Mobile Coat Closet for Under $60

4 Materials
Here in NYC closets are scarce! Most apartment dwellers will invest in some wall hooks to mount in the entryway, and that's usually enough storage for whoever lives there, but what if you're throwing a party? With the holidays just around the corner, you might be thinking of party logistics if you live in a small space. That's exactly what one of my organizing clients was pondering. She wants to throw a Halloween party, but not only does she not have an entryway, but she also does not have a coat closet nearby to catch jackets, etc. We searched online for mobile coat racks, but most of them lacked shoe or purse storage, and if we wanted to stay under $100 we were forced to buy something boring. Furthermore, we wondered how we would store a mobile coat rack when she wasn't using it - most of them don't come apart. Like with most of my space saving solutions, I go to plumbing piping and fixtures. For just under $60, we were able to create something custom that allowed for shoe and bag storage for her guests by putting an old plank of wood on wheels and then attaching a flange to the wood with piping to hang coats on. This project was so quick and simple and it solved all of my client's problems! When it isn't in use, just unscrew the pipes from the flange and roll it under the bed!
Materials:


*Plank of wood. We used a piece of reclaimed wood that is 9.5"x64" and is 1.5" thick


*4 casters


*2- 1/2" Floor Flange (you can use any size)


*1- 1/2" x 48" Nipple


*2- 1/2" x 60" Nipple


*2- 1/2" 90 degree elbow


*Polyurethane (optional)


*Paint Brush


*TSP cleaning solution (optional)


*Stainless Steel bristle brush


*Wood screws (size depends on your wood thickness, I used 1")


*Power drill and bit set
STEP 1: Lay out the wood and pipes


I assembled the nipples to see how it looked laid out near the wood. Our plank of wood was coincidentally the perfect length - we had just a few inches on each side to balance the weight of the pipes. You might need to cut your plank of wood to size.
STEP 2: Clean the wood


Next we had to clean the wood. This guy was picked up at a salvage yard so it was pretty dirty. First I scraped off any packed on dirt with a stainless steel bristle brush.
STEP 3: Sand it down


Then, with a nylon brush I scrubbed it with a water and TSP solution. Finally, I sanded the wood down. I was okay with more of a rustic look so didn't go crazy with the sanding.
STEP 4: Coat the wood


Now that the wood was clean and sanded, I wanted to put a couple coats of poly on it to protect it. My client wanted a satin finish, so I put two coats of a satin finish polyurethane over the entire plank, lightly sanding between coats.
STEP 5: Install the casters


Next up was installing the casters. Super easy. I drilled tiny pilot hole to make screwing the wheels in a bit easier.
STEP 6: Repeat on three other corners


4 wood screws per wheel and this plank of wood became a skateboard in no time! ;)
STEP 7: Attach the flanges


Next up was attaching the floor flanges. I marked out where they needed to be placed on the wood so the piping would stand up nice and straight. I marked my drill points first with a pencil.
STEP 8: Screw it in


I then screwed in wood screws to secure the flanges.
STEP 9: Enjoy your new coat rack


Hang your coats and store your shoes! The great thing about this is you can unscrew the nipples from the flanges for easy storage. The biggest part of this project is prepping the wood to your liking. You could spray paint the plumbing, paint the wood, add extra shelves, etc. Make it your own to solve any space issues you might have!
Here it is in all its glory! Roll it to a living room, guest room, or wherever makes sense in your home to store your guests' coats when hosting a gathering.
Suggested materials:
  • Nipples   (Home Depot)
  • Floor Flange   (Home Depot)
  • 90 degree elbows   (Home Depot)
See all materials
Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
  1 question
  • Lillyrose Lillyrose on May 01, 2021

    How sturdy is this? Looks like it might sway from side to side.

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