Hackers Help: Suggestions for a Pull-Out Spice Rack

We need an IKEA hack for a pull-out spice rack for our very narrow and very high kitchen cabinet. We are renters, and just moved into a new place. Since we do not own, we are limited by what we can change. We also don’t have enough cabinets and space, but want to keep spices, cooking oils, seasonings, etc., in the small cabinet next to the stove for easy reach.

Unfortunately, our current cabinet is: 1) very narrow. The opening of the cabinet, with the ledge, is 11 7/8 inches wide. The inside of the cabinet is 13 ½ inches wide. The cabinet is 11 inches deep. Height of each shelf is adjustable.

And: 2) the cabinet is really high (or maybe just too high for a shorty like me), so anything on the second and third shelf is completely out of reach. It’s also hard to see past whatever item is in the front row, even when I’m standing on a stool.

The cabinet is simply not functional.

We bought and tried the Rubbermaid pull-down spice rack, which fits “standard” sized cabinets, but it was just too big for our cabinet. It could not get through the ledge of the cabinet. We know there are many different pull-out, slide-out, and glide-out products at IKEA, such as their selection of trash bins with a slide-out railing. But we don’t see anything for a spice rack.

So we are asking for suggestions for an IKEA hack spice rack that can fit into our tiny and too high cabinet. Ideally, it would look something like the Vertical Spice Rack that I’ve included pictures of (below).

These would be PERFECT for us — they can hold up to 30 jars of spices and seasonings, and can pull out of the cabinet — but the racks are $80! Yikes. We don’t want to spend that much to adjust a cabinet in a rental apartment.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks IKEAhackers!

~ Christina

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Hi Christina

I fully empathise. I can’t reach the top 2 shelves either.

I don’t think IKEA has any pull-out racks that will fit such dimensions, so …. that can only mean one thing. An IKEA hack! My first thought would be to hack the BEKVÄM into a pull-out spice rack. It’s real wood and easy to cut and treat. If you don’t have a jigsaw, even a hand saw will cut it down quickly.

Photo: IKEA.com

The BEKVÄM is a bit longer than the depth of your kitchen cabinet, so measure and trim down the base and rod. Then reassemble it like the original BEKVÄM, just shorter. You’ll need to shave off some bits of the sawn end of the rod to fit it into the routed notch again.

I’ve got you all confused, haven’t I? Please excuse my terrible drawings. Still better than a thousand words.

The BEKVÄM doesn’t come with a back, as it is meant to rest against a wall. For our hack to work, you’ll need to add a new back to the BEKVÄM. This could be a thin piece of wood or even sturdy clear plastic to get the see through effect. Cut to size and staple it onto the BEKVÄM.

Lastly, get a piece of plank to make the base of your pull-out spice rack. Cut to size to fit your cabinet.

Then get drawer runners. Attach one part of the runner to the plank and the other to the underside of the BEKVÄM.

Repeat for as many spice racks as you need. You may be able to squeeze in 3 in a row. If it is tight, sand down the sides of the BEKVÄM.

This will only give you one tier.

If you need two tiers, you’ll need to make a box with a shelf in the middle. You’ll need to make adjustments in your measurements as the 2 side boards will take up space. You may also need to trim the BEKVÄM along the long side to fit. Complete the pull-out spice rack shelves before enclosing them with the top and sideboards. Then insert the entire box into the cavity of your kitchen cabinet. And you’re done.

Hope this gives you a few ideas.

Let us know how it turns out.

Happy hacking!

Jules

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