Goodbye Traditional Paper Towel Holders: There's A Cuter DIY Way To Keep Them Off The Counter

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You can end up with superfluous drawers for any number of reasons. You've moved a dresser one too many times and broken it apart in the process, creating a stack of drawers with nowhere to go. Or you've done a kitchen remodel that left you with more drawers than you have cabinets for. These extras don't need to go into the trash heap. Instead, you can DIY a paper towel holder from one of the drawers that shows off not only your paper towels but also gives your favorite spices a place to sit. It totally amps up the usefulness of the traditional paper towel holder — the fact that it's also cuteness embodied is a bonus.

For this DIY's construction phase, you'll need a drawer that's wider than your paper towel roll's height (standard rolls are about 11 inches tall) and long enough to accommodate both the paper towels and the spices. A spindle for the paper towel roll can be made from an old broomstick or a wooden dowel. This is held in place by pole sockets, like these Suiwotin 2-Pack Solid Wood Closet Pole Sockets. You'll also need scrap board. Tools required for this step include a measuring tape, hammer and nails, a hand saw, a screwdriver or drill, and some D-ring picture hangers. 

You'll add some decorative flair in the project's second phase. For this, you'll need paint as well as some varnish. Tools of choice for this include paint brushes, a small paint roller, rubber gloves, and cardboard or newspaper to protect your work surface.

If the drawer still has a handle, remove it. Once that's done, wipe it down and clean it thoroughly both inside and outside the drawer. You'll cut the small board for the front of the cabinet and the dowel once the drawer is clean. Trim the board and the dowel so that they fit inside the drawer using a hand saw.

Next, line the small board up with the top edges of the drawer. You'll want the board to sit flush with the edges that will become the drawer's bottom corners when you stand it up. Positioned correctly, it'll create a wall on the front of the cabinet that'll keep your spices and other items in place once the cabinet is upright. Nail the board into place from the sides, then paint your drawer however you choose.

Next, add two pole pockets to the inside of the cabinet at the top. Keep in mind that the paper towel roll will need enough room to move freely on the dowel. As such, position the pockets (and, by extension, the dowel) far enough away from the back wall of the cabinet to facilitate ease of movement once you add the roll. Varnish the dowel and slide it into the pole pockets once it's dry. Finally, attach one or two D-ring picture hangers to the back of the drawer at the top. The drawer's size and weight will determine how many you need. All that's left is to hang the cabinet and add your newly neat and organized spices.

Items like old drawers have become popular as upcycles for a couple of reasons. First, most of the construction — the basic box — is already complete. Very little building is required. Second, the dresser or cabinet you got the drawer from can potentially be a source for additional construction materials. For example, if you have a couple of the mid rails left over after you've taken the dresser or cabinet apart, it may be possible to trim one of them so that it can become the wall in front of the spice rack. Reusing as many parts of the old dresser in your upcycle allows you to save money on this DIY kitchen project.

Additionally, because the purpose of this paper towel holder is to be decorative and practical, you have some creative license with its design. For example, paint the outer body of the drawer cabinet one color, then paint the small front board and interior wall a contrasting color. Or, you can add some cute wallpaper like this LaiTique Goat Peel and Stick Wallpaper to those spots instead of painting them. 

These decorative embellishments will make the paper towels stand out in the display thanks to the visual contrast between the paper towels and the colorful or patterned background. The final product will have all the functionality of a traditional paper towel holder while simultaneously giving you more beautiful storage options for your kitchen.