Yay! I’m back! I loved handing the blog over to Heather, Erica, Karen, and Erin last week while I took a short break, but it feels great to be back in the DIY saddle and share what I’ve been working on behind the scenes.
If you received jewelry for Valentine’s Day (or treated yourself to some sparkly self-care), you might enjoy this latest bathroom makeover detail: a DIY rustic industrial jewelry wall organizer that keeps earrings, necklaces, and bracelets organized and on display.
For years I shoved all my jewelry into a box on my dresser where everything got tangled and forgotten. I wanted an inexpensive, attractive solution that would keep pieces visible and easy to grab every morning.
This is where the organizer began — a thrifted framed print and a scrap of wood from a previous bathroom plank project.
Charming in the right setting, but the nautical theme didn’t fit my bathroom. I bought the sailboat picture at a thrift store for the frame, and the wood was leftover from a bathroom window makeover. After removing the print and glass, I distressed the frame using a simple rubbing technique in place of Vaseline — a chest rub worked in a pinch — and sprayed it with Krylon Dover White for a chippy, weathered look.
The distressed silver peeking through the white paint gave the frame a vintage-industrial character I love.
I had a roll of chicken wire left from another project, so I measured the frame opening and cut a piece of wire to fit. Working with chicken wire can be awkward, but a heavy skillet is a surprising help for holding the roll flat while you cut and attach it.
The wire tends to roll up on itself, so use a weight or clamp to keep it flat. (Yes, my skillet still had cornbread crumbs — don’t judge.)
I secured the chicken wire to the frame with a manual staple gun, pulling it taut and adding a staple every two inches or so to keep it firm and even.
With the wire stapled tightly, the earring section of the organizer was ready — pierced studs and dangle earrings slip right through the hexed openings for instant storage and display.
For necklaces and bracelets I stained the scrap wood using a simple barnwood-inspired staining method so the finish matched our bathroom plank wall. This stain gives rich color without the mess of canned stain and blends beautifully with rustic décor.
I decided to splurge a little on industrial-style knobs to hang the longer necklaces and bracelets — they add a polished, cohesive look with the distressed frame.
I measured and marked knob locations, drilled pilot holes in the wood, and screwed the knobs in place. (Note: when photographing the process I posed one shot on a table — don’t drill into your furniture.)
With the knobs installed, the organizer was complete. The whole project took about 45 minutes and cost roughly $17 because I used materials I already had and only bought a few finishing pieces.
Now my jewelry isn’t buried in a box. Everything is easy to see, untangled, and doubles as wall décor beside our bathroom counter. The silvery finish peeking through the white frame and the metallic knobs coordinate nicely with our mirrors and other fixtures.
Smaller projects like this are a great way to refresh a bathroom during a makeover. You can find thrifted frames for a few dollars, a 1×2 pine or oak board and a short roll of chicken wire at hardware stores for around $10–$12, and basic knobs or hooks at a modest price. If you prefer, look for similar items at shops or market stalls.
Finding that jade necklace in the front instead of the back of a tangled box was the best little victory — and morning routines are now faster because I can see and grab what I want.
If you want to make one yourself, look for thrifted picture frames, a short board, chicken wire, a staple gun, and a few knobs. Adjust materials and finishes to fit your bathroom’s style — farmhouse, rustic, industrial, or modern — and you’ll have a functional piece of wall art that keeps your jewelry organized.
I’ll be sharing more of our bathroom makeover over the coming week. If you’ve been following along, you may have seen sneak peeks on Instagram and social channels where I’ve posted updates and progress shots.
If you enjoyed this project, check out other organizing and budget-friendly DIYs featured on the blog for more inspiration.
Blessings,
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