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Repurposed Shutter (Magazine Rack)

ByGail Wilson Published on Updated on
61 Comments

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I love a quick and easy repurposed shutter magazine rack project! I also love using bi-fold doors when I don’t have a window shutter.

Shutter Magazine Rack

Green Shutter Magazine Rack

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thrift store decor team

This is our Thrift Store Day. Be sure to check out all the projects below.

Use a Louvered Door instead of a Shutter.

This magazine holder project is 1/2 of a bi-fold door similar to this one. Bi-fold louvered doors are inexpensive at second-hand shops. I have made other shutter magazine holders by removing every other slat. Generally, I would put the claw end of a hammer in the middle and do a quick snap, then remove the slat from each side.

Visit the My Repurposed Life Amazon Store to shop my favorite items.

But thanks to my Dremel Multi-Max, I found a much easier way to remove the slats. I’ve never had a tool before that does flush cuts!

Remove Every Other Slat to Make the Shutter Magazine Rack

making a shutter magazine rack

 Since I had never used one, it took me a few tries to get it flush with the side.

The Multi-Max is an excellent tool! There are many accessories available for it. I used it a lot when I removed flooring layers while installing laminate floors.

You can see here that one of the slats came out. I think that I removed it before I realized that I should try the Dremel Multi-Max. I just stuck it back in the hole and cut it off flush.

You can use a small hand saw if you don’t have this tool. You can see how I did this kind of project without the flush cut tool in my post.

Repurposed Slats make Great Paint Sticks.

Look at all the new paint stirrers I have now! And the shutter magazine rack is almost done!

Option B to Remove Shutter Slats

If you don’t have a Dremmel, you can use a hammer to “snap” out every other slat, then fill the holes with putty or spackling.

I switched the blade out and put the sander on the Multi-Max, to smooth out the rough places.

I used a paint sprayer to apply a quick coat of primer. Using a paintbrush to paint shutters is no fun at all!

Paint Repurposed Shutter or Bi-Fold Door

Then I spray painted the repurposed shutter with pretty green paint.

Embellish and Hang Shutter Magazine Rack

I applied a flourish cut with my Silhouette Portrait to finish it.

Now it’s time to look at more excellent thrift store projects because it’s Thrift Store Decor Wednesday!

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see more shutter projects here

Gail Wilson is the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. She is obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believes that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again, including herself!
Gail reinvented herself during a midlife crisis and has found purpose again. She hopes you will find new ideas for old things and pick up a few tools along the way.

61 Comments

  1. I follow your work and I love most of all the changes you made, and myself when i need, do some changes too. Your imagination is out of limit. Congratulations from portugal.

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  8. Awesome use of a shutter. Love the Multi-Max. I have an older Dremel and love it, too. Just out of curiosity, how much did you sell it for? I probably would have bought it!!

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  17. Came across your site on pinterest. I have long been wanting to do something about the magazines stacked up behind our toilet in our guest bathroom. When I saw this I knew I had to make it! Not nearly as good or professional looking as yours but not bad for a novice at DIY projects. I show it on my blog and of course reference your site. No more magazines stacked behind my toilet! http://arcticlilysloops.blogspot.com/2012/03/diy-magazine-rack.html

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  28. Very neat idea. Gonna have to do it sometime. I am getting jealous of all the “Silhouette people”. :0) Looks like there are all kinds of wonderful projects to be done.

    Melissa
    redflycreations.blogspot.com

    Reply

  29. Love the shutter project. And, now I’m thinking I need that Dremel tool, too. Looks less scary than the big tools hubby uses. And, I have a shutter that’s ready to go!

    I get lots of stuff at Habitat’s ReStore – great place (but dangerous for me to spend too much time there!)

    I’d love for you to share this project (or any of your others) on my new weekly link party, Thrifty Thursdays. It’s just getting going. Here’s the link:

    http://quiltedcupcake.blogspot.com/2011/10/thrifty-thursday-3.html

    Reply

  31. This is awesome! You are so talented. This looks professionally made for sure. I’d definitely buy it if I saw it in a store. Love the color too. And what a fun little tool. I’ll have to keep that on my wish list! Thanks so much for sharing this!

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  37. LOVE this…and so would my daughter. She is a magazine freak, this would be perfect for her!

    I wish shutters were not so hard to find…I have been looking for them to make a headboard for months and I just am not finding them. I go to Restore weekly, but it seems they have either become more popular and sell fast or else no one even has them to donate anymore!

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  40. I love that magazine rack. I need to make one for my scrapbook magazines.

    Seeing that tool makes me remember last Christmas. Its been on my wish list for a while. Last Christmas my then 24 year old son bought it for me and I made him return it because he needed shoes for work and I didn’t have the money to get them. So he returned it and used the money to get his shoes. What we do for our children. Love them forever.

    Sharon

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