DIY Towel Shelf

A towel shelf adds organization and storage to a clean bathroom.

A well-placed towel shelf is one bathroom addition which can really free up storage space, while serving the dual purpose of displaying favorite towels for that "spa vacation" look. The basic plan for a towel shelf can be adjusted to fit any size of bathroom and any amount of towel storage. Additionally, the towel shelf can be constructed out of materials that match the rest of the bathroom, or painted to match the color of room. Multiple shelves can be installed above each other, next to each other or on different walls.

Things You'll Need

• Stud finder
• Pencil
• Drill
• Drill bit
• Wood screws
• 2-by-1-foot-by-1/2-inch horizontal top shelf board
• 1-by-3-inch-by-1/2 inch vertical board for towel pegs
• 2 wood brackets
• 4 wooden towel pegs
• Measuring tape
• Carpenter's level

Instructions

1. Locate the wood studs in the chosen bathroom wall using a stud finder. Use the pencil to mark the location of the studs on each side of the stud's border. Measure the distance from the center of one stud to the next.

2. Set the top of the 1 foot top shelf board face down and position the wooden brackets on the shelf the same distance apart as the measurements from the studs. Mark the location of the screw holes with a pencil, and pre-drill the holes with a drill bit slightly smaller than the wood screws. Attach the wooden brackets with wood screws.

3. Measure the distance between the insides of the wooden brackets and cut the smaller, 3 inch wide board to fit within them. Place this smaller board between the brackets, keeping it perpendicular to the shelf board above and in line with where the wall would be. Pre-drill holes through the top of the top shelf board into the smaller board, which will serve as a place to install towel pegs for hanging towels. From the side, the attached boards form an "L" shape. Attach the two boards together with wood screws.

4. Position the wooden towel pegs on the smaller board in an even pattern. Mark their locations with pencil, and pre-drill holes for their attachments. Secure the pegs to the shelf board using the provided hardware, or simply attach with wood screws.

5. Place the completed shelving unit against the intended location, lining it up with the stud lines in the wall. Ensure that the shelf is level using the carpenter's level. Mark the bracket hole positions in the wall using a pencil. Pre-drill the bracket holes, ensuring the drill bit encounters the studs with each hole. Attach the shelf to the wall using long wood screws.

Tips & Warnings

• The shelving unit may be painted or stained to match the bathroom design, either after completion of the shelf project, or as individual parts before assembly. This unit may be extended or shrunk based on the needs of the intended bathroom space. If wall studs are not available in the intended area, drywall anchors may be used, but this will significantly decrease the weight capacity of the shelf and make removal of the shelf difficult.

• This shelf is not intended to support the weight of children or adults, and should not be used as a ladder or play object for any reason. Be careful when storing heavy objects on shelves not engineered for great loads.

References

• Rona.ca: Building a 3-tier Towel Shelf
• This Old House; How to Make a Towel Rack with Vintage Taps; Amy R. Hughes; November 2009
• UpVery.com; Tips for Building a Wooden Rack Towel; Gene Rodriguez; November 2009