Large cutting boards and charcuterie platters can be so difficult to store. They usually end up buried in a cabinet or leaning against a wall, just waiting to fall over and make a loud noise.
But I finally found a solution to this problem in the most unlikely place: my overcrowded bookcase. By using a set of bookends I’d purchased from Amazon, I’ve managed to turn my cumbersome board collection into an organized, vertical library.
Why Bookends Are a Brilliant Storage Gem
Admittedly, I’ve probably accumulated more boards than the typical home cook; I have a few wooden and plastic cutting boards, as well as two serving trays for charcuterie. And yes, I use them all pretty regularly.
The beauty of my bookend hack for storing these boards lies in its simplicity. You just place the bookends on your counter with the boards loaded between them or the wall, and suddenly you have a sturdy, adjustable (not to mention stylish) rack.
Better still, I can store my boards vertically which, as expert Laura Manzano points out, is the best way to store them. She suggests to “prop your cutting board vertically at a slant, so air can flow and the board can dry properly, which will keep it in great condition for preparing many future meals.”
I also always dry my boards with a microfiber towel before they meet the bookends — just to be sure.
What Happened When I Put Bookends in My Kitchen
I’ve tried every permutation of board storage you could imagine — including leaning my cutting boards against the backsplash (like so many influencers), and on top of my toaster oven. These tactics made it either difficult to reach my boards on a daily basis, or caused warping and cracking.
Since going with the bookends, retrieving my boards is no longer a pain. They’re neatly organized and look so much more deliberate. And for someone who is prone to collecting more and more cheese boards, this setup is infinitely more flexible than the pre-made cutting board organizers I’ve seen, which is a big plus.
For less than $25, this office-supply-turned-kitchen-organizer is easily the most high-impact upgrade I made last year. It’s a game-changer for anyone dealing with limited cabinet depth or narrow counters. I find it’s certainly worth the investment — especially when a good wooden cutting board can cost upwards of $50 to replace. Time to close the book on warped cutting boards and inelegant storage (I’ll see myself out!).
Would you try putting these in your kitchen? Tell us about it in the comments below.
