DIY Farmhouse Style Coffee Mug Pallet Rack

Need a cute idea for your coffee bar? Grab the next free pallet rack you find, and make this DIY farmhouse-style coffee mug rack!

THIS POST IS SPONSORED BY DIXIE BELLE PAINT, BUT ALL OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE MY OWN.

I have this weird affliction. Every time I see an intact pallet rack along the side of the road labeled FREE I cannot seem to stop the course of events that follows; turn around, awkwardly stuff it at impossible angles into my van, and store it along the side of my house until I finally figure out a better use for it.

And I found a LOT of uses for pallet racks. For good reason too. In a season where lumber is being sold at a premium, free pallet wood is a great deal considering it is a mix of oak and pine – perfect for sanding down and refinishing or painting over.

This gorgeous pallet rack was no exception. At our previous house, I created a super easy coffee mug rack out of pallet wood that I attached to the upper cabinet of our coffee bar.

So I decided to cut this pallet down and make another easy pallet rack for coffee mugs to hang above our coffee cart. My favorite part? My 5 year old helped me with this project from beginning to end. It was messy but made with love.

1. Cut the pallet rack down the center with a circular saw.

You could lightly sand the pallet at this point with 220-grit sandpaper, add the hooks and call it a day. Truth be told, I would have preferred that look, but I had a little helper who really wanted to paint with me. SO . . . in the interest of quality time with my daughter, I turned this pallet rack into a vintage-appearing mug rack with white paint and a transfer from Dixie Belle Paint.

2. Paint the pallet rack white.

For a brighter white, I used Dixie Belle Paint’s Salt Water. For a creamier, French white I recommend Dixie Belle’s Drop Cloth.

3. Apply a transfer of choice.

I used Dixie Belle’s Bohemian Wedding Transfer. You peel the transfer away from the backing by applying pressure with the included wood piece that you rub over the sheet. A warning that it will not transfer perfectly because of the roughened wood. If you sand down the pallet first it may transfer more smoothly.

In this case, I was ok with that because I wanted a vintage-worn appearance.

4. Sand the transfer and the edges of the pallet.

After the transfer was complete I lightly sanded the entered thing with a 320-grit sandaper and then heavily sanded the edges of the pallet as well to give it that worn-down appearance.

5. Finish with a clear coat.

To seal the project, I finished the wood with two coats of Dixie Belle’s satin clear coat, sanding lightly in between for a smooth finish.

6. Add the hooks and hanging hardware.

Add the hooks to the front and the hanging hardware to the back. This cutie helped me from start to finish! She was a great painter! Now let’s check out the finished product!

From a roadside pallet to a vintage mug rack.