Though PVC pipe was brought into existence for plumbing applications, its affordability, versatility, and ease of use have broadened its horizons today. As environmentally conscious individuals found creative uses for extra PVC pipe left over from renovation projects, its popularity in the crafting world has grown exponentially. 

Today, PVC pipe is used for everything from plumbing to home décor. The trend of using PVC to create furnishings, accessories, and decorations for the home is growing. Read on to learn more about five popular creative ideas for home PVC projects and how to make them. 

PVC Wine Rack 

Wine racks are one of those simple accessories that date back thousands of years. Today, just about every home has one, and they can be made to hold a couple of bottles or a couple hundred. However, wine racks are typically expensive and may be too large or small for your space. Instead of spending money on one, why not make a quirky one yourself? All you need is some PVC pipe and a few other materials to get started. 

Gather These Materials

To make a PVC pipe DIY wine rack, gather the following inexpensive materials: 

• 4-inch schedule 40 PVC pipe
• 1.5-inch schedule 40 PVC pipe
• Clear PVC cement
• Dremel tool, hand saw, or miter saw
• Fine-grain sandpaper
• Spray paint (optional)

How to Build a PVC Wine Rack

Start by cutting 7-inch lengths of pipe. The number of pipe sections you cut will vary depending on how many bottles you want your wine rack to hold. When you’re done cutting the pipe, use sandpaper to smooth out the ends.

Next, connect the pipes. Getting started on this step is the trickiest part of this entire process. First, apply a thin strip of PVC cement to one surface. Then, press the adjacent piece against it. Hold the two pieces together for 20 seconds. Repeat everywhere pipe touches pipe.

The final step is optional, but most people will want to paint their wine rack. Spray paint is the easiest type of paint to use for this, and you can choose any color you wish. Paint the rack outside and wait for it to dry before moving it indoors.

PVC Toothbrush Holder

Have you ever wanted to build a custom toothbrush holder because you couldn’t find one that would fit on your sink space properly – or even worse – couldn’t fit your toothbrushes properly inside? If you answered yes, this simple DIY project is the answer to your troubles. These toothbrush holders are designed to be installed on the inside of a cupboard door for easy access and are removable for versatility. Read on to learn what you need and how to make this nifty bathroom accessory. 

Gather These Materials

To make a PVC pipe DIY toothbrush holder, gather the following inexpensive materials: 

• PVC pipe, 1-inch
• PVC pipe endcaps (one for each holder)
• Letter stickers or vinyl
• Command hooks
• Drill or drill press
• PVC pipe cutter 

How to Build a PVC Toothbrush Holder

First, cut the PVC pipe into 4.25-inch sections. Then, drill a hole approximately 0.5-inches from the end of each section. If there’s any printing on the pipe, drill the holes on the side where the printing is (this will be the back of the holder. Next, wash the pipes and then use the letter stickers or cut out vinyl letters for initials. These can be any size you like. Insert end caps, but don’t glue them on. You should be able to disassemble them for cleaning later on. Finally, install the command hooks on the inside of a cupboard door. Let the hooks set for about an hour before you hang the holders on them.  

PVC Coat Rack

Extra space for storing clothing is something every home can always use. There never seems to be enough. If you’re looking for an inexpensive way to create more space for your coats and other clothing items, all you need is some PVC pipe, a few other inexpensive materials, and some creativity. The following coat rack is designed to be customizable, so you can modify it to fit your aesthetic, space, and clothing.  

Prepare the Rack

Before gathering materials, make sure you measure the space you want to keep your coat rack in. These measurements will tell you how much PVC pipe and additional materials you’ll need. Another important measurement to consider before you begin building is the length of the coats and any other clothing you want to hang on it so that you can make it tall enough to accommodate them. Please note that the longer you make your coat rack, the less sturdy it will be. 

Gather These Materials

To make a PVC pipe DIY coat rack, gather the following inexpensive materials: 

• 1-inch diameter PVC pipe (while 1-inch is recommended, you can essentially use any desired diameter)
• Four tee pieces
• Four caps
• Two elbow pieces
• PVC cutter
• Spray paint (optional)
• Rocks or sand
• Superglue

How to Build a PVC Coat Rack

First, cut your PVC pipe into ten pieces: two pieces of your desired length; 1/3 and 2/3 bits for the height, four pieces of any equal size for the feet (note that the longer the feet are, the sturdier the rack will be). If you don’t have a PVC cutter and don’t want to buy one, a local hardware store should be able to cut the pipe for you. 

The next step is optional, but as most PVC pipe contains serial numbers on the sides, it’s not typically aesthetically pleasing, so you’ll probably want to paint it. While there are several ways to paint PVC pipe, the easiest and most inexpensive way is to use spray paint. Always do the painting outside or in a well-ventilated area and allow the pipes to dry fully before moving them indoors. 

To begin assembling the rack, use tee pieces to attach the 1/3 and 2/3 height pieces together. Note that the empty sockets need to point to the right or left. Repeat for both sides.

Next, use a tee piece to attach the foot pieces. Make sure that the empty socket of the tee piece is pointing up. Place the end caps on the foot pieces.

Then, connect the foot pieces to the height piece by placing the height piece into the empty socket of the tee piece for the foot. When this step is completed, you should have two long tee structures.

Next, find the open ends of the tee structure and attach the elbow pieces. Use the elbow connectors to secure the top-length pieces.

Finally, attach the length piece to the middle tee connector to create support. Hang your coats and other articles of clothing one piece at a time so that you can make adjustments as necessary. If the rack is stable after you’ve hung all your coats, you’re done. However, if the frame is unstable, follow the next steps to add support. 

You can make your coat rack more stable by filling the foot pieces with sand or rocks. To do this, simply detach one foot piece from the connector, but be sure to leave the cap on the foot. Then, fill it with rocks or sand until it’s nearly full and connect it back to the tee connector. Repeat for all foot pieces. 

When you’re done filling the feet, use super glue to glue the joints together for maximum sturdiness. If you don’t plan on disassembling or moving the coat rack, you can glue every piece together. 

PVC Desk Organizer

Anyone who works at a desk knows how important it is to have an organizer to keep things in order. If you don’t want to spend money on a premade one (and let’s face it, they all kind of look the same anyway), you can make your own unique, customizable one for less than $10. All you need is some PVC pipe and paint. 

Gather These Materials

To make a PVC pipe DIY desk organizer, gather the following inexpensive materials: 

• PVC pipe of various sizes (1-1/4 inch, 1-1/2 inch, and 2-inch)
• Glue or liquid nails
• Handsaw or miter saw
• Cardboard
• Spray paint (optional)

How to Build a PVC Desk Organizer

Begin assembling the desk organizer by cutting the PVC pipe into various lengths, diagonal on one end and straight across on the other (these will serve as cups for holding pens, pencils, scissors, paper clips, etc.). 

If you choose to paint the desk organizer, use spray paint to paint each piece one at a time before gluing them together. Always paint outdoors or in a well-ventilated area and let them fully dry before bringing them back inside. 

Next, when the paint is dry, glue the pieces together in whatever way you want them to look. 

Once the pieces are glued together, cut out a piece of cardboard to fit the bottom (flat edges of the pipes). Glue the cardboard to the bottom and fill the organizer with all your accessories.  

PVC Table Lamp

A table lamp is one of those home accessories that has the potential to add personality to a space while making the room feel warmer or more vibrant with a single bulb. Use a simple length of PVC pipe and a few other tools and materials to create the following elegant custom table lamp. 

Gather These Materials

To make a PVC pipe DIY table lamp, gather the following materials:

• PVC pipe at least 5 inches in diameter
• PVC base caps with flat bottoms
• Bracket-style lamp kit
• Flathead screws
• Nuts and bolts 
• Hacksaw
• Gripper gloves
• Clamp
• Drill
• Medium-grit and fine-grit sanding sponges
• Spray paint
• Dry and wet cloths

How to Build a PVC Table Lamp

To begin building this PVC table lamp, put on the gripper gloves, clamp the PVC pipe, and use the hacksaw to cut it at a 45-degree angle to your desired lamp height. 

Next, clamp the pipe and measure two inches from the flat bottom end. Drill a 1-1/2 inch hole at the two-inch mark, which will be used to pass the cord through. 

Use the medium-grit sanding sponge to sand down the cut edges. Use the fine-grit sanding sponge to follow up and smooth out any rough edges. Also, use the fine-grit sanding sponge to gently sand the whole surface of the pipe to roughen it up slightly. Use a damp cloth to wipe down the pipe and remove any residue. Use a dry cloth to wipe down the pipe and remove any moisture. 

Next, take the pipe outside or to a well-ventilated area and use a thin coat of spray paint to paint it. Let the paint dry for ten minutes, then sand the surface lightly. If necessary, use the same method to apply second and additional coats of paint. Let the paint dry completely before bringing it back into a room.

Then, use the lamp kit and center it on the inside of the bottom cap. Be sure to mark screw holes for each bracket on the base. Then, remove the lamp kit and drill holes of 1/4-inch at each marked spot. 

Pass a flathead screw through each drilled hole, then set the lamp kit on top of the screws, passing the screws through the brackets. Use a nut and washer to screw onto each screw to attach the lamp kit to the base cap securely. 

Finally, string the lamp cord through the hole on the pipe housing. Once the cord is through, push the base cap onto the bottom. 

A Final Word

Follow the guide above to add some personality to your home and workspace. PVC pipe is an ordinary construction material that can be turned into some extraordinary accent pieces for the home with some creativity. 

Whether you’re trying to upcycle some leftover PVC from a home improvement project or are looking for some new and unique DIY projects to work on, its affordability, availability, and versatility make PVC pipe the perfect material to create these five projects above and many more. 

 

Author Bio:

Mark Ligon is the Marketing Manager at PVC Fittings Online, a leading supplier of consumer-based PVC products; including piping, fittings, valves, plumbing supplies, and accessories. Mark is a DIYer and provides advice to individuals on DIY projects utilizing a range of PVC-type products.