• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Start Here
  • Shop Favorites
  • About
    • Welcome To My Repurposed Life Home of Repurposed Furniture
    • More About Gail
    • Disclosure
    • Privacy Information
  • Gallery
    • Repurposed Furniture
  • Repurposed Items
    • Building Supplies
    • Miscellaneous Household Items
    • Picture Frame/Chalk Board
  • DIY
    • Home Reno
    • outdoor living
    • Painting
    • Shop Talk
    • Tips for Around the House
    • Build It
      • Furniture
      • Home Decor
      • Storage
    • Crafts
      • Dollar Store
      • Easy
      • Holidays Seasonal
  • Furniture
    • Chair
    • Desk
    • Dresser/Chest
    • Headboard | Bed Parts | Cribs
    • Kids Furniture
    • Table
    • Kids Furniture
My Repurposed Life® Rescue Re-imagine Repeat
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Start Here
  • Project Index
  • Furniture
  • Subscribe
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » DIY » Build It » Porch Post Coat Rack made from a Newel Post

    Porch Post Coat Rack made from a Newel Post

    Published by Gail | Published October 24, 2017 | Updated December 27, 2022
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Pin
    Share
    Tweet

    I didn’t plan to make a porch post coat rack. But when I found these porch posts on a walk with Lulu Mae, I had to ask if they were throwing them out. They were at a flip house and being replaced with plain ole 4x4 posts. I did not drag these home, but I did get in my truck to go pick them up before someone snagged them up.

    Reclaimed porch posts

    free porch posts

    After getting them home they sat for a couple of weeks. One day as I was rummaging through my wood stash, I found something that would help turn the porch post into a coat rack! I threw a lot out when I cleaned and organized the garage, but there were a few things that I KNEW  would come in handy.

    jigsaw-pergola-ends

    I kept most of these drop offs when my neighbor Rodney helped me put up the diy picket fence. Here, he’s actually cutting the front arbor pieces.

    *this post contains affiliate links for your convenience, read more here*

    Designing coat rack stand

    test fit legs for porch post coat rack

    I cut the porch post to size and used the cut off end to see how the “feet” I’d chosen would look with the 4x4 porch post. I did some trimming on the drop off leg pieces after this photo was taken.

    sanding drop off pieces porch post legs

    After trimming all the drop off pieces to match, I used my orbital sander to make them all look pretty!

    Pocket hole screws attach feet to post

    kreg jig

    I  keep my Kreg Jig bit set at ¾ for 1x stock. For this, I changed it for 1.5” (2x4) size and drilled pocket holes in every leg. I  drilled 1 pocket hole on one side of each leg and two pocket holes on the other side of each leg.

    kreg multimark tool

    Using the Kreg Multi-mark tool insures that the spacing will be correct on all four legs.

    porch post coat rack top post

    I experimented with a couple of versions to top off the top of the porch post coat rack.

    Add trim to top of porch post coat rack

    second try top cap for porch post coat rack

    Second attempt—I added a ¾ piece of plywood and small crown molding to make the cap for the porch post coat rack.

    Time to patch and paint

    how to build a diy porch post coat rack

    If you look closely you will see that the leg (front left) has two pocket holes, and the front right leg as one pocket hole. Remember, on each leg there are 3 pocket holes to make the legs extra sturdy.

    diy chalky paint primer

    I mixed some diy chalky paint primer using off white oops paint and plaster of paris. It was applied  using a cheap chip brush. I painted the lower portion while it was up on the work table.

    Glaze over white paint

    painting diy porch post coat rack

    I rested the coat rack on a scrap piece of styrofoam insulation to pain the upper portion of the coat rack.

    white porch post coat rack

    Although I like the coat rack white, but of course I had to use my new favorite paint technique!

    Project ideas and a video of "how to glaze painted furniture and more"

    See Glazed Project Ideas & How to Glaze Painted Furniture

    rustoleum smoked gray glaze

    I used Chalked smoked glaze from Rust-Oleum. It’s so much better and easier than waxing! I apply it with the chip brush—if it gets too heavy, I brush it back off.

    Watch my video of How To Glaze Painted Furniture

    gray glazed porch post coat rack with hooks MyRepurposedLife.com

    PIN IT!

    I added ball hooks from D Lawless Hardware . I buy them by the dozens. This was a last minute project for Glendale. It was something fun to do in while doing recent DIY kitchen and laundry reno projects. I  LOVE how it turned out!

    What do you think I should do with the other porch post?

    gail

    Pin
    Share
    Tweet

    Related Content:

    • Reclaimed wood projects | Fence | Pallets
      Reclaimed wood projects | Fence | Pallets
    • Chunky Pedestals Candle Plant Holders
      Chunky Pedestals Candle Plant Holders
    • Wall Shelf with Hooks | DIY
      Wall Shelf with Hooks | DIY
    • Repurposed Drawer Dog Bed toy Box
      Repurposed Drawer Dog Bed toy Box
    • Reclaimed Wood Heart (Weathered Fence Boards)
      Reclaimed Wood Heart (Weathered Fence Boards)
    • outdoor table makeover
      outdoor table makeover

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      See comments Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Antique Collector

      October 29, 2017 at 11:49 am

      Believe this project will assist me with a deck rebuild, where I will require a posts to hold up the canvas awnings we had installed a few years ago. That coat rack is really pretty and love the upper crown molding as a finishing touch.

      Your projects always inspire me to be on the look out for items that can be converted to usable every day pieces of furniture.

      Reply
    2. Bonnie Hipps

      October 25, 2017 at 1:06 am

      As always such a great job. Is there a right or wrong way to make chalk paint? Do you have a recipe for yours? Thanks for sharing all your great ideas.

      Reply
    3. Lauren

      October 24, 2017 at 11:21 am

      Super pretty! I have a jig saw on my Christmas list -- I see so many of your projects where you use it. Does the Rustoleum glaze leave a hard finish like wax?

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        October 24, 2017 at 8:41 pm

        Lauren,

        Thank you! I think the glaze gives a better seal than the wax, and it's so much easier to apply!

        gail

    4. Kate

      October 24, 2017 at 10:22 am

      Maybe it's the distortion from the photo, but it looks a bit top heavy. It looks like it needs a wider base. Have you tried hanging coats on it to make sure it doesn't topple? (I speak from oops experience.) Otherwise, it's an ingenious use of a newel post and scraps!

      Reply
    5. Wendi@H2OBungalow

      October 24, 2017 at 7:55 am

      I have no idea how you get the "vision" you do for your projects! Love this repurpose! Pinned :), of course!

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        October 24, 2017 at 8:35 am

        Thank you for pinning Wendi! I so appreciate it. Having such a large stash of junk definitely helps with my "vision". 🙂

        I appreciate your visit.
        gail

    6. GirlfromWva

      October 24, 2017 at 7:22 am

      that turned out great. glad i was able to see it in person. maybe turn the other one into a solar light lightpost/lamppost. i am sure you will come up with something!

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        October 24, 2017 at 8:34 am

        I was so happy to see you at the show! Thanks for taking pics. I have saved them and they will be appearing on the blog tomorrow. 😉

        Thanks for your solar light suggestion.

        take care friend,
        gail

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, there! I’m Gail Wilson, the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. I’m obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believe that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again—myself included! I hope you’ll enjoy the journey and pick up a few tools along the way… literally!

    More about me →

    Join Our Mailing List

    ​

      Click the topics you're interested in below:

      Subscribing above means you agree to our Privacy Policy​

      Footer

      ↑ back to top

      SEEN ON

      Might I Suggest

      • Start Here
      • Furniture Makeovers

      Newsletter

      • Sign Up! for emails and updates

      About

      • Gail's Favorites on Amazon
      • About

      As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

      Copyright © 2023 My Repurposed Life · Privacy Policy · Disclosure