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I Finished It Friday: Ballard Designs Inspired Beadboard Drying Rack Tutorial

An Organized Home· Do-It-Yourself Projects· Fave Posts· I Finished It Friday

I am in the process of redesigning my laundry room.
I have been looking at tons of pictures for inspiration and
I noticed a drying rack by Ballard Designs that kept popping up.
I just knew it would be a perfect addition to my new laundry room.
Although I loved (really loved) the large size,
I measured the space in my laundry room and it just wouldn’t fit.
 The medium size seemed to be the better match.
But at $139 (on sale) plus tax and shipping…
that didn’t match the amount of cash I had in my wallet. 🙂
I had seen some DIY knock-offs of this idea 
but none were exactly like the original.
So, this lady decided to build her own.
No plans to follow.
Just a picture combined with some wood, glue, a nail gun,
and some lots of determination.
I think this lady did pretty good…
 I would like to give you some plans to follow,
that way you can build your own, too!

First, you need to gather your supplies:

  1. One roll of bead board wall paper
  2. One 2×4 pre-cut birch wood (1/2 inch thick)–I had the nice guys at Lowes cut 7 inches off the length, so my final board size was 24×41.
  3. Two 1/2×2′ poplar boards-for inner frame with dowels (I bought pre-primed)
  4. Two 1/2×4′ poplar boards-for outer frame (I bought pre-primed)
  5. Two 2×2 birchwood boards (1/4 inch thick)
  6. Four 3/8″ dowel rods (48″ long)
  7. Narrow pin hinge (set of two)
  8. D-ring hangers for mounting on the wall
  9. Hinged bracket for the side
  10. Two Round Magnets
  11. Steel Wood Joiners
  12. Wood Glue
  13. Liquid Nails
  14. Spray Paint
There are also a few tools you will need to complete this project:
a drill, a 3/8 drill bit, hammer, framing nails, screwdriver, saw  
(optional- nail gun)
 
First Step:
Cover the front side of your pre-cut birch wood with bead board wall paper. (Follow the directions inside the package).
 
Second Step: 
While that is drying, measure and cut your boards for the outer frame. I cut mine at 40¾x26.
 
Third Step:
Once wall paper is dry, attach your outer frame to the birch wood. I placed wood glue on first then I used my nail gun. You can also use finishing nails.
Fourth Step:
Measure and cut your inner frame. I cut mine at 37×24¾.Then cut your dowels, I cut my at 22½. Next drill holes for your dowel using a 3/8 bit. I spaced mine 5 inches apart except for the last one-which is 4 inches from the bottom. (To me, the last one didn’t look like it was spaced as evenly as the others. Like I mentioned before…I was really trying to make an exact replica!) Tip: I used my Kreg Jig to help hold the board secure while I drilled.
 
 
Fifth Step:
Insert your dowels into the holes and hammer into place with a mallet. I also placed a tiny drop off wood glue inside each hole just for extra strength. Then finish the frame by attaching the remaining top and bottom pieces with finishing nails. The nails will need to be 3 inches long. Tip: I pre-drilled holes through the top/bottom board to guide the nails. Less you risk splitting the boards.
Six Step: 
Attach your two 1/4 inch birchwood boards to the inside of the frame, both at top and bottom. To secure it, I used some liquid nails and my nail gun. If you have any boo boos, this will hide them nicely.

Here you see the nail gun gone bad…

 
And here you don’t (it’s our little secret!)
 
Seventh Step:
Time to spray paint. I used RustOleum White with a satin finish.
 
Eighth Step:
Attach your pin hinge with your screwdriver. Then attach your hinged bracket for the side.

 

Ninth Step:
To attach your magnets to the frame I first measured and placed these steel wood joiners…
 
 
They have very sharp spikes attached to them. I simply hammered them into the underside of the frame. Then I stuck the magnet to the metal. When the magnets were attached, I placed super glue on their backs. I then just closed the frame and pressed down. That’s how I achieved perfectly lined up metal to magnet. ( I did notice that my magnets were not as even as I would have liked but I couldn’t move them. It isn’t called Super glue for nothin’. I wish I wasn’t such a perfectionist!)
 
Tenth Step:
Attach your d-rings on the upper back. Then attach your hangers to the wall. I used my measuring stick trick to hang it perfect the first time.
 
Now it’s ready to hang on your laundry room wall.
 
 
And yes, I even made my own Laundry Sign. 
You could buy one from Ballard Designs for $45 (plus tax and shipping)
 or you could make one. 
I grabbed my letters at Micheal’s. I already had the board, liquid nails and spray paint. 

 

 
I am accessorizing my laundry room with black and 
I love how the sign adds some nice contrast.
 
 
Now I have a nice place to having my delicate clothing…
you know what I mean ladies, your lingerie.
 

The total cost for my drying rack was around $55.
And it took me a few afternoons to build. 

Now, I just need to finish the rest of my laundry room,
then I can share pictures of the whole space! 🙂

*this post contains affiliate links

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Comments

  7. Without a doubt this is one of the best things I’ve seen in Blog Land, and I have seen a lot of great things. I really love this, especially for someone with a small space.

    Reply

  15. Thank you so much! We have a metal fold one that totally gets in the way. So excited to start this project!

    Reply

  16. Thank you for the plans! I’ve been eyeing three one in the Ballard catalog for over a year, but couldn’t justify paying that much. Yours turned out great!

    Reply

  19. Wow this is great. I have thought of getting one myself, but the price is a bit steep for something I am not sure will be put to use. I may have to try my hand at this! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

  20. My wife and I were actually talking about this the other day, and I was thinking about building it for her instead of paying for the Ballard one. Your tutorial sealed the deal, thanks for taking the time to upload the pics and itemize the supply list.

    Reply

  25. I love this!! It looks great and is practical too. I have a big fold out one, that is always in the way – this is the perfect replacement 🙂

    Reply

  26. Hi! Awesome tutorial. My friend and I just went to Lowe’s this morning to buy everything, but we couldn’t find the hinged bracket for the side, and no one seemed to have any idea of what we were talking about. Can you tell me where you bought it? Do you remember what the name was on the package? Thanks in advance for your help! 🙂

    Reply

  27. Tyler = Niki, I purchased my hinged bracket at Lowes. I found it on the same isle as the cabinet hardware (knobs, handles, hooks). You may also suggest to the sales people that you need a chain with screw eyes. The hinged bracket may be right next to this item. Good luck with the project! 🙂

    Reply

  34. I absolutely love this! I have never built anything like this before – I am just wondering how much practice/experience you had building things? I am sure I could get my husband to help with the sawing/drilling, but I wouldn’t mind trying to do something like this on my own!
    Thanks for the step by step instructions!

    Reply

  37. One day when I own my own home and have a laundry room that I don’t have to share with other people I am going to have the best laundry room ever thanks to people like you, lol. I’m actually thinking where could I put something like this now though. I don’t think I could put it on the cement walls in the basement where my laundry is and I have enough trouble with my neighbors not able to keep their hands off my stuff down there. I have my wooden drying rack in my room, but it’s always in the way. Maybe on the back of my door it would work. Hmmmm. Happy SITS day ;).

    Reply

  41. You love Ballard Designs too? What a great knock-off you’ve made. Bravo! And the money you’ve saved… oh, and while I’m at it — let me also say, BRAVO! again for being “featured” on SITS!

    Happy holidays!

    Reply

  45. Thank you for the instructions. I am in the process of trying to build this myself. When you mention 1/2 x 2 and 1/2 x 4 poplar, do you mean 1/2 x 2″ x 4′ and 1/2 x 4″ x 4′. Thanks

    Reply

  47. I was wondering how your total cost was 55.00. I just came from my local lowes and got all the items to build this and my total cost came out to 80.00.

    Reply

  48. Prices may very a little and I already owned the beadboard wallpaper and spray paint from previous projects. Still…$80 is a lot cheaper than buying retail. 🙂 Good luck on building your drying rack.

    Reply

  51. this was a great project I made one for my daughter for christmas she loved it. easy instructions not hard to do at all. thank you soo
    much

    Reply

  53. I am about to pull my hair out! My drying rack looks fabulous but I am stuck on putting on the bottom hinges. ANy advice?? PLEAAAAAASE help me!

    Reply

  54. So sorry you are frustrated. 🙁 The hinges can be a little tricky as I remember. I placed my hinges inside the drying rack and screwed them in first(securing them) then I attached the other side of the hinge to the moveable rack. I remember having to move mine because I originally placed them too high.

    Hope this helps you. If not, leave me another comment or you can email me at inspirationformoms@gmail.com. 🙂

    Reply

  55. I made some minor adjustments and made it work!I am curious however of how much of a gap you left on the bottom ( where the inner frame with dowels sits in the larger outer frame).
    Thought I’d share what saved me some money (of course the hardware store didn’t have the wood joiners) so i ended up buying single metal washers (x2) and used those instead (32 cents!).
    OF all the drying racks I have seen, this is by FAR the absolute best! THANK YOU for giving us a tutorial!! kiss kiss kiss!

    Reply

  56. Ya!!! So happy you made it work. 🙂 I just went and measured mine and I have about a 3/4″ gap.

    Metal washers is a genius idea! Thanks for sharing and congrats on a job well done! Enjoy your new laundry rack lady! Hugs!!

    Reply

  57. Thank you for this! I, too, have been eying up the beadboard drying rack from Ballard designs, and am turned off by the price. I will have to try this out!

    Reply

  58. I’m puzzled by the inner frame dimensions. The plywood base is 24″ X 41″ but you say the inner frame is 24 3/4″ X 37″. This would make it 3/4″ too wide and 4″ short. That sounds wrong to me. Can you explain?

    Reply

  59. So happy that I have my supplies and ready to go!

    I am a little puzzled like John above. I did read your response and review Step 2, but still confused.

    The inner board does not grow as birch wood strips are placed across top and bottom (hiding the nail gun that went wrong). The outside frame (1/2″ ) is placed on “pegboard” which in turn creates a smaller “inside”.

    We will out, just thought maybe I was missing something! We are excited and will work thru! Thank you for posting it! It looks fabulous!!!

    I

    Reply

  60. Thanks – I will.

    I found the clarification/corrections in the comment section for the poplar boards.

    I bought the two – 1/2″ x 2″ x 4′ for dowel frame, but cannot figure out for the life of me how to squeeze 37″,37″, 24 3/4″ and 24 3/4″ lengths totaling 123″ on two 4′ boards that total 96″. Perhaps qty should of reflected 3?

    Reply

  66. Thanks for joining us at Project Inspire{d}!
    I’m excited to be featuring your Great Idea this week at our weekend wrap up. Please be sure to grab a button or link back!
    I can’t wait to see what you bring to next week’s party! 🙂

    Reply

  67. What a GREAT idea!! Our fold out drying stands didn’t survive our move two years ago and I just can’t bring myself to spend the money on new ones because they seem to be so poorly made. I *really* like this idea and am going to show it to The Mister.

    Thanks for the tutorial!

    Visiting from #SITSShareFest
    DrJulieAnn – The Modern Retro Woman recently posted…A Vision of GlamourMy Profile

    Reply

  69. I am in love with you simple to follow tutorial! Thank you for sharing it; I hope to see you this week on Thursday the 22nd at 8 pm est time- Monday 9 am est. I can’t wait to see what you bring this week!! Remember you can add up to 3 links “Anything” goes on #PureBlogLove recipes, crafts, diy projects, or informative tips and tricks you name it!!!

    XoXo
    H
    Heidy@The McCallumsShamrockPatch recently posted…How-to Cut & Make Roasted Chicken + RecipeMy Profile

    Reply

  71. While I love the design of this and with a first read of the instructions, it seemed very detailed. I do have to say when purchasing supplies, I found the measurements of product to buy difficult to understand as others stated above. I also found I had to improvise where the instructions lacked detail. Overall great project and mine is now hanging in my laundry room. Thank you.

    Reply

    • Hi Janise! Thank you so much for your feed back. I would love to know where you ran into problems? It may allow me to clear up any misunderstandings in the directions and help others. Thanks!

      Reply

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