Whether you have an extensive collection or you’re just starting out, there’s a wine-storage solution for you…
Upcycle an old crate – Hang it on a wall for a creative wine rack or rest it on the floor with the bottles standing upright inside it. You can even paint it a funky colour – make it your own. ‘Vintage’ crates and even trunks (another storage option if you’d rather not have your booze on display) are easy to come by at most markets nowadays. Even repurposed wooden pallets can make for unique wine racks.
Stock it under the stairs – Create a custom wine cabinet in the space under your stairs. Spend as little or as much as you like installing X-shelves, which are perfect for holding wine bottles, or go all out with a temperature-controlled wine closet, complete with glass door, to keep your wines at their best and to allow visitors to see your collection at a glance.
Make space in the pantry – Custom-fitted wine holders offer a sleek solution to wine storage inside the pantry.
Bring a blank wall to life – Think bold-coloured, textured wallpaper or even one with a clever cellar-inspired printed design and then hang several matching wine racks on the wall vertically, from floor to ceiling (vertically-stacked wine bottles look particularly striking). You can even stand a ‘tasting table’ against the wall, with the racks hanging above it, to store your glasses, openers, decanters and such. And don’t forget to illuminate the wall somehow to make the bottles really stand out.
Make it yourself – Make your own PVC wine-bottle holder after a quick a trip to the plumbing aisle of your local hardware. Simple cut the PVC piping to length and glue the pieces next to one another in a row to slot your bottles into. Or get especially creative with a quirky geometric design. Then either hang your PVC holder on the wall or sit it on a shelf. A tin of spray paint will really bring it to life.
Opt for industrial-chic – You can’t go wrong with bringing mixed metals and wood together for displaying wine.
Create a wine-wall ‘room divider’ – One, it will be visually as impressive as a cellar; two, it will help define your living space; three, even turning a column into wine storage is a great idea. (You may just have to get expert advice to get it done according to building regulations.)
Plank it – Easy does it with a single, solid wooden plank mounted horizontally to the wall with holes drilled in equal spaces along the length, big enough for bottle necks to slot inside so that the bottles sit upright at an angle.
Customise your kitchen island – Include a place for wine in your kitchen-island design. Small, narrow shelves in the bottom of your island, for instance, are perfect for wine bottles.
Build a wine trolley – Create your own wine trolley with sections for bottles, glasses and other wine-related paraphernalia, by giving an older bedroom dresser (or something similar) a makeover. Knock out the drawers to make room for some wine cubbies, add a fresh coat of paint, and set it on wheels to make it easy to move around.
Quick wine-storage tips
Avoid heat – Storing wine above or around your stovetop is not a good idea. Neither is storing wine above the fridge.
Avoid light – Direct sunlight shining on your wine is a big no-no; especially a white wine in a clear bottle. Slotting bottles into a recessed section in a wall will help prevent them from getting direct light.
Prevent spills – Depending on the type of rack you have, make sure it is built with a lip to keep bottles from rolling off the edge.
Make it interesting to look at – Where you choose to display your wine can make all the difference. Try the side of a kitchen cabinet to create storage in a space that would normally go unused. And try staggering the bottles from horizontal to vertical to help draw attention. Wines with especially unique and interesting labels can make for quite an ‘artsy’ display.
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