DIY Coat and Shoe Rack

01/5/2016

With the weather getting quite a bit colder we’re finding our jackets and boots in a pile at the entrance to our homes. For any space, a rack that holds shoes and coats is ideal! We have everything you need to make your very own coat/show rack that will fit into any space.

What you need:

3 pieces 2” x 2” x 96” *
2 fence boards 1” x 6” x 60” *
1 piece 2” x 4” x 48” *
About 24 – 3” wood screws (#8)
About 16 – 1” wood screws
Wood stain (if desired)
Varnish
4 Floor protectors (if desired)
3 or 4 coat hooks with hardware
Paint (for the coat hangers if desired)

*Please note, while the sizes noted above are the wood types you would buy, finished wood is approximately ½” less than the sizes noted above. For example, a 2” x 2” is actually more like 1 ½” x 1 ½”. This is important to note when making cuts.

How to build:

Cut the fence boards to a length of 24.
Cut two pieces of 2” x 2” exactly the width of the two fence boards placed side by side, approximately 11”. Do this with two different 2” x 2” boards so that you have four pieces of wood this length and that the two 2” x 2” boards are the same length (approximately 74”)
Then cut a 12” piece from each of the shorter (74”) 2” x 2”. This piece of wood will become the height of the shoe rack. This will leave you with two 2” x 2” boards approximately 62” in length which will become the overall height of the rack.
Now take the third (untouched) 2” x 2” board and cut two 12” pieces from it to match the length of the two other pieces just cut.
Take two of the 11” boards and two of the 12” boards and make a small rectangle. The 11” boards need to sit on top of the 12” boards. Drill a pilot hole first though the 11” board. Then, make sure that the 12” board is properly aligned and drill a pilot hole into that board. Use screws to fasten the two boards together. Do the same on the other side so that you now have a ‘U’ shaped part.
Flip this over and do the same to connect the second 12” board so that you have a small rectangle.
Make the second small rectangle in the same manner.
Cut the 2” x 4” board into two pieces that are 20 ½” long.
For the top of the rack, align the 2” x 4” so that it is flush with the tops of the two remaining long (62”) 2” x 2” boards. Drill 2 or 3 pilot holes through each of the 2” x 2” and into the cut end of the 2” x 4”. Fasten using screws to create a large rectangle.
For the bottom of the rack, because the fence boards will be the bottom-most pieces of wood, the 2” x 4” needs to be placed the thickness of the fence board above the bottom (approximately ¾”). In other words, this 2” x 4” is not flush with the bottom of the two 2” x 2” boards.
Take one of the squares made earlier. Make sure that it is also positioned the thickness of the fence board above the bottom of the 2” x 2”. Drill three pilot holes from the back of one of the 2” x 2” boards of the large rectangle into one of the smaller squares. Fasten using 3” screws and do the same for the other side.
Lay 2 of the fence boards on the top of the now fastened squares. Drill pilot holes and use the 1” screws to fasten both boards.
Lay the rack on its side and place the remaining two fence boards on the bottom, drill pilot holes and fasten these boards with 1” screws. These last two fence boards should now be the bottom of the rack. The rear 2” x 2” boards should also be touching the floor and flush with the two bottom fence boards.
Attach floor protectors on each corner if desired.
Attach the hooks to the top 2” x 4”.