December 31, 2025

9 Mug Storage Ideas to Keep Your Kitchen Organized

Coffee mugs are more than just a receptacle for holding your morning coffee or tea.

To some of us, coffee mugs are symbols of our travels and adventures, acting as souvenirs for all the places we’ve explored, from national parks to art museums. For others, our coffee mugs are an extension of our personalities—a deep, bowl-like cup with a silly phrase slapped on it for Dad, and a dainty, elegant, narrow-rimmed one adorned with flowers for Mom.

That’s why it’s a good idea to invest in proper mug storage. After all, knowing how to store mugs can help reduce clutter and keep your kitchen organized.

In our guide below, we’ve listed our top mug storage ideas so you can easily track down your favorite mug for your morning cup of Joe.

Do an Inventory of Your Mug Collection

Before jumping into our favorite mug storage ideas, follow these simple steps to prepare your mugs for storage.

Toss, recycle, or gift ones you never use
Repair those with chipped edges or broken handles
Get rid of any that are broken beyond repair
Rinse and dry each mug to get rid of any lingering dust and grime

9 Coffee Mug Storage Ideas

If you’ve accumulated a collection of coffee mugs over the years, it’s time to find some simple storage solutions. The beauty of these coffee mug storage ideas is that you can follow one option or combine them to accommodate all your mugs and declutter your kitchen in no time!

1. Create a Mug Shelf in Your Cupboard

If you have an impressive coffee mug collection, you may want to look into dedicating an entire shelf to your mugs. This is an excellent option if you have some empty cupboard space or can consolidate items onto a different shelf to make room for your mugs. You’ll easily be able to see all your cups, making it easier than ever to grab your favorite one on the fly.

2. Clear out a Kitchen Drawer

If you don’t have free cupboard or cabinet space, how about using a kitchen drawer instead? A pull-out drawer conveniently located in your kitchen provides another handy storage solution. We recommend placing a liner in the drawer and then gently arranging your mugs rim down.

3. Install Hooks under your Cabinets

When storing coffee mugs, consider installing hooks in rows beneath your cabinets and hanging your mugs by their handles. We like this solution because it allows you to display your mugs without taking up valuable countertop or shelf space. You can choose to display all the same style mug for a uniform look or showcase your quirkiest ones for a more funky aesthetic.

4. Invest in a Storage Rack

A storage rack is another storage idea that’s ideal for maximizing vertical storage space. You can place one over your countertop or stick one on your shelf to give yourself twice the amount of storage room. With this storage solution, simply put a row of mugs under the rack and then line some on top, allowing you to easily see all the mugs in your collection.

5. Use in a Freestanding Mug Rack

A freestanding mug rack with arms is another one of our favorite mug storage ideas. For this option, you can purchase one from a home decor store or even build your own. This portable option creates a handy hanging display for your mugs, which you can place on the countertop, inside your pantry, or on a shelf.

6. Put Your Mugs on Display

Let’s face it, some mugs are simply a work of art! Perhaps you have one that you made in a pottery class last fall or a colorful one with your initials engraved on it. These mugs deserve to be on display! Install a shelf or clear an area on your countertop to showcase your most decorative mugs for all to see.

7. Create a Coffee Station

When it comes to storing coffee mugs, we love the idea of creating a coffee station with all your coffee-related supplies, from your coffee mugs to your sweeteners. For instance, you could designate the corner of your countertop next to your espresso maker or create an entire rolling cart for your mugs, tea packets, and stirrers. For this option, you could stack a few mugs on top of one another or place them on a free-standing rack for easy access.

8. Place Your Overflow Mugs in a Plastic Bin

If you and your family members have your go-to coffee mugs, you probably have a bunch of unused mugs cluttering up your kitchen. If you have enough coffee mugs to accommodate an army full of visitors, place the excess ones in a plastic bin with a lid and store them in your pantry, attic, or even a spare closet. This way, when you have guests visiting, you can easily grab the bin and have enough coffee mugs on hand for everyone to enjoy.

9. Consider a Storage Unit

If you have a seasonal collection of mugs for every holiday, from St. Patrick’s Day to Christmas, it may be time to consider off-site storage solutions. After all, you don’t need to display every single last coffee mug in your collection.

Sound familiar? Pack the mugs you don’t use on an everyday basis, place them in a clean plastic tub, and drop them off at your self-storage unit. Then, when another holiday rolls around, you can easily zip over to the storage unit and grab the specific mugs you need.

Learn More about Stor-It Today

Have questions about storage? Allow Stor-It to help! We are the oldest and largest storage operation in Idaho, which means we know all the ins and outs of storing your belongings. Whether you’re looking for summer moving tips or advice on what kind of storage unit to rent, Stor-It has all the answers and then some.