If you are looking to display your towels with a unique touch, consider a DIY towel rack treatment with homemade peel and stick wood planks. The modern farmhouse look adds a neutral, yet updated feel to any space. This 90’s master bath has been getting a budget-friendly update for the past year. The peel and stick planks were an after thought! Scroll to learn how to incorporate this look in your own space.

If you’ve followed me for a while you know I’m a fan of using inexpensive plywood to replicate the look of shiplap. The towel bar in this bathroom had been on my list of things to update for a while. I’m so glad I finally had a chance to do it!

Before

For a summary of the process, scroll down and you’ll see a video from my Instagram stories.

DIY Towel Rack-Process

Step 1: Add a support board

To begin, I cut a 1×4 common board the width of the wall and attached it leveled on the wall. I made sure to hit the studs, with 2 1/2″ wood screws

Tip: Have the plywood ripped to 6“ wide planks first, then decide on the height placement of the 1×4. For my project, adding the planks was an afterthought, so I ended up ripping two of the planks narrower to make them all fit in the space.

Because my board was butting against the window frame, I opted to bevel the edge of the board at 45 degrees, to create a smoother transition.

A tip that may help with the angled cut: Cut the beveled angle first, then cut the board to size by making a straight cut on the opposite end.

If you need more help with angled cuts, be sure to read this post.

Step 2: Fill Holes and Paint

Use wood filler to fill in the holes. Sand until smooth and paint. The picture below shows the finished look without the planks.

I liked the clean look, especially after covering the beige and adding hooks, but I wanted a little more character, which is where the idea of peel and stick wood planks came in.

Step 3: Rip Plywood and Stain

At this point, I went to Lowes and had the guys rip a sheet of 1/4″ inch plywood into 6″ planks.

After getting the planks home, I cut them to the width of the wall, gave them a quick sanding(with my favorite cordless sander). Then I stained them different colors.

I used  dark brown, medium brown, and grey.

Check out the video below for a summary of the process.

Step 4: Turn your Planks into Stick Wood

First of all, you can attach the planks to the wall using good old hammer and nails. You can also use a nail gun (my favorite, also cordless!). If you use the nail option, be sure to shoot nails straight into the studs.

What is Stick Wood??

Since this was a small space, I decided to try my luck at making my own peel and stick wood to embellish this DIY towel rack. If you’ve never heard of peel and stick wood planks, check them out here.

They’re super convenient and yes, they look so awesome!!  but…you guessed it, they’re pricey.

To create the peel and stick plank, I placed peel and stick strips all the way around each plank and stuck them level on the wall. Yes, use the level as you place each plank.

Make sure you don’t skimp on the  strips. I made that mistake and a couple of planks didn’t stay on, so I had to add more strips. The planks have been on for 4 months now, with no issues.

If you have electrical outlets to go around, I recommend you make yourself a cardboard template. Be sure to watch the video in step 3 above to see it in action. I used a jig saw to cut the holes for the outlets. You also may need these longer screws to re-attach the plates since the planks will add a little thickness.

I may eventually swap the plates for brown, but for now, I don’t mind the look.

Another thing to keep in mind is the space between the planks. I opted to put the planks close together with no space. But, if you like a little space in between the planks (to mimic the look of shiplap) you can use pennies as spacers as you stick the planks on.

Other Projects in this Bathroom

DIY Stick On Mirror Frame

Bathroom Vanity Makeover

Bathroom Light Fixture Makeover

Are you ready to try it?

This DIY towel rack project is easy and budget friendly! I hope you like it and find a place to create the look. I’ve done this in a few areas of my home. Click the posts below to see them!

Plywood in my entryway

Plywood in my basement bathroom

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