How to Build A: Scrap Wood Towel Rack

I often end up with lots of extra wood lying around, so I like to use it for practical projects whenever I can.

While sprucing up my parents' bathroom, I had some leftover 2x2 pieces that I decided to turn into a towel rack.

As we were putting the final touches on the makeover, I noticed that the walls, painted a bright white, felt a bit cold. To add some warmth, I whipped up a simple towel rack to hang over the tub.

In this quick three-step guide, I'll show you how I did it. Ready to roll up your sleeves and get started?

• 2×2 scraps: (2) 2×2 @ 12″ long, (4) 2×2 @ 5″ long, (2) 2×2 @ 24″ long
• Wood glue
• 2 ½″ and 3″ wood screws
• Drill & Driver
• Miter Saw
• Wood Finish (I used a simple stain and poly)
• Stud Finder
• Clamps

I cut two pieces to 12 inches for the back of the towel rack, and four 2x2 pieces to 5 inches for the sides. I also cut two 24-inch pieces, but they won't be used in this step.

Roll up one of your towels and measure its width to decide what would work best.

I applied wood glue to the ends of two of the 5-inch pieces and placed a 12-inch piece on them. Then, I predrilled and drove 2 ½-inch wood screws through the 12-inch piece to assemble two pairs of back/side units, as shown.

The screw holes in these assemblies will be along the back of the towel rack (against the wall).

I applied glue to the opposite side of the 5-inch wooden pieces and secured the 24-inch pieces onto the front, as demonstrated.

You have options for fastening: you can drive 2 ½-inch wood screws as in the first step if you're okay with visible screw heads. Alternatively, you can use 2-inch or longer brad nails for added strength.

Ensure the piece is square before letting the glue dry.

Once the glue had dried, I removed any excess glue and applied Minwax Early American Wood Stain followed by a couple of coats of Minwax Polycrylic for sealing. You can choose your preferred finishing method.

For installation, I located a stud in the wall using a stud finder and predrilled through the back 2x2, then secured it to the stud using 3-inch wood screws—one at the top and one at the bottom.

Ideally, I aimed to center the towel rack above the bathtub, but since there was no stud in that location, I positioned the screw at the edge of the rack to ensure it could still be anchored into a stud while being somewhat centered. If you're unable to find a stud where you intend to mount the towel rack, you can use a drywall anchor instead.

And that's all there is to it! Just three simple steps, but it serves its purpose and adds a nice touch to the space.