This is the second post in my "small cottage decorating" series. Each blog post highlights a way to make the most of your small cottage spaces- using tips & decorating ideas that I use in our home. Sunday I talked about open shelving (read that here) & today- it's all about peg rail shelfs!
As you can see from the photos, our kitchen doesn't have the most cabinet space so I'm always finding budget friendly ways to bring a little extra storage. As I always say- what is décor if it isn't functional... especially in a small kitchen.
I found our peg rail at a local antique shop. I simply painted the wood to match our newly painted kitchen walls. I'll talk more on how to chose the perfect paint color for your kitchen- but to keep it simple for today, I did use the color Swiss Coffee by Benjamin Moore- I had the color mixed into Sherwin Williams paint- satin sheen. You can ask Lowes to do this for you- as along as they have the color in their system- you can mix that color into any brand of paint- another quick budget friendly tip.
Not only does the peg rail add to the décor & charm of the kitchen but it also holds extra tea towels, my colander & other little items. You can watch how I made our DIY terracotta pots pictured (here).
When styling the peg railing, be sure to keep it light & simple. You don't want too many bold contrasting colors as it will make this space look busy & cluttered. Keep it simple with shades of white & other neutral colors. You can display your baking bowls, baking dishes, coffee mugs & more. I'm only 5'4" so I have to be sure to keep a little stool handy for when I need to reach something on the peg rail.
If you can't find a peg rail at your local antique shop or Goodwill, you can also build it! I love the blog post Liz Marie Blog did on her DIY peg rail. You can read about that DIY (here).
Another one of my favorite ways to add a little extra storage space is by adding accordion peg racks. I love using ours to hold my measuring cups, scissors, candle wick trimmers, small cutting boards & extra tea towels. Remember, decorate with items that you actually use & that serve a dual purpose with being useful & decorative. You can find my favorite accordion peg rags from Amazon (here).
Don't underestimate the power of adding even one extra shelf. By adding our open shelving, peg railing & accordion peg rack- it has created so much charm in our kitchen but they all 3 also serve a functional purpose as well- which is a double win in my book!
I can't wait to share all of the ways I style our peg rail throughout the seasons, be sure to follow me on Instagram (krystlemarienickels) to see what I'm up to day to day. Happy decorating friend & be sure to stay tuned for my next blog post in this series tomorrow.
