I Put This Vintage Kitchen Item in My Bathroom (It’s Even More Stylish Now!)

From designer bags to LEGO sets, most of us have some sort of hobby or collection that takes up a lot of real estate. For me, it’s perfume. I have a moderately sized perfume collection that is continuously growing (much to my wallet’s dismay), and I realized it needed a designated home. 

I didn’t want to hide my beautiful bottles away, and I also wanted to be able to easily access them, so the medicine cabinet was not an option. So I set off in search of a chic yet inexpensive way to display my prized possessions — and I found my inspiration (where else?) on TikTok. 

In my search, I stumbled across this post from Gianna Butler, a Los Angeles-based creator with the same problem (and taste!) as mine. “I found an inspo picture on Pinterest and figured I could totally find something similar [by] thrifting or scrolling through Facebook Marketplace,” Butler told me. After weeks of searching, Butler was able to snag a stunning vintage spice rack for just $15 on Facebook Marketplace. 

My own style definitely leans vintage too, so this was the perfect solution. I love the idea of giving an old piece a new life — and a new purpose. “The woman selling the spice rack told me this was a special piece; it had been her mother’s, and she was hoping it would go to a good home,” said Butler. “It was meant to be.” So, armed with inspiration and a mission, I headed to the thrift store myself. 

Luckily for me, I didn’t have to search for long. In the home aisle, I found this gorgeous vintage mango-wood spice rack — and for just $12! I promptly checked out and headed home, eager to style my new score. I was a little nervous about whether or not the bottles would fit — most perfumes come in 1-ounce, 1.7-ounce, and 3.4-ounce bottles, with a typical maximum height of around 4.5 inches, which is similar to most spices — but my collection fits perfectly. 

I am so thrilled with how this unassuming, inexpensive thrift find became a statement piece in my bedroom. The stunning, dark-stained wood makes the glass bottles pop, and definitely nails that vintage vibe I always strive for when decorating. My collection brings me so much joy, and even more so now that I get to see it every day. 

If you’re also looking for a way to display a collection of yours, consider a spice rack! Thrift stores and online marketplaces are filled with pieces just like the ones Gianna and I found. If you’d rather skip the thrift store, though, this trinket shelf from Urban Outfitters has a very similar look. It’ll cost you more, of course, but it definitely still has that vintage vibe I love.