DIY Wine Rack Design

Making your own custom wine rack is a great way to save money and create a unique look that is just right for your home decor. Wine racks can be made from many materials, in nearly any size, and on any budget from the frugal to the extravagant. No matter the size and the materials, however, there are some things you should keep in mind when designing your own wine rack.

Choosing a Size for Your Wine Rack

First, you should determine how large or small you would like your wine rack to be. Measure the space you intend to fill with the new wine rack, noting the width, height, and depth of the space. Imagine this space lined with wine bottles. If the space seems too large and will hold more wine than you normally keep on hand, consider adding shelves to your design to hold other things, like wine glasses or knick knacks.

Angling of Wine Rack Shelving

When making the compartments or slots that the wine bottle will fit into, it is important to store the bottles on their sides. The bottles should either be stored level or tilted slightly toward the top of the bottle. This will keep the wine cork submerged in the liquid. Storing bottles upright can cause the corks to become dry and they will be more likely to crumble when pulled.

Choosing a Material for Making a Wine Rack

Wine racks can be made from many different materials, most commonly wood and metal. For beginners, working with wood will probably prove easier than working with metal. Keep in mind the tools and skills required for working with the materials you choose. For instance, if you do not know how to weld, working with metal is probably not a wise idea.

It is also possible to mix materials in a wine rack. For example, to avoid the need to weld, metal rods can be used for shelving and secured into a wooden frame.

Be creative and you may find that you can reuse many different items when making a wine rack. Scraps of wood left over from other projects or salvaged from broken furniture can be easily worked into a wine rack design. Use old metal hand railings for bottle shelves. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination.

Creating Wine Bottle Shelves for a Wine Rack

Basic wine bottle shelves can be crated using a pair of dowels, rails, or rods. The bars should be parallel to the floor and perpendicular to the wine bottles, so that they run from side to side across the rack. They should be placed so that one falls near the top of a wine bottle and the other is near the bottom of the bottle.

If desired, a shallow indentation can be made in the front rail where the bottom of the wind bottle will rest. This will keep the bottle from rolling across the rack. Dividers can also be placed at bottle width intervals to keep bottles separated.

If the rack is not to be mounted against a wall, you may wish to add a sheet of wood or other backer to the rack to avoid the possibility of bottles sliding out of the rack or falling out from being bumped.

Adding Decorative Elements to your Wine Rack

Once the basic structure of the wine rack is complete, you may wish to add decorative touches to your design. Flourishes added to the top, bottom, or corners of your rack will give it personality. Use large wooden knobs to make feet at the bottom of the rack, use crown molding to add a subtly elegant touch, or make a statement by topping the rack with a large object like a floral swag.

Securing the Wine Rack in Place

Small, free standing wine racks will likely be fairly stable as they are, however larger racks or wall mounted units will need to be carefully secured into place. Use L shaped brackets to secure the rack to the wall near the top pf the rack. For larger racks or wall-mounted racks, additional brackets can be added at intervals around the rack for more support. If screwing into drywall, be sure to use anchors to ensure that the rack will not pull free from the wall.