Happy New Year MRL readers, I am happy to be here today!
Have you been setting goals? I sure have. There are a million things I can improve on, but I am trying to just work on a few at a time. 🙂
In fact my first project of the year, my License Plate Coat Racks, is helping me accomplish one of my goals…
Which is… to try and use things I have around my house and do projects that I NEED done with those objects. (Aka, spend the least amount of money possible while creating a more organized home.)
Cabinet doors for coat racks
You probably aren’t surprised I have cupboard doors. Doesn’t every DIY’er have a stash somewhere? Well, mine came from the Restore, $2 each, not the best price, but they were a cool length so I splurged. (wink wink) I found them in my shed half buried with scrap wood and covered in dust and spider webs.
Use vintage license plates
These are the license plates that my husband and I have had since we got married. Colorado requires one on the front and back of each car, luckily, or I wouldn’t have had enough! I found these hiding in my garage, I am so glad I saved them. And no, I didn’t take them off our existing cars. 🙂
Paint Cabinet Doors
Now to fill you in on why I needed coat racks. First off, I have no mudroom (that is a sob story for another day), and second, kids don’t use hangers.
Notice I didn’t say can’t, I said don’t. It is very similar to the situation I described in my Curtain tie backs repurposed into towel hooks post.
My kids have been back to school for less than 5 days and I am already going crazy tripping over coats and back packs. With six kids that equals 12 items total, six coats, six backpacks. Not to mention the shoes and socks that like to come off at the same time they enter the door, which adds another 24 items…hmmm that puts us at 36. Don’t even get me started on winter gear- gloves, hats, boots…Are you with me?
I figured if I made some coat racks, maybe, JUST MAYBE, they will hang their stuff up and I don’t have to go insane.
Secure licence plates and coat hooks
This is an easy project but I love it because it has some meaning and history. I have already enjoyed talking to the kids about where we lived when we had each license plate, and which car it was on…I got a good chuckle because almost every kid said, “Utah? When did you live in Utah?” They all just stared at me when I said, “In College”.
I primed and painted the cupboard doors, and a scrap piece of wood to use for my extra license plate.
My original plan was to build a frame around the license plates with scrap wood, but when I spotted the cupboard doors and realized they were perfect size, I knew I had to use them.
When the paint was dry I screwed on the license plates, and then marked and drilled holes for my hooks.
I have always had a hard time attaching hooks, but today I made a simply awesome discovery. If you use a long bit, it is really easy! Ha!
I happen to have a long drill bit because I needed it for screwing in pocket holes for one of my first ever projects, my repurposed bed to bench, which I learned how to make from Gail (she rocks, but you already know that). I didn’t have 2 1/2 kreg screws (and didn’t have time to order some) so I had to use regular ones which is why I needed a long bit.
Felt pads protect wall
D-rings were added to the back in order to hang it on the wall.
See the screws sticking out the back? I used my smallest (1/2 inch) screws to attach the license plates and of course they were too long. In order to make it so they didn’t hit the wall I simply put furniture pads on the corners and my problem was solved!
Secure coat rack into wall stud
Once I hung it on the wall I remembered backpacks can be super heavy so I removed the middle license plate and added one screw into a stud. Then I re-attached the plate and I was done!
License Plate Coat Racks for Backpacks
This one went in my two oldest boys room. They are the ones with the HEAVY bags….and it held them just fine, phew!
And this is in my three youngest boys room. I am so excited! FINALLY, a place to hang their stuff.
Someday I will get a mudroom, but until then this is heaven.
Oh yeah, and my extra plate…it got put in the bathroom downstairs. Since they don’t use the towel bar…
Here is a shot of all of them together.
You might also recognize the very awesome hooks. Gail and I have both used them, they are from D. Lawless Hardware and I love them!
I bought these hooks at the same time I did my Cubby Shelf Revamp, I was going to use them for a different project and ended up not getting to it. Luckily it worked out because I needed them for this one!
I am loving my new coat racks and so are the kids. Anything to keep me sane!
Have you ever done a project with your old license plates?
Hugs!
Mindi
Barb Scott says
November 16, 2018 at 9:50 amWhat kind of white paint did you use? WE are big MN Vikings fans and we have plates from everywhere we have lived. My husband does the custom plates so we have Vikings on them. I want to make some of these for Christmas gifts. Did you put anything else on them but paint?
Gail Wilson says
November 17, 2018 at 9:04 amBarb,
You can use any paint, even latex wall paint. If you use a semi-gloss you won’t need to put anything else on them. These will make awesome gifts!
gail
Patricia says
January 13, 2015 at 1:36 pmI love them!
Mine would all say TEXAS!
I’m thinking this project might go on the list of DIY Christmas presents for 2015~~~
so cute 😉
Robin says
January 10, 2015 at 4:32 pmThose are so cute! What a creative way to reuse cupboard doors!
I’ve never done a project with license plates, but my husband just made a coat rack out of deer antlers and driftwood. It turned out really cool.
gail@myrepurposedlife.com says
January 9, 2015 at 10:26 pmMindi,
I love your repurposed license plate cabinet door coat racks! I’m so sentimental, so of course using the old license plates makes me smile.
Beautiful job! I need to get a longer bit, to use on my next set of hooks…. currently working on my own coat rack.
gail
Catherine says
January 9, 2015 at 2:20 pmReally cute. . . . and you’re making me home sick (Arizona).
Catherine
Julie @ follow your heart woodworking says
January 9, 2015 at 1:52 pmAwesome, Mindi! I love old licence plates and yours are special because you actually lived in those places. By the way, I’m jealous, I just LOVE Colorado, Utah and Arizona… beautiful places!
Tali says
January 9, 2015 at 12:40 pmI love the way it turned out! What a great idea Mindi! I’ll bet the boys will be motivated to hang their coats and towels on these very cool coat racks. Thank you for sharing.
Stephanie says
January 9, 2015 at 10:07 amWhat a fun idea! I love how this adds character to a plain coat rack! Thanks for sharing!
Stephanie
Positively Stephanie
Darla says
January 9, 2015 at 9:34 amLove these. I too have lived in many, many states and have kept all my plates. Will make my boys one from the states they were born in, special. Thanks for great idea!!!
Melissa says
January 9, 2015 at 7:27 amLove these coat racks!!
Tammy says
January 9, 2015 at 7:20 amThis is perfect…!! I have a bunch of plates from our travels with construction, I might just do this..!! Thanks