Skip Traditional Toilet Paper Holders: Grab A Hanger For Rustic Charm

If you've got an abundance of flimsy wire hangers from the dry cleaner's, you don't have to feel stuck using them to barely hold your clothes, or feel guilty tossing them in the trash. There are plenty of clever ways to repurpose old wire hangers, including an unexpectedly cute yet functional use in your bathroom. YouTube creator Kelly Barlow of Kelly Barlow Creations transforms one into a rustic toilet paper holder using twine, burlap, and a few budget-friendly craft supplies.

This DIY is a cute way to show off and store toilet paper. It works especially well if your wire hanger has a removable cardboard tube along the bottom, since Barlow reuses the tube as the spindle that holds the toilet paper. Along with the hanger, you'll need flat-nose or needle-nose pliers, a wire cutter, a ruler and marker, tape (duct, masking, or electrical), twine, hot glue, burlap ribbon, and scissors. Barlow also uses ink to give the twine a rustic look, then decorates the holder with a faux sunflower and greenery. Feel free to swap those decorative touches for ribbon, beads, faux flowers, or other craft supplies you already have on hand to better suit your bathroom's aesthetic.

Barlow starts by removing the cardboard tube from the bottom of the hanger. She cuts away the curved ends of the hanger that previously fit inside the tube, then measures 5 inches down from each bend near the neck and cuts the wire again. When cutting a wire hanger, always wear safety glasses in case the wire flies when it's cut. Also, use pliers with a built-in wire cutter or a dedicated pair of wire cutters, and keep a firm, steady grip on the tool as you cut.

Next, Barlow tapes the two shorter pieces of wire back onto the bottom of the hanger and trims the cardboard tube to fit between them. She wraps the hanger and cardboard tube in twine, securing it with hot glue, then runs distress ink over the twine to give it a more aged appearance. For a decorative finish, Barlow makes a burlap bow and hot glues it near the hanger's neck and adds a faux sunflower with various pieces of greenery.

Don't get hung up on the farmhouse look if it's not your style. Try colorful yarn in place of twine, trade the burlap and sunflower for a ribbon that coordinates with your bathroom, or skip the embellishments altogether for something simpler. If you're still in the market for rustic toilet paper hacks, pair your new dispenser with a creative toilet paper storage DIY that will act as a backup dispenser and storage as well.