If you’re like us, you have magazines and newspapers stacked on your cocktail table, perched on your nightstand, and even piled on the floor. There’s the issue with the gorgeous home you want to build someday, the one with the article you can’t stop thinking about, and the crisp new copies you haven’t even read yet. We would never ask you to throw away your prized possessions. Rather, invest in a beautiful magazine rack (or two) to stylishly organize your subscriptions.
Best Magazine Racks
Because many of us used to read on our daily commutes and may no longer have that chunk of time on a regular basis, it’s even more important to carve out a space at home to unwind.
A well-designed magazine rack can help with this. The best are portable, so you can keep it next to one of your favorite spots – a breakfast bar, sinkable soft armchair, or cozy window seat – and help keep your reading matter in order, so you can see what’s in store at a glance. Of course, your rack doesn’t have to be limited to magazines; it can also hold bulky coffee table books, newspapers, engrossing novels, and even brochures.
We looked at the following key features to determine the best magazine rack: location, type, design, materials, size, and capacity. We understand that residential and commercial design needs can differ greatly and that available floor space can also influence the type of rack you choose. As a result, we concentrated on a range of options that were adaptable in terms of location and space compatibility while also providing adequate storage capacity.
Read on to learn more about the best magazine racks:
mDesign Decorative Metal Farmhouse Magazine Rack
Even if you don’t get a magazine delivered to your house every other day, it’s not a bad idea to have a magazine rack in the house. This Top Pick floor magazine rack from mDesign is a lovely wireframe option that would complement almost any home decor style. We like that this rack does not require assembly and is ready to use right away.
More importantly, its small size (12 inches long, six inches deep, and 8.5 inches tall) makes it ideal for even the smallest studio apartment. Even if you don’t read print magazines, this magazine holder can serve as a bathroom caddy for fresh towels, washcloths, or extra rolls of toilet paper.
Retreat Wicker Magazine Rack
While some racks easily fill up or struggle to accommodate a variety of publications, this wide marvel easily swallows them while remaining sturdy. We were able to fit eight of our stack of magazines in before they became too uneven, and there was still plenty of room for books.
When empty, it’s a fairly lightweight rack (around 1.2kg), so you can put it wherever it’s most useful, and it’s not too bulky, so that it won’t take up much space. The legs of our sample were slightly different lengths, so it rocked slightly when empty and set on a hard floor. This would not be an issue on the carpet or when filled, but it is important to note that there may be some variation.
Where Amara’s magazine rack really shines is in terms of style. It looks just as good in a modern lounge as it does in a Scandi-style bedroom, thanks to its trendy woven cane on a black iron wirework base. Surprisingly, it’s one of our more affordable picks, demonstrating that stylish magazine storage doesn’t have to be expensive.
Ferm Living Magazine Stand
If you’re short on space, this sling-style rack will come in handy. When not in use, it simply folds up, deckchair-style, to fit behind furniture or on top of cupboards. Another advantage is that the cotton canvas sling has brass press studs and can be completely detached for cleaning if it becomes dirty. Its powder-coated black metal frame makes it heavier to move than others – around 2.2kg empty – but this gives it excellent stability. Nine magazines fit comfortably before the stack began to curve, and there was still room for smaller publications.
This rack’s design is especially noticeable because it is simple and thus repairable over time. The frame is held together with nuts and bolts rather than hinges, and the leather laces thread through and tie in place, so they’re easily replaceable even if they stretch with use. While it is more expensive than some, consider it an investment piece that you will use for many years to come.
Spectrum Diversified Seville Magazine Rock
If you adore the mid-century design aesthetic, this Spectrum option is ideal for your form-meets-function requirements. This wireframe modern magazine rack has a single slot for newspapers, magazines, or even vinyl records. If your house receives a lot of magazines, this magazine rack is up to the task.
If you’re bringing work home from the office, you might want one of the best small desks for a home office. We liked that this is another solution that doesn’t require assembly, which means it’s ready to use as soon as you take it out of the box. The matte black wire has a sleek appearance that will complement your living room or bedroom. But the best part is that this magazine basket folds flat for easy storage when not in use.
Apollo Housewares Wooden Magazine Rack
While the classic styling and low price of Apollo’s solid rubberwood rack may appear appealing, it requires some flatpack DIY to get it up and running. Its assembly consists of screws, wooden dowels, and diagram instructions that required two people to put it together – we spent about 30 minutes putting it together before it was ready to use. A thin laminated plywood base that may bend over time and does not match the rubberwood frame also detracts from the rack.
However, once completed, it was a good-sized, sturdy rack with a central carry handle for moving it around and a shallow shelf at the top ideal for remote controls or a glasses case. It held 15 magazines, which were neatly divided by a divider in the center to keep them upright. However, at around 3kg, it is quite heavy on its own, so you may only move it when absolutely necessary—A+ for the price, but F for effort in putting it together.
iDesign Classico Steel Wire Wall Mount Magazine Rack
A magazine rack that takes up floor space isn’t practical when space is limited. This small wall-mounted magazine rack from iDesign is ideal for working in a cubicle or living in a starter studio apartment. The dimensions of this hanging basket are 10.5 inches tall, 8.5 inches wide, and 3.5 inches deep.
While it isn’t ideal for someone who collects a lot of magazines or newspapers, we think it’s a great gender-neutral option thanks to the rust-resistant steel construction and brushed bronze finish. This wall magazine rack also includes the necessary installation hardware. You could also use this in your bathroom to store bathroom necessities.
Williston Forge Larrison Magazine Rack
When floor space is limited, a wall-mounted rack is a wise choice, and this metal wirework design is an excellent example. There are twin loops at the top, rather than fiddly screw holes, so you can hang it however you want, and it’s one of the lightest magazine racks in our roundup, weighing only 600g, so you won’t need to bolt it to the wall. Another advantage is the wavy wirework and gold ombre finish, which make it feel less practical and more like a fashionable storage solution.
Unlike some floor-mounted racks, this one has two distinct sections to help you keep track of your reading material. However, the bottom section could use a little more vertical space – we couldn’t fit in some of our taller titles, with only a maximum of 28.5cm comfortably fitting in. Each slot comfortably held seven of our magazines without squeezing them. The final reason for selecting this rack? It works equally well as a home office for storing paperwork and notebooks.
Safco Products Onyx 10 Pocket Magazine Rack
We understand that this is a very specific award. However, as co-working spaces become more popular, people are learning how to set up their own mini-offices and adjusting to maximize workable space. And depending on how your dedicated desk space is configured, you may have access to a wall, as in a cubicle. Instead of cluttering up your desk or the floor space around it, this Safco Products hanging magazine file is a great space-saving solution.
This option, like most literature holders, comes with mounting hardware, allowing you to install it quickly. The 10-pocket design is extremely strong and can hold up to five pounds. Each pocket is 34″ deep. Furthermore, the low-profile black mesh design is suitable for a wide range of commercial design schemes.
Black Cat Magazine Rack
While this black metal prowling cat is more of a novelty item (Red Candy also offers a campervan version for those who crave the open road), it’s still a very useful purchase. Its smaller size (21cm tall) allows it to fit neatly on a shelf or in a small space to organize your magazines, and its flat base makes it surprisingly sturdy. There are even rubber studs on the bottom to protect the shelf or floor from metal damage, and it’s not too heavy at 1.1kg. It will need to be filled to prevent magazines from bending too much, but it can easily hold 10 magazines.
Given the low price, there’s not much to dislike about this functional feline. It’s not as portable as some of the other items in our selection because there’s no handle or clear way to grasp it other than from the base, and the finish on our sample had a slightly sharp edge on one side of the cat’s head, but that’s about it. Dogs may have traditionally delivered the newspaper, but it takes a cat to keep your magazines organized.
Life of Riley Curved Leather Storage Basket
If you add this large leather basket to your living room, you’ll never be without something to read again. We were able to fit 20 magazines in, with the added benefit of being able to stand upright without making the basket unstable, allowing them to be flicked through. The basket is large enough to hold magazines on their side as well as other items such as newspapers or even your heaviest hardbacks. It’s just as impressive on the outside, with double rows of stitching and multiple layers of leather, giving it a classic look, good rigidity, and a sense of longevity.
The basket itself is relatively light considering its construction, weighing approximately 1kg. A flat base ensures that it is stable no matter what it is storing, and cut out handles are another feature. They’re too far apart to carry the basket with one hand, but they do make it easier to move around. Despite the benefits, it’s quite expensive for something that holds periodicals; no surprise, then, that it comes with a personalized luggage tag, making it an ideal gift or wedding present.
Final Words
We knew that the location of your magazine rack would influence the style you choose. As a result, we included a variety of options suitable for both residential and commercial use. Similarly, we included a variety of materials, though metal-based options predominated.
We then considered the size. While one larger option was included, we focused on space-saving designs that were either wall-mounted or didn’t take up much floor space in general. The smaller options had less space, whereas the larger options could hold more items. Capacity and size, understandably, tend to go hand in hand. So, keep this guide on the best magazine racks in your mind while looking for a magazine for your home or office.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Would I Want a Magazine Rack?
If you receive a medium to large number of publications each month, magazine racks are an excellent storage solution. Instead of storing magazines and newspapers on your entryway or coffee table, keep them in a magazine rack to keep your space tidy.
How Do I Pick a Magazine Rack for My Home?
First, consider where you want to put your magazine rack. Depending on the available space, you may need to concentrate on a space-saving design that is small but provides adequate storage for your mail or magazines. Consider your design aesthetic as well. Magazine racks are available in a variety of styles, from minimalist to ornate. The style you choose will be determined by what works best for your tastes and overall design scheme.
What is the Benefit of a Wall-Mounted Magazine Rack?
If you have a limited amount of space, wall-mounted magazine racks are ideal. If a small freestanding magazine rack obstructs pathways around your home or simply overwhelms a small space, it can become a tripping hazard. Instead, a wall-mounted rack can provide storage while also keeping your floors clear.