These Ikea BEKVÄM spice racks make terrific mini bookshelves — they assemble in minutes, can be painted any color, and cost under $5 each.
A few years ago, Ikea BEKVÄM spice racks became a beloved budget-friendly hack: people transformed them into bookshelves, wall caddies, and coat racks. I remember when my oldest was born — and she’s six now — these racks were almost impossible to find. I drove hours to the nearest IKEA multiple times and still couldn’t track one down. Everyone else seemed to be snapping them up for DIY projects.
More recently, those same spice racks reappeared in stock at my local store. I bought three and stashed them in my craft closet, where they sat for a while — the usual pattern for my projects. When I finally made time to tackle them, I realized a narrow, empty corner in my daughter’s bedroom would be an ideal spot for slim, wall-mounted shelving to create a cozy reading nook.
I took the racks apart, laid the pieces out in the garage, and gave each piece three quick coats of Rustoleum Champagne Mist spray paint. Painting the parts before assembly makes the finish smoother and easier to reach, so I recommend doing that step on a protected surface or using a spray shelter. Once the paint had dried, I assembled the racks and mounted them on the wall.
The whole project took about a day and a half from start to finish, mostly because of drying time and fitting the work in when the kids were napping or otherwise occupied. The actual assembly and installation were very quick and straightforward.
Tools and mounting tips
I used a stud finder but discovered the stud ran down the center of where I wanted the racks, so I relied on self-drilling drywall anchors to secure them. Those anchors work very well for lightweight shelving like this and remove the need to match stud locations exactly.
Installation tip: Drill the screw into the wall at the exact spot you want, remove the screw, then insert the drywall anchor into the pilot hole and finally screw the screw into the anchor. This ensures the anchor sits perfectly where you planned.
Because the BEKVÄM spice racks are narrow and shallow, they suit small spaces and thin corners perfectly. They hold board books, small picture books, and a few favorite bedtime titles, making them a practical and charming storage solution for a child’s room.
I chose a soft metallic Champagne Mist that complemented my daughter’s room palette and bedding. The paint helped elevate the simple wooden racks into a slightly more finished look that still feels affordable and playful.
We’ve since moved into a new house, and the spice-rack bookshelves came with us. They were among the first things I rehung in the girls’ room because they’re such a simple, functional way to keep bedtime books accessible. Their slim profile makes bedtime book retrieval easy and helps keep the room tidy.
If you’ve seen Ikea spice rack hacks before, you know how versatile these racks can be. For a low-cost, quick DIY shelving solution — especially for kids’ rooms, entryways, or narrow walls — these converted spice racks are hard to beat. Pick up a few, paint them to match your decor, and enjoy affordable, practical storage that looks intentional.
More posts you will love:
If you enjoy simple, budget-friendly DIY projects and small-space solutions, try this spice-rack bookshelf idea in a corner that needs function and a touch of charm. They’re fast to finish, easy to install, and add immediate storage for favorite books.