Coffee bar shelf with hooks: how to set up a peg shelf mug rack

From LivingCraftCo, a small shop in Temecula, California that makes solid pine Shaker peg shelves. Our shelves are linked below; the setup tips work for any wall mug rack.

A coffee bar does not need a whole cabinet. One wall shelf with pegs can hold the mugs you actually use, with room on top for beans, a grinder and a small plant. It frees up a cupboard, keeps the counter clear, and makes the first cup of the day a little calmer. Here is how to plan one that looks good and stays put.

A Shaker peg shelf styled as a coffee bar with white mugs hanging from the pegs — Styled image: one of our Shaker peg shelves set up as a coffee bar.

1. Pick the spot

Above the coffee maker or espresso machine, so mugs are one reach away. Leave clear space above the machine for steam and for opening the water tank or lid.
A blank wall at the end of the counter or a corner of the dining room works well for a small coffee and tea station.
Keep it away from the stove. Heat, grease and steam are hard on wood finishes and on anything stored on the shelf.

2. Choose the size and depth

Count the mugs you use every day and give each one its own peg, plus one spare for a towel.

20 inch (4 pegs): a small nook or a two-person household.
28 inch (5 pegs): the usual choice for a counter coffee bar.
46 inch (8 pegs): a long counter, a big family, or coffee and tea side by side. Depth matters more on a coffee bar than by the front door. Our deep shelf is 8 inches deep and 12 inches tall, so the top has room for a canister of beans, a pour-over kettle, a small jar of tea or a plant. A standard shelf is plenty if the top only holds a few small things.

3. Hang it at the right height

Let the mugs hang clear of the machine and the backsplash. A good starting point is to put the pegs about 18 to 24 inches above the counter, then hold a mug on a peg in place and check that it clears everything below and that you can lift it off easily. Every shelf comes with screws and has small holes pre-drilled above the pegs. Mount it into wall studs, or use heavy-duty drywall anchors where there is no stud. Do not use silver shelf brackets, as they are not strong enough. Our guide to hanging a Shaker peg shelf and finding the studs walks through it step by step.

4. Style it simply

Mugs on the pegs, handles all facing the same way. It looks tidy and they are easier to grab.
On top: beans or tea in a sealed canister, a grinder, a small plant or a framed print. Leave a little empty space so it does not look crowded.
A linen towel on the last peg for drips.
A verse or a short note on a small card can turn the morning cup into a quiet minute. "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24) is a favorite.

5. Keep it clean and healthy

Wipe the shelf with a dry or barely damp cloth, never soaking it. Hang mugs only once they are fully dry. Store coffee and tea in closed containers so they stay fresh and dust-free. Our shelves are solid pine stained with Minwax in many colors; if you want a non-toxic finish, see our nursery listing, which is offered with a non-toxic stain.

6. Beyond coffee

The same shelf works as a tea station, a pantry shelf with aprons on the pegs, or a breakfast nook shelf for cereal jars and kids' cups. In December it can hold a few small stockings or a garland, and in January it goes right back to mugs. More ideas in our peg shelf gift guide, since a coffee bar shelf with two favorite mugs and a bag of local beans makes a lovely housewarming or Christmas gift.

Shop our shelves

Real photos from the shop

A deep, dark-stained peg shelf with curved brackets and five pegs — Deep coffee bar / mug rack

A stained pine peg shelf with a linen towel and an enamel mug hanging from the pegs — Slim shelf with towel and mug

Two stained pine peg shelves stacked on a corner wall with a trailing plant and a framed print — Natural wood grain

Questions people ask

How high should a mug rack shelf be above the counter? Start with the pegs about 18 to 24 inches above the counter, then check that a hanging mug clears your coffee maker and is easy to lift off.

How many mugs fit on a peg shelf? One mug per peg. Our 20, 28 and 46 inch shelves have 4, 5 and 8 pegs.

Can a peg shelf hold heavy mugs? Yes, when it is screwed into wall studs, or into heavy-duty drywall anchors where there is no stud.

Is a deep shelf better for a coffee bar? If you want beans, a grinder or a kettle on top, yes. Our deep shelf is 8 inches deep.