Recycled Silverware Wall Hooks For Drying Herbs

I've been wanting one of these in my kitchen for ages. It took painting the walls for me to finally get around to making a recycled silverware wall hook for drying herbs.



Up until now, I've been hanging harvested bundles of fresh herbs from nails in my basement storage room. Far more convenient having them hang in the kitchen where they can be used for cooking fresh or dried.



Kitchen Herb Drying Wall Hooks

Kitchen Wall Hooks For Drying Herbs

Several years ago I found a bin filled with natural wood house plaques on clearance for 35 cents each and you bet I grabbed the whole lot. I have one more left after this and I'll be sharing that project soon.



I've used these plaques for handmade gifts, a kitchen apron hanger, and a key and sunglasses organizer for our back door. It wasn't until recently that I realized it could be used for the herb drying rack that I've been longing for.



I also remembered I had a set of silverware that came with the flatware chest from Goodwill that I turned into a festive Christmas box last year. I grabbed the spoons and recycled them into spoon hooks for the herb dryer. I'll show you how easy they are to make further down in the post.



Herb Drying Spoon Hooks

I wish I had smell-o-vision because the aroma coming from the herb rack is wonderful and making me kind of hungry. You may remember back in early June I started the plants in this upcycled herb garden caddy.



DIY Kitchen Herb Rack

I made the Fresh Cut Herbs graphic in Cricut Design Space with white permanent vinyl. I'll provide a link further down in the tutorial if you'd like to upload the graphic to use.



Herb Rack Kitchen Decor

I know you all are very observant and probably thinking, "Marie, that isn't rosemary hanging on that hook", and you'd be correct. I labeled a hook for rosemary because I grow it every summer but for some reason this year I couldn't find any. I planted Stevia for the first time and hung it to dry on the hook instead.



This is the second batch of fresh-cut herbs I've dried this summer and I'm quite enjoying having them dry in the kitchen. Our kitchen is very small so to have a convenient wall mount drying rack hung on the side of our pantry doesn't take up valuable real estate.



Plus every time we walk into the kitchen we are blessed with a whiff of fresh herbs and what's not to love about that.



Repurposed Herb Drying Rack

Here's How I Made It

This post contains affiliate links so you can see what products I used or recommend for this project. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.



Step 1 - Painting The House Plaque

Here's how I made the herb drying rack starting with the repurposed house plaque (similar style). While I didn't mind the carved lines at the top and the wood applique, I didn't want the oval detail in the middle. It took a few layers of wood filler to cover the deep groove but I like it much better without.



Repurposed House Plaque Herb Drying Rack

The plaque is painted the same Behr Premium Plus latex Mined Coal (PPU-18-18) color that we used on the DIY farmhouse lantern sconces in the dining room and the oversized farmhouse wall clock above the fireplace in the living room.



Step 2 - Recycled Silverware Hooks 

Recycling spoons into herb drying hooks is quite easy. You'll need an old sock or t-shirt, a sledgehammer, a wooden dowel, small bar clamps, and herculean strength.



Recycled Silverware Herb Drying Hooks

I should note that you'll want to use a softer more pliable silver plated spoon rather than hard stainless steel.

  1. Place a spoon inside of an old sock or t-shirt folded over twice.
  2. With the spoon face down, hammer it flat with the flat end of a sledgehammer.
  3. Flip the sock over to flatten the spoon on the other side as well.
  4. Set a 1-inch dowel onto a work table and clamp it in place.
  5. Slip the spoon underneath the dowel with the good side of the handle facing down.
  6. With herculean strength bend the handle around the dowel to form the hook. The good side of the handle will now be facing you.
  7. Line up the next spoon so it will bend at the same spot on the handle as the previous spoon.
  8. Repeat until you have all five spoons bent.
  9. Next, drill a hole on the top and bottom of each spoon with a small 1/8 drill bit.
  10. Last but not least label each spoon with black permanent vinyl, an alternative to hand-stamped letters. In Cricut Design Space press the images tab and search the names of each herb. You'll find these subscriber readymade options and upload them into your design space project. Next, resize each one to the same 0.362 height, based on fitting the longest word on a spoon. Keeping them the same height makes all the labels look a uniform size.
  11. I'm not going to lie, weeding those little tiny labels was a bit of a pain, even with a Cricut weeding tool. Use Cricut transfer paper to rub them onto each spoon.


Step 3 - Adding The Fresh Herb Graphic

While I had my Cricut Maker set up I went ahead and made the Fresh Cut Herb graphic with white permanent vinyl. If you'd like to use the graphic just click on the image below for a link to the project in Cricut Design Space.




Step 4 - How To Give It An Aged Patina

After transferring the graphic on the top half of the herb rack, I sealed it with two coats of Dixie Belle Matte Clear Coat that I had on hand. Once it was dry I went over the painted plaque with dark wax using a small round wax brush.



I brushed the wax over the painted wood and the white vinyl letters, removing the excess wax with a lint-free rag. This deepened the color and toned down the glossy white vinyl letters. Next, I applied just a little more of the dark wax along the edges of the wood for a time-worn patina (see the photo below).



Step 5 - Attach The Spoons

The final step is attaching the spoon hooks to the wood plaque. Space each hook evenly across the bottom and attach them with small upholstery tacks or nails.



DIY Herb Wall Hooks

If you like the idea of having an herb drying rack but don't want to make one, here are some readymade ideas that you might like.





If you have any questions about this wall mount herb drying rack tutorial, please leave them in the comment section below or the Contact Me tab at the top. I love hearing from you!



If you enjoyed this herb drying idea, I'd be so thankful if you shared it with a friend and pinned it to your DIY Wall Hooks or Herb Garden Ideas board on Pinterest.




Kitchen Wall Rack For Drying Herbs


Recycled Silverware Kitchen Herb Rack


Repurposed House Plaque Herb Drying Rack


I share my projects at these inspiring link parties.



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Comments

  1. Replies
    1. Thanks Tania, I'm glad you like it! The aroma from this drying rack is amazing.

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  2. I'm just going to say it!!!! I'm jealous!!! I've wanted one of those for such a long time Marie. MMmmmmmmmmm, but now you've got me thinking. Yessssss!!!! I'm pinning coz I have to come back to this and make a thing for our kitchen.

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    1. Don't be jealous, instead be inspired to make one for your kitchen. I know it'll be amazing! It's your Spring coming up so get planting girl!!!!

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  3. Love this idea Marie, and I bet it smells wonderful.

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  4. Hello Marie, I love this project. I have a small garden with herbs at home and now I am inspired to try and dry the herbs. What a great creative idea.

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    1. I'm glad you like this idea for drying herbs, Jasmine, and that it inspired you to dry the herbs you have growing in your garden!

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  5. I am certain your home smells delish with the fresh herbs. I have to congratulate you on your gardening, I just cannot get motivated with the almost non existent growing season. Your proving to me that it can be done. Beautiful project.

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    1. Non-existent growing season indeed. I can't believe we're already getting frost warnings! The herbs didn't do as well as I would have liked, thanks to all the rain we had in June and July but I got enough to keep us stocked with dry herbs all winter.

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  6. I really love this idea. I tried it not so long and my spoons kept snapping. They were from a thrift store so maybe they were cheap ones. I will have to have another go because I am doing something along the same lines at the moment.

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    1. Girl, maybe you don't know your own strength! Instead of Herculean force, like I suggested, go a little Tinker Belle. LOL

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  7. Marie, this is an AMAZING idea! The hook dryer looks fantastic - we always dry herbs, but not hang them on anything as fancy as this one!

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  8. I love this Marie! What a great idea. Thank you for sharing with Charming Homes and Gardens.

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  9. I love the idea of using bent spoons as hooks. I'm always learning something new here. Never knew that herbs could be dried this way. Once they are dried, what would you do ? Grind them ?
    Thank you for sharing your post at Meraki Link Party.
    Naush

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    1. So glad to hear you find new ideas here, Naush! Yes, once the herbs are completely dry you can grind them to a fine powder, rub your fingers along the stem to save them in a glass jar or paper bag, or you can crush them with a pestle & mortar.

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  10. I love this! I'm trying to figure out where I could hang one.

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    1. So glad you like this idea and that you find the perfect spot to hang one! We sure are enjoying ours.

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  11. Thank you so much, Marilyn, for the feature and we'll see you on Monday morning!

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  12. I love this so much! What a clever idea, and it turned out PERFECT! I'm going to feature this on Sundays on Silverado. We must like similar things, Marie, because your posts always grab my attention!

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    Replies
    1. I think we do Niky because your posts always grab my attention too! I'm glad you like this herb dryer idea and thank you so much for featuring it tomorrow! xo Have a terrific labor day long weekend.

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  13. This is such an amazing and beautiful idea! I just scheduled it to share with my Facebook following and pinned!! Thanks for sharing at Charming Homes & Gardens! ~ Kristin | White Arrows Home

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    1. I'm glad you like this herb drying idea, Kristin, and thank you so much for the pin and Facebook share! xo

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  14. I could not love this more!! It is the cutest! Thank you so much for sharing at Embracing Home and Family!

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    1. Thank you so much, Jenn, I'm glad you like it! I'm sure enjoying having it in our kitchen, not only for the scent coming from the herbs but for how handy it is to grab a few sprigs when cooking. The plan was to grind the herbs once dry but I think I'll just keep them hanging on the rack.

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  15. Thanks for sharing with us at the To Grandma's house we go link party! I'll be featuring you this week!

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    1. Woot woot, thank you so much Tarahlynn, I appreciate the feature! xo

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  16. This is such a beautiful idea!!! We love to go into our garden and pick fresh herbs when cooking. This is such a great idea for drying them and being a great feature in your kitchen!!

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    1. Thanks, Sam, I'm glad you like it! I would love to have fresh herbs from the garden year round but sadly with our 7-8 month frozen tundra we have to resort to drying them for the winter. I was going to grind my dry herbs into a powder but now that I have the pretty hanger, I'm going to keep them hanging and pick as needed.

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  17. Well first of all, I thought I'd never scroll to the bottom of all of your comments! I love seeing that. You are so popular! :) Anyway, I wanted to mention that I ADORE this sign and herb dryer! I have a thing for vintage spoons so as soon as I saw them I was all over it! Then when I read that wasn't rosemary, I laughed out loud. What, you didn't want to put Stevia on your spoon? Is that the sugar stuff? I had no idea it looked like that or that it was a real thing? Obviously I can't grow anything. Much less dry anything and use it. McCormick and I are great friends. Lastly, I've chosen this for one of the features are Farmhouse Friday. But you probably knew that because it's that fantasticooohhh! Thank you for sharing it with us. Pinned

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    1. Okay Cindy, I almost spit my espresso all over the computer screen. Thanks for the chuckle this morning! LOL Since I couldn't find rosemary, stevia was the next best thing because I can use it in muddled drinks or as a simple sugar for margaritas🍹 I've got to get through the long Canadian winters somehow.😉 Cheers Thanks so much for the feature and see you Friday!

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  18. Marie,
    OMG, I just love this herb drying rack. I have lots of spoons, I just need to find a rack to use. You have the best ideas.
    Congratulations, you are being featured at Thursday Favorite Things. I hope you stop by. https://www.eclecticredbarn.com/2020/09/thursday-favorite-things_9.html
    Hugs,
    Bev

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    1. I'm so glad you like the herb drying rack idea, Bev, and thrilled to have it featured at TFT this week. Thank you so much! xo

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  19. Marie, I Love the way your sweet hooks turned out! Thank you for sharing with me at the TFT party! Pinned and shared and I'm featuring you at this week's party! Happy Thursday!
    Theresa

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    Replies
    1. I was thrilled to see the feature this morning, Theresa. Thank you so much! xo

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  20. Marie, what a fabulous tutorial and end result! Love this unique and special project.

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    1. Thank you so much, Debbee, I'm glad you like it as well as the tutorial! It's so nice having the herbs readily available in the kitchen and I love the scent too.

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  21. Hey there again! I am featuring this nifty little project on our Embracing Home and Family link party tomorrow! You got a double feature too!

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    1. I was thrilled when I saw that this morning, Jenn, so appreciate the features! xo

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  22. Replies
    1. Thank you very much, Sarah, I'm glad you like it! We're sure enjoying picking the dried herbs right from the stem in our kitchen and the aroma is wonderful.

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  23. Marie this is awesome. I love it. I need something like this to hang on my kitchen wall. Now you have given me some ideas. Thank you. Have a great start to the new week. xoxo Kris

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    1. Kris, I'm thrilled to hear this gave you some ideas for your kitchen! Wishing you a lovely Sunday and a good week ahead. xoxo

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