Chair Back Towel Rack Shelf
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Random chairs are available at your local thrift store for less than $10. This towel rack shelf project was made from an odd ladderback chair. So, let’s see how to make a chair-back towel rack perfect for a guest room or small kitchen.
How to Upcycle a Ladderback Chair
Perhaps you would prefer to repair the seat, as many fans on Facebook suggested. Looking closely, you can see that the left side was broken.
Related Content: Repurposed Table Hook Rack
Separate the Chair Back From the Seat
A jigsaw was used to separate the chair back from the seat. If you’re starting with upcycled furniture projects, a jigsaw is one of the best purchases. I recommend a battery-operated jigsaw that matches any other tools you may be considering.
If you have a miter saw, you may want to even the cut there. If not, you can make your cut look better with a sanding sponge.
Cut a Board for the Chair Back Towel Rack
Measure your chair to find the perfect board to use as a shelf.
How to Attach a Shelf to the Ladderback Chair
- Clamp the board to ensure a good fit.
- Use Gorilla Wood Glue for added strength.
- Drill a pilot hole.
- Secure the shelf to the top of the ladderback chair with a wood screw.
Make Your Wooden Brackets
To help support the shelf, I cut some 45° angled pieces off the end of a 1×3.
Wood glue and a screw held the bracket from the top and back. The small chair back towel rack won’t have much weight, but the brackets add to the project’s overall look.
Time for Paint
Making your own DIY Chalky Paint is a very easy and inexpensive paint option. Why make your chalk paint? Because it will adhere to almost any surface. The only downside is that the paint needs to be protected. After the paint dries, you have a couple of options to seal the flat paint. I think the easiest is to use the same paint straight from the can without adding any Plaster of Paris. But, if you have some furniture wax, you can apply it and buff it.
It makes me smile! I have been wanting to make one of these for years!
Not shown, D rings were added to the back of the chair to mount it on the wall.
Would you use this handy towel rack shelf in your kitchen to hold a potted plant with a favorite photo and your best tea towel?
In the guest room, use the shelf for a collection of toiletries your guest may need. Do you have some luxurious guest towels that would be great hanging from the chair back towel rack?
Featured in Healthy Living
gail
See other repurposed chair ideas here
See one of my first, and an all-time favorite chair projects here
Well this is certainly the most creative thing I’ve seen in a while. I just saw some chairs someone had thrown out today when I was on my walk, too. Curiously they were just like the one you used, with damaged thatch seats (presumably why they were thrown out). Might have to think about seeing if I can snag one so I can make this myself 😀
Hi,
I am new to your website, but love it. Did you take shop? LOL. I would love to be able to use tools the way you do. My question is this…did you sand you chair before painting it. I am referring to your towel chair.
Thanks,’
Cat
Cat,
Thanks for your kind comment. No, I didn’t take shop. My mom used tools a lot while I was growing up, but most of the larger power tools I use I learned as I went. I did some googling, and I watched some YouTube videos. But mostly I just jump in and fly by the seat of my pants. I probably did not sand the chair because I used two light coats of the chalky paint primer. It’s very flat and will stick to most surfaces if it is sealed somehow. Sometimes I seal with a semi-gloss latex paint, wax, or glaze. The very flat paint needs something to protect it from getting scratched off.
I hope you find lots of projects to inspire you!
gail
This is a fantastic idea! Geez, I’m sorta wishing one of my dinner chairs would break, bcuz I really love this!! Great work! Thanks for sharing also!! ????????
Thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to leave a comment Angel. Keep your eyes out for a cheap thrift store chair, or even one on the side of the road.
gail
Brilliant! I ♡ this shelf. Gonna have to go to the city wide sales to find a few old chairs. Thank you for sharing.
What a great save! You really have the vision and talent to bring your projects to life!
It turned out great. I have a chair I could do this with. I just might have to try it.
Now this is something I want. Would work so well in a bath. Gail didn’t you do a post on how to get rid of the word verification on blogs at one time. I’m not sure it was you. If so let me know please.
I love the look of it outside on the fence. I’m thinking this would make a nice poolside shelf as well.
This is a brilliant idea!! Sooooo cool Gail, you are so creative! Pinned, of course 🙂
OH! How I love it!!! Great job, Gail. May be able to do this, w/o fail.
Mary
great way to do that! love the towel rack shelf!
Great idea… again! How do you keep coming up with these original projects??
Great idea for reusing an old rocker! However, should you encounter another rush seat you don’t want to repair, you may want to consider Shaker tape. This is basically a cotton webbing that comes in a variety of styles and colors, is incredibly easy to weave and holds up well to regular use (although I wouldn’t recommend it for outdoor use). Here’s a sample from a random web site I dug up.
http://www.shakerworkshops.com/catalog/shaker_chair_tape.php/tape
Oh yeah! One of my favorites and I love the color! Thanks for the inspiration as always. Happy Thanksgiving! xo