorial here.
You’ll need:
- A wood board
- Rope
- power drill
- 1/2” spade drill bit
- Straight edge
- Sander or sandpaper
- Stain
- Hot glue gun
- 4 brad nails
Drill holes to fit the thickness of the rope. For 5 wine bottles, you’ll be making 10 holes. Stain the wood, then apply hot glue to the ends of the rope to prevent it from fraying. Pull the rope through the holes, and nail it in place.
IN VINO FINITO
If you make a DIY wine rack for your home or for a loved one, send us a picture! We’d love to see your handy work.
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