Keep your home mud-free with a DIY boot rack
- Difficultyeasy
- Cost< 50 €
- Duration1-3 h
Do your kids love playing outdoors, come rain or shine? That's great! But unfortunately, their dirty boots can often end up making quite a mess in your hallway. So here's our solution: say goodbye to muddy footprints with our stylish DIY boot rack.
- pencil
- try square
- ear protectors
- g-clamps
- face mask
- measuring tape
- work gloves
- spirit level
- safety glasses
- Douglas fir: 1,030 x 135 x 18 mm (L x W x H)
- Wood glue
- 4 screws
- Optional: paint
Print out the template for your boot rack
First, download the template below as a PDF and print it out. Gather your tools, any other equipment and the materials that you need to make the DIY boot rack. Take a look at each step to familiarise yourself with the process before you get started.
SELECTING THE RIGHT WOOD:
Measure out the boards for the boot rack and cut them to size
You need: Jigsaws, try square, measuring tape, pencil, g-clamps, safety glasses, work gloves, wooden boards
First, mark the dimensions on the wood using a steel square, a tape measure and a pencil. The boot rack consists of two sections in total: one board for the wall and one set of boards for the boots. Measure two slats (51 cm x 13.5 cm: W x H) as indicated in the guide. Secure the slats using screw clamps to ensure they don't slip while you're cutting them. Make sure you put on work gloves and safety goggles beforehand. Now cut the wood to size using a jigsaw.
The curved elements give the boot rack an elegant look. You can follow the template or let your imagination run wild.
Will you still have a lot of space on your walls after finishing the DIY boot rack? And are you ready to get stuck into your next DIY project? Then why not try making a crown-shaped children's coat hanger or a personalised photo wall ?
Cut out recesses for your boot rack
You need: 7-piece hole cutter set, Jigsaws, Cordless Drill, pencil, try square, safety glasses, work gloves
Cut out four recesses that will hold two pairs of boots when the boot rack is finished. When cutting the first and second holes, use a 7-piece hole cutter and ensure that the centre of the cutter is 10 cm away from the outside edge. Make sure that the centre of the hole cutter is also roughly 9.2 cm away from the inside edge. Measure the distance between the holes to ensure it is the same. This depends on the diameter of the hole cutter you are using. Now draw a straight line from the outside of the holes to the front of the boot rack and cut out the recesses.
Sand down the boot rack
You need: Multi-sander, Sanding sheet for multi-sander G120, Sanding sponge, safety glasses, face mask
Sand down all the edges and flat surfaces to ensure they’re nice and even when you varnish them. Use an abrasive sponge or sanding paper to do so. Alternatively, you can use a multi-sander. Remember to put on safety goggles before you start sanding.
Design the top edge
You need: pencil
This step is optional. You can make the top edge of your backboard look more elegant by adding a curved design. We’ve used a small pot to create a curved arch in the middle and have used a piece of bent iron as the basis for the outline of the rest of the top edge. Feel free to be creative and come up with your own design.
Cut out the top edge
You need: Jigsaws, Multi-sander, Sanding sheet for multi-sander G120, work gloves, safety glasses
If you decide to keep the top edge of the backboard straight, you can skip this step. But be sure to sand down your board anyway. Make sure you wear protective gear while sanding.
Apply wood glue to the wooden parts of the boot rack
You need: g-clamps, wood glue
Coat the back of the boot boards with wood glue, following the instructions on the packaging when applying it. Afterwards, push the boot boards firmly into the recess in the backboard and press the two sections firmly together. Secure the boards with screw clamps and leave them to dry.
Screw together the two wooden pieces
You need: Cordless Drill, Wood drill bit: 6 mm, safety glasses, screws, optional: paint
Once the glue is dry, the boards need to be screwed together for extra stability. Insert multiple screws into the boot board through the backboard. After inserting the screws, you can also paint the boot rack if you want to. If it is going to be mounted outside, it will need to be given a coat of varnish.
Mount the boot rack
You need: spirit level
Your DIY boot rack is now complete. Now you just need to find the perfect spot to mount it. Use a spirit level to ensure it is straight when mounting it. And now you're done! You can hang up your children's boots and shoes to dry after they've been outside on a wet and windy day. And you can also help them keep their hats, coats and scarves off the floor by building them a children's wardrobe. And here's one final tip: if your boots get really dirty, you can clean them thoroughly using the Bosch Fontus before hanging them up on your new boot rack to dry.