These days, it’s the really simple things in life that bring me joy.

So when Hubs framed out the kitchen fridge for us, adding a small cabinet above said fridge, we suddenly had a blank wooden wall adjacent to the counter top.

Yes, you heard me right. We now had a blank area of prized kitchen real estate. First, I painted the new wall white to match the kitchen cabinets that I’d already painted.

And as the holidays drew near, I eyed the space wondering what to put there.

Then it came to me.

Why not free up some cabinet space and hang up our hefty collection of mugs and creamers that seem to multiply each year?

So we added this black metal storage rack. It looks as if it’s one big wall-mounted rack but it’s actually three separate pieces. Each two-tiered rack has seven hooks, with 21 ball-capped hooks in all.

It even has room for the the rolling pin, usually thrown in a kitchen drawer, never emerging willingly, always jamming the drawer when we’re trying to open it. Know what I mean? You go to grab the rolling pin and discover it has a mind of its own, stubbornly staying stuck in the drawer.

The verdict on the mug rack? I love it!

Out came my little pottery collection: Mugs from Shannonbridge Pottery, Rae Dunn, Hearth & Hand and Restoration Hardware. I also added several creamers, one in the shape of a cow and a dainty little Leedsware milk jug.

Not only did it decorate the blank wall, it forced me to declutter the mug cabinet by getting rid of a lot of cups and mugs that we no longer use. Although I still have some left in the cabinet that I don’t want to part with, there’s a lot less than there had been before the rack came along.

It’s also a great way to display mugs and other small items that are usually stored away out of sight, particularly mugs that are meaningful. Some of our kids’ school pictures are on these mugs and it’s nice to see their smiling mugs … er, faces!

Plus, we’ve got a little jump on reorganizing and decluttering for 2021!