Q. I’m in desperate need of more space for my winter clothes, mainly coats and I have only a teeny weeny closet. I have no hanging room, so I wanted to find a great standing coat-rack to hang all my coats on and free up closet space. Do you have any DIY ideas? I’m very crafty and enjoy building things, so I wanted to see what your thoughts were on it. Do you think I should make one or do you think I should keep my eyes peeled and just buy one? From: Grayson
A. I’m so glad you asked Grayson. Storage is on everyone’s mind this time of year as we break out those winter coats and get ready for holiday get togethers where even more coats will be stopping by. This is my favorite storage rack DIY; a hip looking place to hang whatever you need in your choice of color. I have seen variations of this project but this version from Hrrrthrrr design studio is the easiest to make and most functional. Since you enjoy DIY projects I would definitely suggest making this verses buying something. Recently, a client of mine made this rack for her daughter as a going away to college gift. She had her family members and grandparents sign the bottom of it (with a Sharpie). How perfect and heartfelt is that? A feel good piece of home to take with her, I’m tearing up just thinking about my own daughter leaving for college, someday. Her daughter absolutely loved it and it was such a hit at school that she has orders to make five more. No joke. The total cost is about $50.00. Here is what you need to get started.
Supplies:
- Paint — purchase a quart or you can use whatever paint you have left over in your house
- Paint brush
- (1) Cut of wood — Shown here is a little over 1” thick + 30” x 17.5” (Note: determine your board size based on the pipe length of your smallest pipe.) My client used a pre-made shelf, from a local hardware store.
- (2) Long pipes — Used here 1/2” thick poles that are about 60” long
- (1) Short pipe — Used here a 1/2” thick pole that is about 25” long
- (2) 1/2” 90° Elbow attachments to connect the pipes
- (2) 1/2” Floor flanges
- (4) 2” Rubber wheels with swivel plate casters
- (24) 1” Screws
- Screwdriver
Directions:
- Screw your four rubber wheels on to each corner of the board. Before you screw them in, make sure that the wheel doesn’t stick out from the board at all if it’s rotated in any direction.
- Flip your board over and paint the top and sides of the board. It will take a couple coats and you don’t have to paint bottom.
- Now start connecting the three pipes to the board. ( clean the pipes with Goo Gone because they may have a greasy residue from the hardware store on them)
- Once your board has dried, screw one of your floor flanges onto the top of the board close to the edge and centered to the width of the board.
- Screw one of your long pipes into that floor flange. Then screw an elbow onto the top of that pipe. Make sure that the elbow ends up facing inward.
- Next, screw the smallest pipe into that elbow. Attach the second elbow to the other end. Then attach your second long pipe to that elbow.
- So you should have all your pipes connected to each other but only connected to the board on one side.
- Screw your second floor flange onto the end of your last pipe. From there you can place the flange on the board opposite the other and screw it to the board.
- Last step is to paint the pipe and all the pipe hardware. This takes a couple of coats of paint and touch up in places as it dries.
- Let it all dry and you’re done!!
