Say Bye To Traditional Towels Racks: Here's A More Creative Way To Bring Coastal Vibes

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Bathrooms come in all shapes and sizes, but they're often one of the smallest rooms in a home. This means that finding the best ways to blend decor with functionality may take some ingenuity, especially when every square inch of space counts. One way to maximize bathroom space is to use walls to your advantage. Additions such as wall shelving, recessed cabinetry, and even mounted towel racks are perfect for this. 

For example, instead of installing a traditional towel bar, a piece of driftwood mounted with coat hooks is a creative way to add storage to your bathroom walls — and all you need to make it happen is a drill and some measuring tape. The sun-bleached, worn finish of driftwood offers rustic, coastal vibes and works well for many decor themes, such as bohemian, cottage, and many modern farmhouse styles. You'll be happy to know that this easy DIY can be completed in one afternoon and doesn't cost a lot of money. 

There are several places to find driftwood besides the beach, including craft stores like Hobby Lobby and Michaels or online marketplaces such as Etsy and Amazon, where prices often range from $15 to $30. You may also find it at specialty home stores and boutiques (especially coastal ones), though it will likely be more expensive. Also, Amazon offers many coat hook options for under $10, such as this CBWLWJ 20-piece coat hook set. So if you're a fan of low-budget decor ideas that don't skimp on style, this one is right up your alley.

Before beginning this DIY, measure your bathroom wall so you can choose a driftwood piece that's the right size for your space. Because every piece of driftwood is unique, taking a few extra minutes to plan the layout can help you make the most of its natural shape. Once you have your wood piece and other materials, use your measuring tape to mark the hook locations on your wood piece. And to ensure the spacing is even, measure the total length of your driftwood first, then divide it evenly based on the number of hooks you plan on using. If your driftwood has an irregular shape, lay it on a flat surface first to determine which side will sit most securely against the wall before marking your hook locations.

Note that more hooks means less actual hanging space for your towels, so it's best not to overcrowd the wood piece. The goal is for the driftwood rack to look clean and balanced. After working out your spacing, drill pilot holes into the driftwood and screw the hooks in. Be careful not to overtighten the screws, as that can strip the wood and weaken the hold.

The next step is mounting your rack. To ensure maximum support, use a stud finder to locate wall studs before drilling, as anchoring into a stud will give your towel rack a much stronger hold than drywall can alone. After marking your drill spots, hold the rack in place and mark where the mounting holes will go on the wall. For this step it helps to have a level to create a straight line on the wall. If you don't, try using a level app if you have a smartphone — many of them work surprisingly well. After drilling your pilot holes into the driftwood, mount it on the wall. Make sure to give it a firm tug to confirm that it's secure before adding your towels.

This inspiring driftwood towel rack idea doesn't have to stop here. For example, you can use driftwood planks to create two to three floating shelves above your rack to store folded hand towels. And one of the best things about driftwood is that it comes in many variations and sizes, which means you can bring that relaxed, beachy feel to your space in a number of ways. 

You can even switch things up by using driftwood branches instead of planks to create a towel rack, or use them as hooks to hang towels individually. Keep in mind that driftwood, by nature, will vary in durability and density — especially if you source it naturally. So if you come across any pieces that have soft areas or feel brittle, they may not be strong enough to support the weight of your towels.