Revamp an old chair into a smart towel storage design

If you have a few old wooden chairs lying around, you might be wondering how to get rid of them. However, discarding them could mean missing out on a fantastic opportunity to give them a new life. The problem with some of these chairs is that while they may look nice, they might not be very comfortable or structurally sound enough to support someone sitting on them. But just because a chair isn’t suitable for seating doesn’t mean it has to be thrown away. Instead, you can get creative and find a new purpose for it. Fortunately, there’s plenty of inspiration online for repurposing wooden chairs.

One of the best ways to reuse an old wooden chair—especially one you don’t want to sit on—is to turn it into a shelf and towel rack. This project doesn’t require a lot of construction work. Simply saw the chair horizontally through the seat. Then take the back half and mount it on the wall. Before you start hammering, make sure to mount it upside down. If you prefer, you can also disassemble the chair further and use just the back and a smaller part of the seat. This might be a better option if you’re working with a small space or don’t want it to look too much like a chair.

How to make this work in your bathroom

One of the most important things to ensure this project works well is choosing the right chair. The main goal is to create a place to hang towels, so selecting a chair with multiple vertical back rungs (like a ladder back chair) gives you more spots to hang your towels. The underside of the chair (now the top) also functions as a shelf, which is great for storing extra towels, toiletries, or decorative items. This makes for a stylish storage solution in your bathroom.

To make the chair look its best, you might need to do some refinishing. That said, some antique chairs already have a desirable aged look and can work well if you’re going for a vintage style. Otherwise, you might want to refinish the chair. Start by wiping it down with a damp cloth. Once it’s dry, begin sanding to remove any old paint, stain, or uneven areas. After that, you can prime and paint it in your preferred color. Since this will be placed in a bathroom where it will come into contact with wet towels, it’s best to choose a water-resistant paint that can withstand wear and warping. This is just one of many ways to transform your space by repurposing an old or broken chair, so even if your bathroom is complete, there’s definitely a DIY project waiting for you.