DIY Wood Coat Rack

Today I am sharing a way to make your entry space work better for you. The entryway can always be a clutter area to any home. Not having the right storage and options can make the clutter turn to full on mess. But coat racks can be expensive. So, I am going to show you a simple tutorial for making a DIY wood coat rack.

Wood Coat Rack

Materials you’ll need to build a wood coat rack:

  • One, 4×4 (at least 51 inches long, roughly four and a half feet.)
  • One, 2×4
  • 1 inch wide wood board. At least 16×16 inch size.
  • One, 1 inch board, at least 7×7 inch size.
  • Four coat hooks
  • Wood glue

How to Build A Wood Coat Rack:

How to Build A Wood Coat Rack:

Step One: Determine Height

To begin, figure out how tall you want the wood coat rack to be. I made mine 4 feet and 6 inches. I decided this was tall enough for my kids to each the hooks, but still tall enough to allow adult sized coats hang on the coat rack without hanging on the floor. I cute my 4×4 down to size by using a mitre saw and marking where I wanted the cut to be.

DIY wood coat rack

Step Two: Make the Base

Next, the two bases for the 4×4 to sit on. There are a lot of different ways of making this. You can make a X shaped base for the 4×4 to stand on. I chose this layered square base because I wanted to have a layered look to it. I achieved this by figuring out the size of the base. The goal is to make it not be too big to take up too much space. But, big enough so that the coat rack will not topple over.

DIY wood coat rack

I figured having a base a 16×16 inch size would make the 4 feet long post be secure enough. I had some cutting down to do of my base board. Marking and cutting the same way I did the 4×4. I also cut the smaller square into a 7×7 inch size to set on top of the larger board.

DIY wood coat rack

I thought it would be best to have small legs under the large board to help secure the coat rack up right. I took the 4×4 left over from my original piece and cut 4, 1 inch tall pieces to use as the legs.

And giving a different visual effect to the wood coat rack.

Step Three: Cutting Angles

Next came the somewhat tricky part. Making the cuts needed for the 2×4 to create an angled look to the bottom of the coat rack. Helping in keeping it up right, secure. And giving a different visual effect to the wood coat rack.

I achieved this by cutting the 2×4 down to slightly larger then the ideal size. Setting it up to the coat rack that was sitting together but not connected. Then marking where the 2×4 hits when angled into the coat rack.

Then marking where the 2x4 hits when angled into the coat rack.

Step Four: Cut the Marks

Using the mark as my example. The cuts ended up being a 30 degree angle cut on the bottom. I got the top to work and be cut by placing the board under the saw, holding in place, and cutting it along the drawn out line I traced. There was no setting for this angle in my mitre saw. I had to get creative.

DIY wood coat rack
DIY wood coat rack

Once I knew that the angles were correct and did line up to the 4×4 it was time to secure it all in place. I simply used wood glue to do this.

DIY wood coat rack
DIY wood coat rack

Making sure the squares and the 4×4 were center to each other, marking those center spots. Then picking up piece by piece and putting some wood glue on the spots.

DIY wood coat rack
DIY wood coat rack

Step Five: Secure 

Push down in the newly glued spot to get it to stay. You can use wood clamps to help hold it in place. But, with the angle of the 2×4’s the clamps did not work. I was able to make them secure by gluing them and leaving it alone. Not touching it or moving it at all for a few hours. It did the trick. No nailing needed.

DIY wood coat rack

Step Six: Stain

After it was all connected and solid I needed to make it less un-finished and more polished. I did this by using a dark wood stain and staining the wood. Using a gloved hand and wiping with the cloth from side so side, getting in every crevice. Wiping with the grain of the wood. I did one coat.

DIY wood coat rack

Step Seven: Add the Hooks

I had a nice, dark wood stand. The only thing missing was the hooks to make this be a coat rack. I decided the position of the hooks. Putting two up higher and two a little lower to stagger the coats that will be hung. Using a standard screw driver and screwing them into the rack.

DIY wood coat rack

Now it is done! Lots of cuts with the wood, but pretty straight forward steps to make this coat rack.

DIY wood coat rack
DIY wood coat rack

When people come over they will know right away where to hang their coats. No instructions needed. Hopefully this can help add some style and some organization to your home!

DIY wood coat rack
DIY wood coat rack
DIY wood coat rack