Hello there! If you’re starting to see a trend with Kelli and I, it’s that we really enjoy making something old or unused new again (like our cupboard serving tray we shared last month) and today’s upcycled project is right up that alley! I purchased an old neglected home (like, built in 1903 old) and we have been in the process of trying to restore it, but it turns out that the house is not structurally safe, so we’re going to rebuild it instead (see this post on our site for more details.) Anyway, I made a keepsake using a piece of the old wood and hooks that had been screwed into a closet since the house was built, and I am happy to see a piece of that old house stay alive (:

To make your own you’ll need a few items… although since these came from my old house, you may have to improvise.

I obviously already had the old piece of wood that had been whitewashed, but you’ll need to grab an 15-18″ x 6″ board and lightly brush white paint on it. You will also need hooks; I have seen the antique twisted wire metal hooks that I used on eBay and Etsy if you want that exact style, but the more cost effective way is to shop Walmart; they’re about $3/each. You can distress them with paint or add patina for the aged look (; You will also need 1.5″ letter stencils, a foam stencil brush and acrylic paint in the color of your liking.

The assembly of this project went really quickly:

1. Lay the stencils on your whitewashed board and prep to paint. 2. Stamp the word NEST (or HOME, FAMILY, etc.) with acrylic paint, (I used a dark chocolate.) 3. Sand the board to distress and lightly sand over the word NEST to make it appear as aged as the wood and hooks. Measure and screw your hooks in. 4. There you have it! A new (old) coat rack!

We enjoy making something old new again and bringing it to life while still keeping that vintage feel.

And this is such a memorable keepsake too (; We challenge you to see if you can upcycle something you aren’t using and make it new again! Be sure to visit our other posts here on Creative Home!