How to Build Simple Rack for Dress Up Clothes

Watch this video for directions on building a simple, yet attractive, rack for your kids’ dress up clothes and costumes!

Simple Rack Tools and Materials

Cut and Sand

The first step is to cut an angle on what will be the bottom of each leg. Rotate your miter saw to 15˚ and cut 2 pieces. Then measure up 40 inches and cut another 15˚ cut parallel to the first.

At this point you will have 2 legs and 2 pieces of leftover 1×2. Follow the same steps above to cut the 15˚ on each end and make them the same length as the 40″ legs already cut.

Now you have 4 legs for your rack for dress up clothes. To get the hanging rod ready, turn your saw back to 0 and cut your dowel to your desired length. I went with 38″.

Before assembling, sand all of your cut pieces (5 total) with 220-grit sandpaper, either by hand or with a powered sander.

This is essential whether you’re leaving it natural like I did or if you’re painting or staining.

Drill Holes for Assembly

To create a hole for the dowel to nest inside, I used a 7/8″ drill bit and drilled all the way through all 4 leg pieces. And to be productive, I drilled through 2 at a time.

Line them up and clamp to your work table. Measure and mark where your dowel will be, mine was about 8 inches from the top.

Drill the holes. Then repeat for the other 2 leg pieces.

While we’re drilling holes, drill a small hole using a 3/8″ drill bit about 20 inches from the bottom in all 4 legs.

Now we’re ready to put it all together!

Glue and Clamp

Since I didn’t want to stain or paint my rack for dress up clothes, I didn’t have any way to conceal or hide any fasteners. So I built it without any!

But I don’t have to worry about it falling apart because I used plenty of wood glue.

*This project is sponsored by Titebond. I love working with partners that I already love and use! All opinions are 100% my own.*

Watch the video above to see the glue in action. Apply it around the dowel hole on one leg piece and then set a second piece on top. Make sure the angles on each end are going in the correct direction so that they will sit straight and flush on the ground when finished. Also check that the dowel holes are lined up. Before clamping them together, use your tape measure to measure from the outside of the each leg at the bottom. The outside measurement should be 19″ for the angle cuts to work right.

Repeat for the other set of legs. Apply a small about of wood glue around the end of the dowel and insert into the holes on the leg. Repeat on the other side.

Don’t worry about applying too much glue. There’s no such thing! Since this wood glue is water-clean up, all you need is a damp rag to wipe up the excess. But if you miss a spot, it’s also sand-able once it dries. Which is ideal if you’re staining your rack for dress up clothes-it won’t change the color of your stain in the spots with glue.

Finishing Touches

While it’s drying you can cut and tie small pieces of rope to the lower holes in the legs. This keeps the rack’s legs from being spread too far and collapsing. It also adds a little character to the whole rack.

I used Titebond’s multi-surface glue, Quick & Thick, to attach a 1″ craft foam ball to the outside of my dowel holes. It covers the ends of the dowels and again adds a little character and charm to the rack.