The Dollar Tree Upcycling DIY That Makes Storing Toilet Paper Cute, Easy & Affordable

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If you're busy in the kitchen and run out of paper towels, it's no big deal. But if you — or worse, a guest — runs out of toilet paper while (ahem) indisposed, that is not nearly as insignificant. Most people would agree there is great comfort to both guest and homeowner if there are spare toilet paper rolls very close by, and not stashed in a drawer somewhere. It's even better when that easy-access storage is the result of a Dollar Tree upcycling DIY making the whole display cute, easy, and affordable. A YouTube creator figured out a way to do just that using Dollar Tree trays and a leftover board. The entire unit comes together quickly and has the added bonus that it can be secured to a wall for stability or left freestanding if you live in a rented home.

One of the biggest advantages to this DIY is that unlike some home improvement projects, this one doesn't require the use of any special power tools, provided the board you use as the anchor to the toilet paper storage unit is pre-cut to the size you want. If you do have to buy a board for the project, you're in luck. We have a hardware store wood-cutting tip that'll save time on your home improvement project: Many stores will cut lumber you purchase from them to the size you need, often at no additional cost. Then you'll be flush with excitement and ready to start your easy toilet paper storage DIY project.

Not only is this DIY cute, but the toilet paper storage unit is easy for novices and doesn't require a lot of tools or a high level of skill. You need to measure accurately, apply stain, and glue without making a mess. You might need a saw, if you can't get the lumber cut at a store. You could use a drill to screw the trays to the wood or the unit to a wall, but both are optional.

The creator of the DIY purchased four small unfinished wooden trays from Dollar Tree. For the backbone of the storage unit, she used scrap wood from another project. We deduced her board was likely 2 x 2 x 6 inches, but you can use what works for you. The total length of the toilet paper holder was approximately 46 to 48 inches since it appears to be about 18 inches taller than her toilet, and the standard tank height in the United States is 28 to 30 inches.

She stained the wood and the trays with Minwax penetrating stain in dark walnut. After the stain was thoroughly dry, the YouTuber attached the trays to the supporting plank, starting at the bottom. She made the first tray flush with the bottom so it formed the base, then spaced the remaining trays equally along the board with the final one about a foot from the top. Since this will be in a bathroom, you might want to take an extra eco-friendly step, and find out how to waterproof wood with an all-natural ingredient (hint: it includes beeswax).

The toilet paper storage DIY is wonderful as is, but with a few modifications it can be more customizable, adaptable, and faster to create. To speed things up, try what another YouTube creator discovered for her project: Total Tape pre-cut strips from the Original Super Glue Corporation, which according to its package, can hold up to 14 pounds per tape strip. Since toilet paper isn't heavy, use them instead of wood glue to attach the trays. There's no drying time, moving the project ahead more quickly.

If you aren't a fan of stained wood, use paint or check out the peel-and-stick wallpapers at Dollar Tree. Cut them to the proper sizes then apply them to the wood plank, the trays, or the entire project. If you think you'll be putting things other than toilet paper on one of the trays, you may want it to be one of Dollar Tree's slightly deeper (two-thirds of an inch) wooden crates. Keep in mind that they're smaller by width (1 inch) and depth (1.25 inches) than the shallower trays. To make the unit more adaptable, leave the top tray empty as a great place to set down a phone or make it decorative with a small plant, reed diffuser, or place a bowl of cinnamon in your bathroom for a wonderful spicy scent. Finally, be versatile; this DIY stand could work anywhere: Next to your vanity or even in a closet.