Of all the ways and options available for displays, storing and organizing, my favorite is a baker’s rack. We can choose sideboards, hutches, étagères, book cases, but my first choice is a baker’s rack. So much so, that I have 3 in my home that I have collected over the years.
Baker’s racks are just more interesting than a simple bookcase. Part of what makes them attractive is their construction. The shelves are open, the sides are open, and the backs are open. Because you can literally see through them from all angles, they appear to be light and airy, not dense and heavy like a bookcase.
They are available in any combination of wood, iron, basketry, or glass. Their tiers and shelves are in varying combinations of both depth and height, and they come in an amazing variety of shapes, sizes, orientation, colors and textures.
Baker’s racks are often associated with a cottage- or country-style decorating, and they do lend themselves beautifully to showcase charming vignettes. But bakers’ racks with clean lines and simple structure can also serve in a more contemporary or modern design setting.
Styling and decorating a baker’s rack is part of the joy! You can hide and display all at the same time, using a combination of boxes, baskets, or bowls. There is almost no end to the vignettes you can create using pitchers, books, plates, candles, plants, photos, bowls and platters.
Their versatility continues with the fact that baker’s racks can be used in ALL rooms. They are most often found in kitchens, but I have one in my bedroom, one in my office, and one in a little nook room. And none in my kitchen.
My first baker’s rack came from a consignment shop. Sailor and I bought it when we were still dating. I use it in our bedroom to mainly hold family photos and my jewelry. The bottom shelf holds photo albums.
It fits perfectly in a corner next to the closet. When we went through our remodel, I had not really space-planned very well, so finding out that this bakers rack fit so well was a very happy surprise.
I stand in front of it every work day and go through my daily 4-item morning ritual: wedding rings, watch, earrings (usually pearl studs) and my security fob for work. Routines are good!
This baker’s rack came with 2 glass shelves and 2 wooden shelves. My biggest challenge with this one is how much space there is between the top wooden shelf and the glass shelf above it! I use plastic box risers to lift things up, but I need to keep working on it!
The second baker’s rack I acquired sits in our little nook room. I found it at Home Goods, and obeyed the Home Goods rule: “If you think you like buy it! Because if you come back for it tomorrow, it will be gone!” I liked it because it is small and very compact. It is all metal, there is no wood or basketry. We added glass shelves to it, and now it holds plants, photos, decorative items, and books on the bottom shelf.
I actually use this one as more of a display piece. It sits in a really small area, but because it is so light and petite it doesn’t dominate the space.
The third and most recently acquired baker’s rack came from Craigslist. I actually wasn’t really looking for a baker’s rack, but when I saw the picture, I knew I had to have it, and I knew exactly where I would put it. But getting it home was more of a challenge than I anticipated. We had two week-ends in a row where we were both sick, and Sailor wasn’t thrilled about driving 30 minutes up the coast to pick it up. But the day came, and armed with my payment in cash, we set off to bring her home.
She is gorgeous. She is huge. She has the prettiest finish to her wrought iron shelving. She has a beautiful wrought iron ivy leaf grid. She has a total of 5 shelves, one of which is wood. She is tall, deep, wide and heavy. This one DOES command the room.
I put this baker’s rack in my office. I had one of those white shelving units from Home Depot (that really belongs in a closet), because I needed a spot for my printer. But as soon as I saw this baker’s rack on Craigslist, I knew it would fit beautifully in the office, and provide a perfect spot for my printer.
If you are already a fan of baker’s racks, then I hope I have inspired you with new ideas about where to place, and how to use baker’s racks. If not, perhaps this post will persuade you to consider their versatility and beauty, and view them as an alternative option for storage and display!
I would love to hear how you use your baker’s rack; where you have placed it and how you have styled it? Please share your creativity and ideas in the comments!
From our home to yours!
Kristine
I am sharing at these link parties:
Bakers racks have to be very carefully staged because they are so open. You have done a really good job of making them look cohesive. My favorite it the Craig’s List find, I like the subtle colour of it.
You are so right Leanna ! They work best for storage when the storage is hidden away in baskets or decorative boxes. But to me they are so much more visually inviting then book cases!!
Your Baker’s Racks are beautiful, and I love how you have used them for display. Thank you so much for sharing such lovely decorating inspiration at the Hearth and Soul Link Party!
Thank you for stopping by April – and thank you for your very kind words! I am enjoying joining the Hearth and Soul Link Party, and appreciate you hosting it!