She Turned an IKEA Spice Rack Upside Down and Added 9 Hooks to Store Her Jewelry
IKEA’s BEKVÄM spice rack has a narrow wooden shelf and a round rail designed to keep spice jars from falling. Most people mount it in the kitchen, but the same pieces can hold necklaces, bracelets, and other jewelry with a few changes.
Instead of using the rack for spices, a Homedit DIY project turned it upside down and added nine brass-colored hooks. Five hooks went beneath the shelf, while four attached to the wooden rail, creating two rows for hanging jewelry without taking up space on a dresser.
The project, created by Brittney Smart for Homedit, shows three finishes using the same IKEA rack: dark walnut stain, white paint, and a combination of both. Each version keeps the small shelf above the hanging jewelry.
Walnut Stain Changed the Unfinished Wood
Minwax walnut wood stain gave the pale wooden pieces a dark brown finish. The stain was applied with a brush and wiped with a clean cloth to remove excess product.
The longer the stain remains on the surface before wiping, the darker the wood can become. Each component was left to dry before the hooks were installed.
White Paint Offered Another Finish
The tutorial also includes a painted version. White spray paint covered the wooden shelf, side supports, and dowel before assembly.
The same rack could be finished in one color or split between stained and painted parts. All three versions use the same hook arrangement.
Five Hooks Went Beneath the Shelf
The first row of hooks was installed along the underside of the wooden shelf. With the side supports positioned for measurement, five points were marked at 2¼-inch intervals across the 14½-inch opening.
Shallow pilot holes kept the hooks aligned without drilling through the wood. Each hook was screwed into place with its opening facing away from the wall.
Four More Hooks Went Into the Wooden Rail
The round dowel received four hooks, spaced 3½ inches apart. The first position was marked 2 inches from the start of the dowel, followed by marks at 5½, 9, and 12½ inches.
The hooks were installed along one side of the rail, with their openings facing the same direction. Once assembled, this second row would sit in front of the five shelf hooks.
The staggered arrangement leaves gaps between the hooks, providing separate hanging positions for necklaces and bracelets.
The Rack Was Assembled With Hooks Facing Down
The side supports were attached to the shelf using the wooden connectors supplied with the IKEA rack. The dowel fitted between them, positioning the four front hooks beneath the shelf.
After inserting the second side support, the provided screws secured the assembly.
Wall Mounting Plates Had to Be Reversed
Mounting the spice rack upside down required one more change. The metal hanging plates on the back were designed for the rack’s original orientation.
The plates were unscrewed, rotated 180 degrees, and attached again so the mounting slots would support the rack in its new position.
The Finished Rack Holds Jewelry in Two Rows
The walnut-stained version has five hooks beneath the shelf and four on the front rail. Necklaces hang from the rear row, while bracelets and shorter pieces can occupy the front hooks.
The shelf above provides space for small accessories, a clock, or decorative objects without interfering with the jewelry below.
White and Two-Tone Versions Use the Same IKEA Rack
The white version keeps the shelf, supports, and rail in one color. Brass-colored hooks remain visible beneath the painted wood, with necklaces and bracelets hanging at different lengths.
The two-tone version combines a white shelf with dark-stained side supports and a matching front rail. Its hanging arrangement remains unchanged, while the contrasting finishes separate the upper shelf from the jewelry storage beneath it.
All three versions use the original BEKVÄM components with nine added hooks. The main change is turning the rack upside down, allowing its shelf and wooden rail to serve a different purpose.
What other IKEA products have you repurposed for storage outside their intended room?
Images and original project by Brittney Smart for Homedit.