I’ve confessed my love of accessories to you before, particularly with scarves and vintage costume jewelry. But I am ALSO a lover of hats…especially during the humid southern summers! So, while I’ve made plenty of accessory organizers over the years (as well as other kinds of organizers), I was clearly overdue to make a DIY hat stand for my collection of Trilby hats.
Well, my friends, that day is finally here!
I love the look of vintage hat stands, but they are hard to come by and unsurprisingly pricey. But the look and shape is something that can be replicated using a few pieces from the thrift store.
In fact, it was this set of wooden bowls that inspired my project.
The clear varnish had nearly flaked away over the years, but otherwise, they were the perfect size and shape to hold a Trilby hat. Now, I just needed to find some wooden candlesticks to pair them with.
I found these- and while they weren’t perfect (more on that later), they would more than do and I could work around their flaws.
Now, I just needed to put everything together and see if my upcycling idea would work!
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Building a DIY Hat Stand
First, I needed to do a bit of prep work on the wooden candlesticks. The tops were slightly rounded, whereas I needed a flatter, smoother surface.
Using our orbital sander, I smoothed out the tops of the wooden candlesticks.
While cleaning out the remnant candle wax, I realized just how deep that brass core was. Which meant I wasn’t going to be connecting the wooden bowls to the candlesticks with a screw (my original intention).
So, I’d just have to work around that later. But here’s here I was going with my idea for a DIY hat stand.
The wooden candlesticks also didn’t have a large, stabilizing base. I would need to add a more secure base to each candlestick to make them more secure as a DIY hat stand.
Thankfully, I found some plain wooden plaques at a craft store that would do just nicely.
A Wooden Hat Holder for DIY Hat Storage
As I studied the pieces of my project, I wondered how to coordinate them. Staining the wooden bowls and bases to match the candlesticks sounded awfully daunting.
I LOVE wood stain, but I suspected that no amount of stain-matching would yield a seamless appearance.
Plus, it sounded like a lot of work in my garage and it was, like, 97°F outside. So, I decided to paint them; not my first choice (I really did want the look of natural wood), but the splashy blue won me over in the end.
Once the paint was dry, I did I test run of how my DIY hat stand would look. Nothing was connected, but it looked good!
Next, we drilled a hole through the center of each base. Then, we drilled a pilot hole into the bottom of the wooden candlesticks and added a 2” wood screw through them.
Lastly, I used my favorite wood glue to fix the wooden bowls to the candlesticks. A screw would have been ideal, but sometimes thrifters can’t be choosers!
DIY Hat Stand from Wooden Candlesticks and Bowls
After the wood glue had set, I re-enforced the junction with a bead of hot glue. it’s not visible unless you turn over the hat holder, and I’m all about a little glue insurance.
Especially since my original plan to use screws was thwarted.
But that was it! I had created a pair of DIY hat stands that were perfect for my hats.
I love creating accessory organization from thrift store finds.
And yes, I’m already on the hunt for additional wooden candlesticks. I still have three wooden bowls left and many more hats to display and store!
If you enjoyed this upcycling idea for a DIY hat stand, then you may also be interested in my new (and first!) book. It includes 55 tutorials using flannel shirts or flannel fabric for new accessories, home decor, and so much more!
Craft on!
S
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Now that hat stand is the cutest ever! Love the color. Hugs and blessings, Cindy
Thank you, Cindy!
Great idea!
Thanks, Virginia!
Sarah, you seriously have the greatest ideas! Pinning this one to share 🙂
Haha, thank you so much, Marie!
Brilliant and totally doable!!! Pinning to share!! http://www.quirkybohemianmama.com/
Thanks, Hollie!!
Of course I’m pinning this! These are amazing 🙂
Thanks, Angie!!!
How cute!!! Pinning!!
Thank you, Susanne!
I love your quirky style. And great ideas. And I’m also jealous of the Summer weather you appear to be enjoying. We had three consecutive days of sun in the past three weeks. Arghhhh!.
Thanks, Sandra!!!
I love this! I have a cloche hat that sits in my closet getting mushed. I will be doing this soon. Pinning to share.
Thank you so much, Kileen!
You just ooze talent and imagination!
Awww, thank you so much!!
I am so doing this project. Thanks!
Yay!!! 😀
Great repurpose project Sarah, and a wonderful display piece. Love the color and I’ll never overlook a salad bowl at the thrift store again!
Thank you so much, Brenda!
My daughter loves hats & could use a few of these in her room. Love this project. Thanks for sharing at the Inspiration Spotlight party. Shared.
Love how you’ve repurposed those items. Such a cute and clever way to display your hats! Love it!
Thank you so much!
This is so clever. I may have to buy a hat so I have a reason to make these. Great project.
Haha, I love it! (And hats are awesome, BTW)
Sarah, I love how these turned out. Now I am kicking myself for not buying the salad bowls recently at Goodwill!
xo Dianne
Isn’t that always how it happens??
Sarah, great project! I love the blue paint. So practical to create something useful out of “nothing”. Thanks for sharing at Your Inspired Designs.
Thanks so much! 🙂
Love this! I have two hats that need a stand. Guess I’ll start making the rounds at my local thrift stores. 🙂
Yay, let the treasure hunt begin!! 😀
This is SO pretty and SO genius Sarah, love the colour, that blue is so bright and happy! Super fun idea… as always!
Thank you, Katrin!!!
And this is why I host this party – How do you come up with these amazing ideas?? Thanks for sharing at the Pleasures of the NW’s DIY party – and don’t forget to leave a comment – if you comment and your post is featured next week, it will also get pinned and tweeted!
Thank you so much, and will do!
Fantastic use of those old bowls! I bet you can create some really cute ones for kid’s hats using smaller bowls!
Totally- great idea!!!
Haha, thrifters can’t be choosers! 🙂 I think these turned out amazing and I love this shade of blue!!
Oh yes, and thanks for joining us at the Family Joy Linkup!! 🙂
Thank you!!! Yes, in the end, the blue looks awfully nice and sets off my hats nicely. So it all worked out. 🙂
I’m so charmed by your hat stand. Pinning now. Thanks for sharing at the #ThisIsHowWeRoll Link Party.
Thank you so much!
So adorable. I need to make a couple for my booth to display some hats. Thank you for sharing at Vintage Charm.
Thanks so much, Sharon!!
Perfect solution to a dilemma of mine! THANK YOU!
Hurray!! I love hearing that. 🙂
Very sassy Ms. Sarah! My daughters love hats and they would love these stands also. Thanks for joining us again at Celebrate Your Story and we’re looking forward to what you will share next week.
Thank you, Sandra!!! And tell your girls that hats rule!! 🙂
Hey, Sarah! Just wanted to let you know that we loved your DIY Hat Stand so much when you shared it at the #HomeMattersParty last week, we’ve FEATURED it THIS WEEK! Hope you can check it out when you get a sec! Happy Friday!!! http://lifewithlorelai.com/2016/08/04/home-matters-linky-party-98/
~Lorelai
Life With Lorelai / Home Matters Linky Party
Thank you so very much, Lorelai!!
Very fun idea; what a great way to display fun hats! Love the color your choose. Visiting from Homemade and Handcrafted party.
Thank you so much!!
Super cute and super cool!
Thank you so much, Michelle!!!
What a neat idea! Love the color. These would be so easy. The hubby could use several of these.
Thanks, Linda!
I made a few of these last year and as well as using candle sticks, I also used ornate stair rails (cut in half to make 2) and also wooden rails from kitchen roll holders. I made little crochet toppers to cover the wooden bowls and added some pretty lace trims. They look so pretty even without the hats on them ?. Sorry but the site wouldn’t let me share a photo of my own.
Very cute! Never would have thought of this.
Thanks, Maria!
Their perfect together! Love them! The hubby could use a couple hat stands!