Vintage letterpress drawers, originally used to sort and store printing press letters, are getting a second life in home décor — and for good reason! While the style is vintage, the grid-like design and variety of colors available makes the letterpress drawer work in most décor styles, from classic rustic to ultra-modern.
This design trend is perfect for renters who want to show off collections but can’t install shelves on a wall. Depending on the shape and size of the cubbies, a letterpress tray can be used as decorative storage in any room of your apartment.
Here are six ways to use a letterpress tray in your rental décor:
Crafting storage: It’s easier to craft if your supplies are organized and ready to use, but that’s no easy feat in a small space. The small cubbies of the letterpress tray are perfect for stashing and organizing spools of thread, bobbins and more sewing and crafting items. This colorful display will look artistic — a bonus if your craft space doubles as your office or guest room, as is the case for so many renters.
Kitchen décor: It’s fun to save wine corks from special bottles and occasions, but if you’re anything like me, your jar of corks ends up hogging space in a cabinet. Make some room and turn that collection into an art piece. Hang a smaller letterpress tray on the wall, give each cork a home in an individual cubby and voila – you’ve got the coolest way to remember each great glass of wine.
Wine’s not your thing? The same goes for a good beer cap collection!
Bringing the outdoors in: The letterpress tray is the perfect way to show off shells or rocks. I’ve always loved collecting small rocks, shells, feathers, etc., when I hike, and I wanted a way to work those natural touches into my décor. The addition of a few whimsical items (like my vintage plastic dinosaurs) shows guests that I don’t take myself too seriously. It’s a great conversation piece for parties and entertaining!
DIY furniture: How about creating a coffee table that’s a real conversation starter? Fill a tray with your collection, add some legs from the hardware store, top it off with a piece of plexiglass cut to size and you have an awesome coffee or end table.
Jewelry display: The printer’s tray makes a great jewelry organizer, whether set on the dresser top as a divided tray or modified and hung on the wall as art. Attach small felt pads to the bottom of it so it doesn’t scratch your furniture.
Mounted on the wall, the letterpress tray will turn your jewelry into art! Your earrings will shine from the small cubbies. Add cup hooks to the bottom to hang your necklaces and show them off too.
PS: A few tips for safe hanging:
Before you hang the letterpress drawer on the wall, assess how much weight your collection will add. For lighter-weight displays, adhesive Velcro picture hanging strips (in the heaviest weight available) should work if used correctly.
For heavier-weight collections, you can attach a picture hanging bracket to the back, then mount the tray on some sturdy wall hooks. (In apartments, I personally love Ook Hooks – they safely support a lot of weight with only small holes in the wall.)
Vintage letterpress trays offer tons of storage and display solutions, but the ideas don’t end there! Check out these ideas for organizing your collectibles in style and finding creative storage boxes.