Save Bathroom Space With These DIY Towel Storage Solutions
Whether you're renting or recently purchased a new house or apartment, your home bathroom may not come with a pre-installed towel rack. If there is an included rack, it usually doesn't have enough space to hold an entire towel collection. Most households need another designated spot to hold dry and wet towels. These spaces can be separate or together, and DIY solutions will come in handy for whichever you decide to do.
Below are twelve storage ideas for dry and wet towels alike. They can save cabinet, shelf, and countertop space in a small bathroom by making use of empty corners and wall space instead. Many of these projects require no skills and a few budget-friendly purchases from local home improvement stores or online retailers. Learn more below on how to collect the necessary materials and complete these homemade designs. Each DIY adds a touch of personality while serving a functional purpose, and you're sure to find one that fits your interior style.
Craft an over-the-door rack out of shelf risers
Use a pack of cable ties, a hook hanger, and at least two wire cabinet shelves from Dollar Tree to create a hanging rack for the back of your bathroom door. Put the wire shelves upside down with the longest sides together. Use the fasteners to secure them, binding the plastic wiring and legs as needed. At one end, secure the hook hanger, again using the fasteners to tighten them into a long hanging piece. If the white shelves don't match your bathroom, spray paint the finished piece using this Amazon product in the color of your choice.
Use dollar store decor to make a wooden rack
Pick up one wood plank and a pack of wood craft cubes from Dollar Tree to make your own rack. You may need more planks and blocks for larger towel collections. Lay the plank down flat and attach the wood cubes using double-sided tape. Use tape from Dollar Tree, or turn to Amazon for a more reliable option. This tutorial is only large enough for hand towels, and you'll need more side-by-side wood planks to store full-size towels. You'll also need to put wider gaps between the craft cubes.
Install two towel bars vertically side-by-side
Towel bars are a standard storage feature in most bathroom designs. When hung horizontally, they air out one to three towels, depending on their size. If you have multiple spare towels requiring storage, pick up two of these 24-inch bars from Walmart. Instead of hanging them horizontally as designed, flip them 90 degrees so they hang vertically. Put them side by side, about eight to ten inches apart. Roll up your clean, ready-to-use towels and stack them one on top of the other for organized, condensed, and easily-accessed storage.
Use decorative hooks on plaques to make individual towel holders
Make your own individual wall hangers for empty wall spaces. Gather a pack of Amazon wood plaques and a matching number of Dollar Tree's decorative wall hooks. Paint the unfinished wood plaques in any color using an Amazon acrylic paint bottle. Once the paint dries, attach the hooks to the front of the plaque using discreet screws that match the hooks or a thin-nozzled super glue, both from Amazon. If you aren't sure how to hang the final plaque, USA On Canvas has a handy guide.
Drill towel hooks into two pieces of trim
Start by measuring your space for a wall-mounted towel rack. Get two hardwood trim boards cut to your needed measurements at a local hardware store. Use constructive adhesive from the hardware store or Amazon, and carefully glue it to the wall. Once secured, use paint or a liquid finish to add decorative appeal. Purchase these Amazon towel hooks, or find a more creative design that fits your interior style, and install them using their included mounting hardware. Once the paint sets and the rack feels steady, you can hang towels in about 24 hours.
Create a freestanding rack out of a wooden post and bucket
Start by purchasing a wood slab treated for water exposure, such as Home Depot's pressure-treated deck post. If you use untreated wood, cover it in Home Depot's wood sealant. Stick the finished post in a 12-inch tall pot with at least a 4-inch wide diameter. Fill the pot with gravel, soil, or concrete to keep the post standing straight up. Attach wall hooks to each side of the post. If you vertically arrange them, leave three feet of space between each hook.
Repurpose door or cabinet knobs into towel hooks
Find a wood plaque, at least a foot lengthwise or larger, to install cabinet knobs for hanging towels. Space each towel about seven inches apart. With this in mind, use a larger plaque if you plan to hang multiple towels. Amazon's 14-inch wood signs should hold six towels between the two of them. Use Amazon's textured cabinet knobs since their ridges hold up fabric better than smooth designs. Install the knobs as you would on a drawer or cabinet, and hang the plaques using a drill and screws.
Turn a farmhouse window into a towel rack
Use a thrifted farmhouse window or a decorative dupe from Amazon to make a rustic wall towel holder. Start by painting over the window with Amazon's wood paint, add equally rustic cabinet knobs, and install D-ring mounts on the backside of the window frame. Hang the window, following the instructions from this YouTube tutorial. Just make sure the window hangs, so the knobs are at least five to six feet above the ground, giving towels plenty of room to air out and dry.
Put adhesive wall hooks on glass shower walls
If you have a minimalist bathroom or very limited space, make use of your glass shower walls. Buy a bulk pack of 8-pound adhesive hooks from Amazon. Clean the glass walls with vinegar or glass cleaner and dry them thoroughly before applying the hooks. Leave them alone for at least 24 hours before hanging your towels. Make sure each hook is roughly half a foot apart and at least five feet off the ground to give the towels ample space.
Create a macrame towel hanger
If you already know macrame or are willing to learn basic knots, create boho-esque hanging macrame towel holders. For each holder, you'll need two 2-inch wood rings and macrame rope from Michaels. Cut the macrame rope, so you have five pieces of 6-foot-long rope. Thread the ropes following this YouTube tutorial and put the hangers on your empty wall space. Depending on your preference, you can use adhesive hooks or a drill and nails.
Twist a wire clothing hanger into a towel holder
Wire hangers are a budget-friendly commodity you can purchase in bulk from Amazon, Walmart, and other popular retailers. Unwind the hangers to make one long wire, and remold it into swirled or geometric shapes with a curved bottom hook for holding towels. You can hang the wire hangers directly on your wall via small Amazon wall hooks or by attaching them to a larger wood plaque, similar to the aforementioned Dollar Tree decorative wall hook idea.
Repurpose a ladder into a rustic towel rack
If you have woodworking skills, you can transform any ladder by following this YouTube tutorial. However, if you're more of a casual DIY-er, you can simply fix up a decorative wall ladder from Amazon. Since you're using this item to store wet towels, make sure you put a full coat of waterproof sealant over the rungs and side rails. Lean the ladder against an open wall, preferably over hard, water-resistant flooring like tiles or vinyl.