7 Best Small Diy Projects For Music Storage In Apartments That Double As Decor
Creative DIY storage that shows off your music.
Your music collection is a physical timeline of your life, but in an apartment, it can quickly become a space-sucking problem. Stacks of vinyl in the corner or CDs crammed into a drawer don’t just look messy; they make it impossible to enjoy the music you own. The challenge isn’t just about storage—it’s about integration.
When every square foot counts, single-use furniture is a luxury you can’t afford. The goal is to find solutions that protect your collection, keep it accessible, and enhance your living space. This is where DIY projects shine, allowing you to create something that fits your exact needs and aesthetic without the custom-built price tag.
We’re not talking about complex woodworking that requires a full shop. These are simple, achievable projects that turn your music into a focal point. They transform clutter into a curated display, proving that you don’t have to choose between your passion for music and a well-designed home.
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Spin Up Your Style: DIY Music Storage Solutions
Finding the right storage is a balancing act between capacity, footprint, and style. Commercial media units are often bulky, generic, and poorly suited for the unique dimensions of vinyl records or the sheer volume of a CD collection. They solve one problem while creating another: taking up precious floor space with an uninspired piece of furniture.
The beauty of a DIY approach is its inherent adaptability. You’re not just building a shelf; you’re designing a solution that fits a specific nook, complements your existing decor, and showcases your collection in a way that feels personal. It’s about making your storage an active part of your home’s character.
These projects prioritize dual functionality. They are designed to store your music and act as intentional decor. By turning your media into a visual element, you reclaim your space and celebrate the art you love.
DIY Vinyl Ledges With an IKEA BEKVÄM Spice Rack
Maximize kitchen space with this set of four solid birch spice racks. Their compact design mounts to the wall, keeping countertops clear. Crafted from renewable wood, they can be customized to match your decor.
The IKEA BEKVÄM spice rack is a legend in the world of small-space hacks for a reason. Its simple, solid wood construction and narrow profile make it the perfect minimalist ledge for displaying your favorite vinyl records. The front bar holds the album securely in place, letting the cover art shine.
This isn’t a solution for your entire collection, and that’s the point. Use these ledges to create a "now playing" station above your turntable or to feature a rotating gallery of your most visually striking album covers. Because they are wall-mounted, they consume zero floor space, making them ideal for tight corners or narrow hallways.
Installation is straightforward, but always anchor them properly, especially in drywall. A few records don’t seem heavy, but you want to be sure. You can leave the raw birch wood for a Scandinavian feel, or easily paint or stain them to match your walls for a "floating" look or a bold, contrasting color.
Build a Rustic Record Crate With Crates & Pallet
Sometimes the most classic solution is the best one. A simple wooden crate offers sturdy, accessible, and mobile storage for a significant number of records. Companies like Crates & Pallet offer pre-cut, unfinished wood kits that are easy to assemble with just a bit of wood glue and a few nails.
Titebond Original Wood Glue provides a strong, reliable bond for woodworking, furniture repair, and more. It offers a fast set time and cleans up easily with water.
This project is perfect for floor-level storage, tucking neatly beside a media console or armchair. It allows you to flip through your collection with the satisfying feel of digging through a record store bin. For added functionality, attach a set of caster wheels to the bottom to make it easy to move for cleaning or rearranging.
Move heavy items with ease using these durable 2" caster wheels. The set of four heavy-duty swivel casters with double brakes supports up to 450 lbs and features quiet, non-marking polyurethane wheels.
The unfinished pine has a warm, rustic charm, but it’s also a blank canvas. Stain it dark for an industrial vibe, paint it a bright color to make it a statement piece, or use a stencil to add a personal touch. A well-built crate is so durable it can even double as a small side table or footrest in a pinch.
Your Modern Tabletop Vinyl Stand Using Copper Pipe
For a sleek, industrial-modern look, nothing beats the warm gleam of copper. Building a tabletop vinyl stand from copper pipe and fittings is surprisingly simple and requires no soldering. All you need is a pipe cutter, some epoxy, and a clear design plan.
Cut tubing in tight spaces with the RIDGID 101 Close Quarters Tubing Cutter. It handles 1/4" to 1-1/8" tubing made of copper, aluminum, brass, and plastic, and features a durable design with a knurled knob for easy pressure control.
This type of stand is ideal for displaying a small, curated collection of 15-20 records on a bookshelf, desk, or media console. Its open, airy design keeps it from feeling bulky, allowing your album art to be the star. It’s a functional sculpture that signals a thoughtfully assembled collection.
The main tradeoff is capacity; this is for your heavy-rotation albums, not your deep archives. Over time, the copper will develop a rich, natural patina. If you prefer a polished look, a quick buff with the right cleaner will restore its shine.
Create Floating Record Shelves with IKEA LACK
The IKEA LACK wall shelf is another versatile product that can be repurposed for media storage. Its "floating" design offers a clean, contemporary look that can make a wall of records appear weightless. The shelf’s depth is almost perfectly sized for 12-inch LPs, providing full support.
The key to this project is proper installation. Vinyl is heavy, and you absolutely must mount these shelves into wall studs. Do not rely on drywall anchors alone. When installed correctly, a LACK shelf can create a stunning, library-style display for your collection.
This solution works best when you have dedicated wall space. You can hang a single shelf for a minimalist look or stack multiple shelves to create an entire feature wall of music. Just be mindful of the shelf’s weight limit and distribute your records evenly.
Hang Your Vinyl Collection With Leather & Dowel Rods
If you’re looking for a display solution that is more art than furniture, this is it. This minimalist project uses two leather straps and a wooden dowel rod to create a simple, elegant sling for your records. It’s a beautiful way to add texture and warmth to your walls.
This is a hyper-curated display, designed to hold only a handful of albums at a time. It’s the perfect system for showcasing a new purchase or the album you currently have on repeat. It takes up virtually no space and draws the eye directly to the album cover itself.
The aesthetic is very flexible, fitting in with bohemian, mid-century modern, or rustic decor. You can customize the look by choosing different colors of leather or types of wood for the dowel. It’s a five-minute project that delivers a high-impact decorative punch.
Upcycle a Vintage Suitcase for Portable Storage
This vintage-style wooden suitcase offers stylish storage and portability. Featuring a unique map pattern, it's perfect for keepsakes, travel essentials, or decorative display.
A vintage suitcase offers a storage solution packed with character and nostalgia. Finding an old hardshell suitcase at a thrift store or flea market can provide a perfectly sized, dust-proof home for your vinyl. It’s a self-contained unit that can be closed and tucked away.
Functionally, this is one of the most practical options. It protects your records from sunlight and dust, and it’s inherently portable. You can slide it under a bed, use it as a decorative base for a plant, or stack it with other cases to create a unique side table.
The trick is finding a suitcase with the right interior depth to accommodate 12-inch records without bending the corners. It’s a treasure hunt, but the payoff is a one-of-a-kind piece that tells a story. This approach is perfect for an eclectic, lived-in style.
Display Your CD Collection with an IKEA MOSSLANDA
Display your favorite items securely with this set of two black floating shelves. The lipped design prevents items from slipping, while the sturdy construction holds up to 20 lbs.
CDs often get overlooked in the vinyl revival, but a well-loved collection deserves a good home. The IKEA MOSSLANDA picture ledge is an elegant and space-efficient solution. Its narrow channel is perfectly sized to hold standard jewel cases, allowing you to display them cover-forward.
By mounting several ledges in neat rows, you can turn a blank wall into a graphic art installation. It transforms your CD collection from a stack of plastic into a browsable library, reminiscent of an old record store wall. This method keeps every album visible and accessible.
This is far more efficient than a traditional CD tower, which takes up floor space and often hides the cover art. The MOSSLANDA ledges are low-profile and blend into the wall, putting the focus entirely on the music. It’s a clean, organized, and visually satisfying way to honor a collection you spent years building.
Ultimately, the best storage solution is one that reflects how you live and what you love. Moving your music from a hidden stack to a place of pride isn’t just about organization; it’s about making your space a truer reflection of you. These projects prove that you don’t need a huge budget or a dedicated workshop to create something both beautiful and functional.
Think of your collection not as a storage problem, but as a design opportunity. Whether you choose a rustic crate or a sleek copper stand, you’re curating your environment. By integrating your music into your decor, you create a home that is more personal, more engaging, and works smarter for the life you live in it.
