When Ryan and I moved into our Brooklyn apartment, we were so thrilled about the large backyard and extra storage that we didn’t even realize it was missing a closet in the master bedroom. We just sort of made the assumption that there was one and took for granted that, in our previous apartments, closets in bedrooms are a standard – but not in New York. We went about looking at different Ikea closet storage systems and none of them fit the room. They were too bulky and modular and would make our bright and big room feel more constrained.
After some stressing, which is what I do best, Ryan suggested we build a DIY garment rack. I was hesitant at first, thinking it would look junky, but it really did seem like the best option. After all, Ryan and I would be sharing a closet for the first time, so it needed to be big.
The total cost of this project was around $80. The steel pipes are a little pricy. But it took no time to assemble.
DIY Garment Rack
What You’ll Need
I’ve linked to the amazon pages to help you get a better idea.
- 3 Galvanized Pipes ¾ in x 60 in, threaded at both ends
- 4 Galvanized Steel Nipples size ¾ in x 10 in
- 6 Galvanized Steel Elbows ¾ in, female
- 2 Galvanized Steel Tees ¾ in, female
Step By Step Instructions
Start by assembling the feet. You’ll need four of the elbows and four of nipples. Screw the elbows onto the 12” nipples, one elbow per pipe. Position the elbow so it’s facing down, to steady itself against the floor.
Once you’ve done this, connect two of the nipples with a Tee. You may have to adjust the way the elbow balances on the floor by re-screwing it a bit. Repeat this step with the other foot.
Put the feet to the side and start working on the frame of the garment rack. Start by screwing two elbows onto both sides of one of the 60 inch pipes. This will be the top of the rack.
Place the top part on the ground to prepare for the next part.
Screw the remaining two 60 inch pipes into the other side of the elbows on the top rack.
It’s easiest if you can get them to lean up against a wall.
While the rack is still upside down, screw on the feet that you created earlier.
Once both feet are on, turn the rack right-side up and make sure the feet are nice and balanced on the ground. You may have to re-screw them if it’s wobbly. Also, make any adjustments to the elbows that touch the floor.
Here’s what it looks like completely standing.
A note about those yellow stickers: I left them on for this tutorial so you can see which sizes I’m using during the process. But they’re a pain to get off! You need some Goo Gone, a paint scraper, and serious determination.
I really love how large this closet is. It’s definitely big enough to fit both of our clothes. It has plenty of space underneath it too!
This method is flexible with sizing. Ryan and I added an additional foot-long pipe on the sides so we could raise it over our dresser. We’ve actually put a dresser under there.
