Why You Should Put a Cheese Grater on Your Wall (It’s So Cute!)

I live in a New York City apartment, so space is almost always an issue. There usually isn’t enough of it, and don’t even get me started on storage space. So, when I discovered a storage hack using a cheese grater on the wall, I was skeptical. But when I realized the surprisingly wide range of uses for this box grater — none of which have to do with cheese — I changed my tune. Here’s why.

As I mentioned, you don’t want just any cheese grater here. You want a box grater with a handle. This specificity is thanks to Instagram user Jordyn Spangler, who posted a video showing how she took an antique cheese grater and used two screws to mount it to a wall in her kitchen. The grater is mounted upside down, which means the open bottom part of the grater is facing up and the handle is facing down. Spangler then uses the cheese grater to hold a few stems of dried eucalyptus on top and hangs a hand towel on the bottom, aka the handle. 

A cheese grater has so much storage potential. Here’s how you can use it around your home. Please note that the grater in the video is likely quite dull since it’s older and rusted, so if you’re buying a new one, you may want to dull the sides and make sure its way out of elbow reach to avoid any accidental nicks.

Spangler’s video shows her placing dried eucalyptus in the hollow part of the grater, turning it into a rustic vase. You can do this, or switch things up with fresh flowers, herbs, faux plants, branches, or even essential oil diffuser sticks. Either way, it’s a chance to add a pop of freshness to your home without taking up any shelf, table, or counter space.

This is another tip from the video: Since the grater is mounted upside down, the handle faces downward and transforms into a hook. Spangler’s family uses it to hang a charming patterned hand towel in their kitchen, but you could use this trick in any part in your house, like the bathroom or laundry room.

You don’t have to try this grater trick in your kitchen, but it certainly makes sense to do so, especially since it’s basically on-theme decor. If you already have plenty of vases and greenery, go an even more practical route and put serving spoons, spatulas, and other long, thin kitchen tools in the hollow part of the grater, so long as they’re wide enough to not fall through the grater. If you already have a magnetic knife strip on your wall, this could be a fun addition.

I cook a lot, but I also tend to be forgetful. To avoid this, I often take ingredients or tools out ahead of time and place them on the counter, so at least there’s a visual reminder of what I planned on making. To save space, pop some smaller items like dry goods in your mounted grater so they’re consolidated and ready for you when cooking time begins.

It doesn’t have to all be domestic; a cheese grater can also help you in the glam department. Hang necklaces or thin scarves on the handle hook, and hang your earrings in the holes of the grater. Each side of a box grater typically has different-size holes, so make sure you test which one works best for your jewelry before mounting it.

It’s always tempting to scatter your mail on a nearby counter after you check it, but that tends to just create clutter. Fortunately, the hollow part of your newly mounted box grater is the perfect size for envelopes.