Don’t waste $30 on towel storage or racks. Here are 20+ amazing, affordable, and awesomely-easy alternatives…
Bathroom accessories. Towel bars, toilet paper holders, magazine racks…
Believe it or not, it’s a topic I am fairly passionate about. At least, as passionate as one can be about towel bars. I fully realize we aren’t talking about saving lives here or anything even remotely close to THAT level of important. However…
I ask you – “fairness”…is that important to you? What about justice? Or how about being frugal or living within one’s means?
It’s these things, these ideals that come to mind when I think of bathroom accessories. Why?
Because every time I walk through the bath aisle at you-name-it department-and-or-hardware-store and look at the prices, all I can think of is the immortal words of George Banks.
Yes, Father of the Bride George Banks who screams “Well, they’re not ripping off this nitwit anymore because George Banks is saying NO!”
It is PURE INSANITY to me that we are accustomed to spending $25-30 on a piece of fake metal with a bracket on either end! I refuse to buy these kind of things anymore.
I refuse to be a part of letting “some big shot” over at the toilet paper roll factory and “some big shot” over at the towel bar factory “rip off the American public”! WE ALL NEED TO SAY NO!
No more superfluous buns, and no more insanely-priced towel bars!
It’s not fair, it’s not just, and frankly…those things aren’t even nice looking! So in the spirit of fairness, justness, American ingenuity (and beautiful design), I present…
20+ Creative & Cost-Effective DIY Towel Rack Ideas
Rope is inexpensive (can be $1 or LESS/foot at your local Home Depot or hardware store). And it could be used to give a bathroom either a rustic/country look, like we did in one of our camper renovation projects!
All you need is some scissors to cut the rope, and a couple of hooks to hang the rope "bar" from. Voila! DIY magic!
Here is a gorgeously simplistic wood towel bar by Pretty Handy Girl fashioned from some inexpensive brackets and a stick/small branch.
Use a vintage hanger as a simple, understated, and unexpected bathroom towel holder. No tutorial or step-by-step instructions needed for this project. Just hang it on the wall with an anchor and screw and you're done!
Or use the hanger upside-down, as a hook, as Donna from Funky Junk Interiors did here, as more of a hook than a towel bar. Great for robes, towels, or soap-on-a-rope (Remember that stuff?! Whatever happened to it?)
An old leather belt or some leather straps + an inexpensive wooden dowel create a casual and cool bathroom towel rack.
Doesn't everyone have a couple of picture frames sitting around that they don't know what to do with? How about make a towel rack? On Margo's blog, she will show you how she layered frames to space the one she hangs the towels on away from the wall. In doing this, she not only created a functional towel bar, but also an inexpensive piece of wall art. Smart!
How fun would these rustic wrenches turned hooks be for a man cave bathroom? Or in the garage or laundry by the utility sink? Kids bath? I love them.
Simply adding hooks on an unexpected item can make for a really fun method to storing or hanging your towels. I love this concept made with antique yardsticks.
You could also use scrap wood, an oar, a ski...think outside the box and see what fun concepts you come up with!
Modern looking towel bins made from simple cardboard tubes. Spray paint whatever color you choose. You could also use PVC pipes for this (although they usually aren't readily accessible in this large a diameter).
Use simple hooks to hang a helpful basket (or two) to be used for towel, toilet paper, toiletries, and more.
Remember whenever you'll be hanging anything with weight from the wall, it's a good idea to break out your stud finder to ensure you're drilling into studs. If no stud can be found, be sure to use anchors to avoid calamity 😉
The ones pictured here are for sale, but a little spray paint and these are totally DIY-able too.
How cool is this idea? An old, vintage set of handlebars turned towel bar? Above, mounted with a bike seat to achieve a "taxidermy" type look. So creative.
Love this inexpensive and useful DIY bathroom decor storage concept using a pallet for hooks and rustic wood crates for all your bathroom gear.
You can leave the wood raw, or break out the stain or paint to finish your crates in whatever color you like.
Tip: Go over your crates with some high-grit sandpaper before putting them into use in order to avoid pesky splinters. Ask me how I know 😉
There are lots of different options for creating a wood towel rack. I love this driftwood idea for another nautical/coastal styled bath...
Make a ladder, or use the vintage variety as just a towel bar, or have it do double or triple duty as a magazine rack.
An easy DIY that is packed with personality.
Have some old sconces laying around? Or perhaps you've seen stacks of sconces at your local thrift shop? Here's a great way to repurpose them!
Gail from My Repurposed Life is another genius when it comes to giving old things new life, and I LOVE this chair concept! A ladder back chair can make a perfect alternative towel bar.
And it doesn't stop with the chair back! You can use the legs for the same purpose, too.
Erin will show you how to create a similar window rack of your own. Use glass knobs, or hooks at the bottom for hanging the towels.
This concept is a fun way to incorporate a vintage find in your home. And not only will it help you hold your towels, but also precious memories in the picture frames.
Grab a twig, make a towel hook! Rustic, functional, and FREE! What could be cooler than that?
Debbie DIY'er, in the bathroom, with the copper pipe...no crime committed here, but a fabulous one-of-a-kind towel bar has just been completed!
Wood slices aren't hard to come by if you have a yard. Wood slices can be made into all kinds of fun creations...Christmas ornaments, coasters, and yes, even towel hooks!
Julia shows you how simple it is to create a pretty towel ring using a thrifty wood ring and a scrap of leather. An old napkin ring could even be used for this to hang your smaller towels, like that kitchen dishtowel.
So there you have it. A fun collection of way cooler, way cheaper, and way more creative ways to hang towels in your loo.
I hope you’ll join the revolution. Towel holders are not important enough to spend our hard-earned money on.
On the hunt for more simple home improvement ideas, and DIY home decorating inspiration? Be sure to check out these articles, too!
- 13 Easy DIY Bathroom Mirror Ideas And Framing To Try!
- DIY and Inexpensive Toilet Paper Holder Ideas – Back to Basics Series
- Coat Closet Organization: 21 Amazing Ideas
- 9 Insane DIY Bathroom Renovation Projects
- Our $1800 Kids DIY Bathroom Reveal!
- Bathroom Tile Paint (Bathroom Remodel Ideas on a Budget!)
- 23 Pantry Organization Ideas
- 17 Super Creative Key Organizer and DIY Key Holder Ideas To Help You Get Organized
- Dollar Tree Organization Ideas You’ve Got to See
Pin this project for later! And if you decide to try it, leave a comment on the pin! That helps others know whether they want to try it, too!
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Wanda says
Thanks for the reminder to enjoy creativity!!!
Sharon Reams says
Love all those DIY towel baskets or towel bars most. Generally I am used to have a towel warmer in my master bath but there are nothing at my guest bathroom to hold the towels. I was looking for some ideas and I got these wonderful ideas and thankful to you….