DIY Freestanding Mobile Pipe Coat Rack

Holiday season! That means some entertaining in our home, get-togethers with families, dinner parties (having a holiday open house today, in fact).  Time to get holiday guest ready! Did you ever notice that your own family fills up the coat closet (sometimes to the point of “avalanche!” when opening the door? Or is that just us?!)…and when guests arrive in colder months, coats are stored in the guest bedroom in a pile on a bed? Our solution: 

DIY galvanized pipe and wood mobile coat rack on casters @diyshowoff #lowescreator

A DIY moveable, mobile coat rack. I am so over the utility types that teeter, lean or fall over when filled up. Know what I mean? This industrial looking DIY coat rack is sturdy, not to mention adds a touch of rustic industrial style.

Materials I used:

  • (1) 48 inch stair tread (I used red oak but for a more budget friendly option, there was also pine)
  • Rust-Oleum Ultimate Wood Stain (color is kona and ebony)
  • foam brush for applying stain, gloves & rags, paint brush for applying polyurethane
  • Rust-Oleum Polyurethane sealer (finish is satin)
  • (4) heavy duty casters 
  • (2) 3/4″ flanges
  • (2) 24″ galvanized steel pipes
  • (2) 30″ galvanized pipes
  • (2) 3/4″ tee connectors
  • (2) 3/4″ nipple connectors
  • (2) 3/4″ 90 degree elbows
  • (2) 3/4″ 90 degree street elbows
  • (2) 3/4″ caps
  • (1) 36″ galvanized pipe
  • #12 1 inch hexagon washers (screws)

DIY galvanized pipe and wood mobile coat rack on casters @diyshowoff #lowescreatorDIY coat rack with galvanized steel pipe and casters @diyshowoff

What I did:

Soak the sticker parts of the galvanized pipes in hot soapy water. (It doesn’t take long.) Remove stickers. Dry pipes and set aside. 

DIY galvanized pipe and wood mobile coat rack on casters @diyshowoff #lowescreator

Finish the wood. Using the foam brush, I applied the wood stain (brush on in the same direction as the wood grain). Let sit for a few minutes then wipe away the excess with old rags. Unlike pine, the red oak wasn’t absorbing my favorite kona colored stain in as rich of a color so I also applied two coats of ebony in the same way to achieve a darker color. Stain then dries in about an hour. 

DIY galvanized pipe and wood mobile coat rack on casters @diyshowoff #lowescreator

After the stain was dry, I sealed the wood using a coat of polyurethane. Simply brush on (looks a bit milky when wet but dries clear). I let that dry overnight. 

I attached the four casters to the under (unfinished) side using the hexagon screws. Be careful with the screws on the cut side of the wood. Going too close to the edge may cause the wood to crack. 

DIY galvanized pipe and wood mobile coat rack on casters @diyshowoff #lowescreator

Flip right side up. Set aside the nipple connectors, two street elbows and the caps. 

Next I assembled my pipe pieces. Starting with the flanges. Screw 30″ pipes into flanges.

DIY galvanized pipe and wood mobile coat rack on casters @diyshowoff #lowescreatorThen add tees to the other end of each 30″ pipe.

DIY galvanized pipe and wood mobile coat rack on casters @diyshowoff #lowescreator

 

Then add the other 30″ pipe sections (one to each tee – you’ll have two poles at this point).

DIY galvanized pipe and wood mobile coat rack on casters @diyshowoff #lowescreator

Add a 90 degree elbow to the top of one pole.

DIY galvanized pipe and wood mobile coat rack on casters @diyshowoff #lowescreator

Connect the 36″ galvanized pipe (center) piece. Add a 90 degree elbow to the end of the center pipe piece then add the other pole.  

DIY galvanized pipe and wood mobile coat rack on casters @diyshowoff #lowescreator

Place the pole-contraption onto the wood stair riser (I found the center by using a yard stick).  Attach flanges to the wood using the hex screws.

DIY galvanized pipe and wood mobile coat rack on casters @diyshowoff #lowescreator

Add nipple connectors to the center tees, then elbows then caps. This creates a space for hanging purses, hats or scarves. 

DIY galvanized pipe and wood mobile coat rack on casters @diyshowoff #lowescreator

Now when we’re expecting guests, we can simply roll the coat rack near the door for hanging coats. Or use it as extra hanging space in a room without a closet (or one with a packed closet). Handy to have in the laundry room too! 

DIY galvanized pipe and wood mobile coat rack on casters @diyshowoff #lowescreatorDIY galvanized pipe and wood mobile coat rack on casters @diyshowoff #lowescreator

Store it in the basement, a closet, the laundry room, an office or guest room and then move near the door for parties and gatherings. Or if you have room, display near the front door entryway or mudroom area. 

DIY galvanized pipe and wood mobile coat rack on casters @diyshowoff #lowescreator 

DIYShowOff #lowescreator

I received a Lowe’s gift card to put towards this challenge. Opinion and above idea is 100% my own. More DIY ideas at Lowe’s Creative Ideas or follow Lowe’s on InstagramPinterest and sign up for the Creative Ideas magazine and app.

Drop Zone Makeover {Back to School Organization} Before & After

It’s back to school season! It’s the perfect time to re-think the “drop zone” to organize back packs, shoes, coats…all the things that get unloaded when walking in the door. 

before and after back door drop zone area makeover

As a part of the Lowe’s Creative Ideas team, one of this month’s challenge options included a back to school organization theme. Since my sister is still recovering and her little one will be  starting pre-school in a couple of weeks (AND her birthday is right around the corner),  I surprised her with a 6-hour back door entryway makeover. 

Here are the before pictures: this little space just wasn’t functioning well as an organized drop zone with storage options. 

back entryway makeover beforeback entryway makeover beforeback entryway makeover beforecoat rack before

First up, we emptied the area then I freshened up the walls with paint to give the space more light and a bigger neutral vibe. I used Valspar Signature (Paint + Primer). Color is silver leaf. Isn’t it pretty? Just a touch of a gray-blue tint. Best part? It covered up the raspberry-painted paneling in just two coats. 

back entryway makeover beforeback entryway makeover beforeback entryway makeover before

While the paint was drying, I assembled the furniture consisting of a storage bench and cubby shelves. I even had a helper…

back entryway makeover before

Once the paint was dry (use a fan to speed along the drying process), I added some coat hooks for back packs, coats and hats. Using a level (and screwing into the walls studs/using wall anchors) to secure the coat racks.

Since the previous window treatment on the door wasn’t a good fit, I replaced the curtain on the door with a new roman shade.

Once more, the before when opening the door…

back entryway makeover before

After… 

entryway after at diyshowoff.comentryway makeover "after" at diyshowoff.comentryway makeover "after" at diyshowoff.comentryway makeover "after" at diyshowoff.com

 

Then added in some pretty accessories and wall art.

entryway makeover "after" at diyshowoff.com

 

And now…the room feels bigger, fresher, prettier.

entryway makeover "after" at diyshowoff.comentryway makeover "after" at diyshowoff.com

My nephew started adding his shoes to bins and hanging his backpacks the minute we finished up. No more hunting for lost shoes and his backpack is ready to go. He also grabbed his ‘camera’ to take a few shots of his own. 

entryway makeover "after" at diyshowoff.com

My DIY and photography assistant for the day…entryway makeover "after" at diyshowoff.com

I’m considering incorporating a cork board for displaying his papers and drawings to the basement door. A project for another day. 

Get the look!

Fresh & Fun Drop Zone Design Board @diyshowoff

DIY drop zone makeover at diyshowoff.com

I received a Lowe’s gift card to put towards this challenge. Opinion and above idea is 100% my own. More DIY ideas at Lowe’s Creative Ideas or follow Lowe’s on InstagramPinterest and sign up for the Creative Ideas magazine and app.  

LCI Summer Badge

DIY Show Off – Mudroom/Back Entry Way Makeover

My Mudroom/Back Entry Way:
Niski welcomes you to our home. {We lost our sweet doxie girl 12/10.}
Entryway to the back yard before we bought the house with single door and blue carpeting (standing in dining room).
Installation of French doors:
New slate tile floor:
*My chair was featured in Better Homes & Gardens 100 Decorating Ideas Under $100!
Key keeper for those who LOSE everything!. Key Keeper Tutorial
We decided to repurpose this mirror that was hanging over the fireplace when we purchased our home (picture of living room before we bought the house). Remove very carefully. Luckily ours was only held in place by brackets. No glue.
This is the room that I decorate (and I’m not exaggerating) at least once of month, sometimes more.
Ready for summer:

Then it looked like this for a while:
Then a holding room for the wingbacks…
then this..

Christmas 2011: New paint, curtains

No sew drop cloth script curtain tutorial.

Custom Chalkboard Paint Tutorial {and edging tips}

The sitting room is now a special dining space for two:

no sew drop cloth script curtains

valentine's day, dining nook

Sitting room December 2012:

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