Try A Clever Thrift Store Flip To Create A Unique Towel Rack To Elevate Your Bathroom

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Of all the places you might look for something to make a DIY towel rack from, it probably wouldn't be your bookshelf — at least not as a first thought. However, being able to transform a pair of wooden equine-themed bookends into a Western-themed towel ring might just change your mind about what's possible. It's certainly a design that offers you one of the most creative ways to repurpose bookends that you're ever going to see.

One rendition of the project features two wooden L-shaped bookends with carved wooden horses standing on top of the foot of the "L." A standard hand towel ring is fastened to the underside of the "L," a task that's pretty straightforward due to the fact that the bookends are made of wood. (In this respect, it's no different than hanging the ring on the stud in the bathroom wall.) In this design, the plain black metal ring towel lends itself to the Western theme because it's reminiscent of the rings that cowboys used to tie their horses' bridles to. However, a fun alternative to this option would be a ROXLLGJC Mounted Rustic Hand Towel Holder, which looks a bit like an old-fashioned horse's bridle made of rope, embracing the equine theme.

The tools required for a project like this will vary. If the bookend set is made of just wood, a drill, some screws, and a glue gun gets the job done. However, if it's a hybrid that features a metal foot and a wooden back, then Super Glue may also be necessary to fasten the towel rings to the bookends.

This project allows you to swap out your traditional towel bar for something more creative with very little actual construction. It's easy to get started and shouldn't take long to complete. Before you get started on anything, you'll need to look at the design of the towel ring to determine if it can be screwed directly onto the bottom part of the "L" with just a couple of screws and some help from an electric drill. 

If that's not the case, then it's likely that the ring's fastening mechanism comes in two pieces. It'll have a bracket, which is affixed to the wall (or the bookend in this case), and a separate piece that hooks onto the bracket. Left as is, this design is problematic. On the wall, the ring staying on the bracket isn't a problem. However, when the piece is turned nearly upside down, as it will be when it's hanging from the bottom side of the bookend, the ring is likely to come unfastened from the bracket. The towel ring and your towel will fall to the floor.

To sidestep this issue, add some Super Glue to both the bracket and the ring before putting the pieces together to keep the pieces solidly in place. Super Glue is also the savior of the bookend set that has a wooden back and a thin metal foot. Drilling screws into the metal foot won't work for a number of reasons, including just being plain unsightly. Super Glue works on metal, so glue, and not screws, should be the binder in this scenario.

For such a simple design, the wooden bookend set holds a lot of promise when it comes to upscaling its basic design. Bookend sets of this type often come with some sort of adornment, like the horse, that sits on top of the foot piece of the bookend. These fit a decorative theme usually.

However, some L-shaped bookends are just that — L-shaped and nothing else. This is actually a good thing because it allows you to add all sorts of upgrades that make this piece more useful. For example, you could attach a soap dish that matches your aesthetic to the top of the foot with a piece of Velcro. This keeps the soap dish in place, but still allows you to remove it to wash off the soapy residue from time to time.

You could also attach a Dollar Tree Small Wooden Crafter's Tray to the top of the foot. A couple of screws would get the job done. Items like additional wash cloths or small hand towels would find a home here. This DIY towel storage solution will save you bathroom space. And there's a bonus with this option if the additions are made of wood. For example, you could paint decorative elements using stencils onto them. This lets you tailor the piece to your bathroom's unique design motif without much trouble at all.