Trade In Your Paper Towel Holder: A Space-Saving System That Keeps Them Off Your Counter

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Paper towels are a kitchen essential, but traditional wooden holders take up valuable room on your countertop. This can be especially frustrating in smaller kitchens where counters are already crowded. You don't have to give up paper towels to reclaim that space, though. Instead, look above the counter to blank walls for a space-saving way to store paper towels. A small shelf, set on a French cleat support will free up that much-needed space while still providing easy access to something you use multiple times each day.

Rather than rely on a paper towel holder spindle that sits on your countertop, mounting your roll to (or above) the backsplash is a far more savvy idea, and one particularly clever storage system can make the setup even more versatile. A French cleat system, Also called a split batten, is an adaptable mounting method that allows you to hang items from a wall using two pieces of wood or metal with opposing beveled edges. One piece is secured horizontally to the wall, while the other is attached to the item you want to hang. The two beveled edges then interlock, creating a secure mounting method without requiring the mounted item to be drilled directly into the wall.

For obvious reasons, this can be a useful kitchen organization idea to maximize tiny spaces. It's especially useful on a backsplash, where a French cleat can also serve as a mounting system for other kitchen items like utensil holders, too. It's also highly versatile and strong. Because it functions like a rail, you can extend the cleat along the length of your backsplash and slide or reposition your storage pieces as needed.

This clever mounting hack is a relatively simple DIY. You're essentially creating two interlocking supports using a bevel cut, then attaching any storage or shelving to the removable half. The opposing beveled angles of each support board rests against the other to create super-strong mounts. The easiest way to create a French cleat is to split a 1-inch x 3-inch board long-ways on a table saw set at a 45-degree angle. You can also bevel two boards along their edges using a router. One piece is secured to studs in the wall, or via wall anchors, with the beveled edge pointing up. Extending this support board along the length of your backsplash allows you to hang multiple sliding shelves. 

Next, build the shelf for your paper towel roll. Measure a piece of wood to accommodate a large roll then add sides, or a spindle through the center, to keep the paper towels in place. Leave enough clearance from the back of your mount and under cabinets for the roll to spin freely, then attach this to the removable, hanging beveled wood support (sized to hide behind your shelf), with the beveled edge pointing down. Of course you can paint or stain it to match your decor.

If you'd rather skip the DIY, you can also use a ready-made metal French cleat system. These 2-inch mounting brackets from Amazon could be adapted to store a paper towel holder, though you would need to find a compatible shelf or holder that can be securely attached to the front bracket. This paper towel holder with a shelf, also from Amazon, could work well, attached to a bracket using a few bolts.