{Backyard DIY} Nautical Towel Rack

When we refreshed our patio space last month, one of the issues I needed to address was the wet towel situation. Specifically, the wet towels that were always left puddled on the ground, or thrown over the backs of all the chairs. Not only was it not good for the cushions, but it looked junky and drove me crazy. However, I couldn't really complain too much about it, since we didn't have a real spot in which to hang said wet towels. And wet bathing suits. And bags. And goggles. See where I'm going here?

I looked online at all the usual spots, and really liked the nautical vibe of this one from Pottery Barn, using boat cleats, but wasn't about to spend $50 for a bunch of wet towels. Plus, it wasn't the right size for our space. So I set off to recreate it myself...starting at at marine wholesaler.

{What You Need}
Scrap wood cut to length (Home Depot also sells precut pieces of craft wood) Marine Dock Cleats Spray Paint Screws

{What You Do}
Paint the wood and hooks, then once dry, screw the cleats in place. We went with screws shorter than the thickness of the board so they won't poke out the back...that way the board lies flat against the wall.

Using longer screws, attach the board directly to the wall by drilling through the front of the board on both ends. I didn't want the screws to stand out, so I painted the heads the same color as the board and hooks.

Now we've got a sturdy towel rack, customized for our space, with a fun outdoor, nautical vibe. And all for about $10! Bam!

Now if only I could get certain people to actually hang up their wet towels! Got any tips on that one?!

Other Patio projects include: Otomi Table | Starburst Mirror | Stenciled Doormat | Outdoor Barcart | Planter Side Table