How To Turn An Old Door Into A Rustic Towel Holder For Your Bathroom

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If you're looking to bring farmhouse chic to your bathroom but don't want to spend a ton of money to do it, a DIY project like the one @georgiafieldsco used can turn an old screen door into a coat rack. You can use a similar process to turn an old door into a rustic towel holder for your bathroom. This project is one more great way to use repurposed doors in your home, which can be found at a thrift store or yard sale — you might even have one stashed away in the attic.

Any style of door will work here, so you should consider the size of your bathroom and select one that fits your the available space. For smaller bathrooms, you could even use an old cabinet door and mount it to the wall or prop it up at the end of a long counter.

To turn the door into a proper towel holder, you'll need to affix towel hooks in a horizontal line across its face. Other styling options include attaching a shelf to the top as a space to store clean towels, along with other bathroom supplies or decorations. You can embellish the towel holder with lighting and decorations or leave it as simple as you wish. Once transformed, you'll simply lean or secure the door-turned-towel-holder against the bathroom wall.

Simple steps to up-cycling an old door into a towel holder

Begin by removing any old nails, hinges, or attachments you no longer want. You might need a few basic tools to do it, like pliers or screw drivers. Wear gloves to protect your hands if you're dealing with any sharp objects. If working with a rustic door, you can remove old knobs or restore the shine on antique door handles with this salt and vinegar trick to maintain the vintage charm. Then wipe down the door with a damp cloth to get rid of any dust.

An optional step here is to sand the door and paint it. Whether you use a power sander or do it by hand, remember to work in a well ventilated area. If you choose to paint the door, it's a good idea to use a sealant or paint that can stand up to the humidity of a bathroom, especially because you will be hanging wet towels on it. 

Place the towel hooks high enough on the door so your towels won't touch the floor when hanging, and space them far enough apart to avoid crowding. You'll need a screw and screw driver to attach the hooks to the door, or you can use a drill. Once the hooks are in, you can leave it as is or add things like a floating shelf for storage or even mini tap lights. Once complete, just lean it against the bathroom wall or attach furniture anchors to keep it safely in place.

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