Need a place to hang towels in your bathroom? Don’t run to the store to buy a generic towel holder! Instead, give your bathroom a unique look and make easy DIY towel hooks.
For two years, we have been laying our bathroom hand towels on the counter.
**Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, we will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. We appreciate your support. (disclosure policy)
And it’s not because we were too lazy to hang them up!
You see, I did not want to buy a typical round silver towel holder from the store.
I envisioned something a bit more interesting.
Something with an elegant vibe!
I remembered seeing pictures on Pinterest of towel holders made from antique picture frames, hooks, and glass knobs!
So, I went through my stash of picture frames and then headed to Hobby Lobby in search of inspiration!
And this is what I came up with!
Don’t they look great?
Let me show you how easy this was to make!
Oh, wait, first I have some exciting news!
exciting news
We are partnering with Zibra brushes for today’s post.
I purchased a Zibra brush a couple of years ago and it quickly became my go-to brush for furniture painting!
The bristles are incredibly soft and allow the paint to go on so smoothly!
As you can probably tell from the picture, I’ve used it a lot!
So, imagine how happy I was to see a Zibra booth at the Haven blog conference we attended this summer.
I told them how much I loved my brush and they gifted Rich and I a furniture refinishing paint brush kit!
Today I’m using the round detail brush from that kit!
It is designed for use on any curved surface or ornate detail so it’s perfect for these picture frames!
When we find a quality product we love, we want to share it with you!
We are so excited to tell you that we are now an affiliate partner with Zibra brushes!
Now grab a Zibra brush and let’s get this DIY started!
Gather items to make DIY towel hooks
Here are the picture frames I found in my house. They are all 5×7 in size.
Gather or purchase the following items:
- Picture frame(s)
- Decorative hook(s), knobs, or cabinet pulls
- Chalk paint-I used Waverly Chalk Paint in White and Ink
- Wax- I used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Wax in Clear
- Paint brush-I used Zibra Round Detail Brush
- Small stencil brush
- Wax brush
prep
Below are the hooks, knob, and cabinet pull I purchased from Hobby Lobby.
Do the following steps to prepare for this project:
- Remove pictures/paper, glass, and backs from your frame(s). I had to use a box cutter to remove the backs of two of my frames.
- Clean your frames. I used Krud Cutter to remove dust and dirt from mine.
- Protect your work surface with paper or plastic.
- If you are using glass knobs, cover them with painter’s tape.
- If you use a cabinet pull, push the screw into an egg carton so it’s easy to paint.
Paint
Paint the frames white.
It took three coats to get the coverage I wanted!
The brush worked perfectly to get the paint in all the crevices of the frames.
If you have never used a Zibra brush, you need to try one out and see the difference for yourself!
I highly recommend them!
distress
The frames look very pretty painted white!
However, the hooks I bought were distressed and I thought the frames would look great with a bit of distressing too!
This technique is so easy and fun to do!
Dip a small stencil brush into the black paint.
Then, dab the brush onto a paper towel to remove the excess paint.
Lightly dab the brush onto the high points of the item you are distressing.
This makes it look like you sanded the item, without all the mess!
Now you can compare the frames!
Do you like it better with or without distressing?
I adore the distressed look!
I love how it brings out the detail of the piece!
wax
Now it’s time to protect the paint finish!
Dip your brush into the wax and dab it onto a plate to remove the excess clumps.
Paint the frame, by pushing the wax into the surface.
Use a lint-free cloth or paper towel to wipe the frame and remove the excess wax.
Hang your DIY towel hooks
Donna’s side of the bathroom before and after towel hook installation!
And here’s Rich’s side of the room!
Enjoy your unique DIY towel hooks
You can use your hooks to hang other things besides towels!
This would make a great jewelry organizer!
Or don’t hang anything at all, it looks so pretty as wall decor!
I’m so happy to have a place to hang my hand towels finally!
Could you use some DIY towel hooks in your home?
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
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Until next time, follow us on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram!
Blessings, Donna and Rich
Save it for later
More DIY Inspiration
Love DIY and want to see more? Here are a few of our favorite projects:
- Basket Makeover with Paint
- Repurpose a Wood Sign into Wall Art
- Make Flowers From Lunch Bags
- How to Turn a Basket Into a Light Fixture
- Table Set Makeover with Paint and a Stencil
Items to help you make DIY Towel holders
Click on the picture of the item you are interested in purchasing.
**Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, we will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. We appreciate your support. (disclosure policy)
They look so cute. But the way they are positioned looks like only one would reall work well. I will probably do this but line them up in a row so more useable. Thanks for the idea and directions.
Glad you liked them, good luck making your towel hooks! Happy day, Donna
My goodness Donna these hooks are so cute! I think I am going to do this in my bathroom! Not think, I am! It Has such a cool vintage charm to it. Great job!
Thanks, I love the vintage vibe they give too! Have fun making them! You’ll be glad you did!
This is beautiful! We need towel hooks in our new house, so I’m going to try this. Thanks for sharing on Crafty Creators.
I love how they turned out! You’ll have to let me know if you make them!
This is so clever Donna! Of course I love to see you using vintage items to make life more organized and beautiful. Great post, great idea friend! I’m going to have to add antique doorknob to my thrift list now!
Yes, be on the lookout for antique door knobs!! I hope you’ll try this idea! Happy Day, Donna
Such a cute idea!
Thank you. I love how it turned out!
What a transformation! The frames look completely different. The vintage vibe is so cute!
I know, can you get over how different the frames look? So fun to transform them! Thanks so much!
This is such a great idea, Donna! I can’t get over those frames either. They look completely different now and are totally gorgeous. I always forget to add black paint to make things look even more aged and chippy so thank you for the reminder. These look amazing! Hugs, CoCo
Hi CoCo! That’s the first time I’ve tried that technique and I really love it! Way less mess than sanding!! Thank you and have a great week! Donna
Thank you for sharing. I like the idea of a custom look. When we purchased our home, we did not have a towel bar in our upstairs bath and I wondered why? As it turns out there is not really a good place for one, it is an odd shape. Then I knew why there was not one, but a picture frame and hook, I think I can make some room for that! Have a wonderful weekend!
I hope you’ll try to make one! I’m very happy with how ours turned out! Happy day, Donna
No wonder you waited, these are great. i love the distressed look too. Great project.
Thank you, Rachel! The distressing adds so much beauty to them! I’m very pleased with them!
What a darling idea Donna, I do not like the standard towel bar either. We do not even have one on the second floor and had to get inventive on where our towel was placed. A certain pup would grab it off the counter and rush off with it! This is a wonderful idea! Thanks for sharing your inspiration with us!
Thanks Cara! I thought this was a fun alternative and I’m so happy with how they turned out! We have to keep our bathroom trashcan inside a cabinet because of our sweet fur baby! The things we do for our pets, lol!! Take care, Donna