Skip to content

Top Navigation

Better Homes & Gardens
Better Homes & Gardens
  • Gardening
  • Home Improvement Ideas
  • Cleaning and Organizing
  • Recipes and Cooking
  • Decorating
  • Holidays
  • Rooms
  • Shopping

Profile Menu

Join Now

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • BH&G Books this link opens in a new tab
My Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • BH&G Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Subscribe
Pin

Explore Better Homes & Gardens

Better Homes & Gardens
Better Homes & Gardens
  • Explore

    Explore

    • The Only Weed Identification Guide You'll Ever Need: 33 Common Weedy Plants to Watch For

      The Only Weed Identification Guide You'll Ever Need: 33 Common Weedy Plants to Watch For

      Don't let these pesky plants crash your garden party! The first step is to know your enemy. Then you'll know the best way to deal with your weed problem. Read More
    • 6 Small Steps You Can Take Today to Get Organized for Good

      6 Small Steps You Can Take Today to Get Organized for Good

      A professional organizer offers advice on how to tidy up your home without feeling overwhelmed. Read More
    • 5 Anti-Inflammatory Ingredients to Add to Your Smoothie for a Healthy Boost

      5 Anti-Inflammatory Ingredients to Add to Your Smoothie for a Healthy Boost

      Anti-inflammatory smoothies do exist! Instead of blending in boatloads of sugar and artificial ingredients, try these smoothies for inflammation that are packed with ingredients that may help lower your risk for chronic diseases including cancer, heart disease, depression, and more. Read More
  • Gardening

    Gardening

    See All Gardening
    4 DIY Seed-Starting Pots You Can Make With Items You Already Have

    4 DIY Seed-Starting Pots You Can Make With Items You Already Have

    Upcycle old newspapers, junk mail, and other waste paper to make these easy, eco-friendly containers you can use to sprout new plants for your garden.
    • Flowers
    • Houseplants
    • Plant Encyclopedia
    • Garden Pests
    • Trees, Shrubs & Vines
    • Caring for Your Yard
    • Edible Gardening
    • Garden Design
    • Gardening By Region
    • Landscaping
  • Home Improvement Ideas

    Home Improvement Ideas

    See All Home Improvement Ideas
    What Style Is Your House? The 10 Most Popular American House Styles

    What Style Is Your House? The 10 Most Popular American House Styles

    In a world full of so many different house styles, it can be a little challenging just to narrow down your own home's architectural style, let alone edit the list down to your favorite style or understand the distinctions characteristic to each house style. We'll show you the 10 most popular American house styles, including Cape Cod, French Country, Colonial, Victorian, Tudor, Craftsman, Cottage, Mediterranean, ranch-style, and Contemporary.
    • Home Exteriors
    • DIY Home Electrical Tips & Guides
    • Outdoor Structures
    • Home Remodeling
    • Plumbing Installations & Repairs
    • Remodeling Advice & Planning
    • Flooring
    • Lighting
    • Decks
    • Porches
  • Cleaning and Organizing

    Cleaning and Organizing

    See All Cleaning and Organizing
    A Whole-House Cleaning Schedule You'll Actually Stick To

    A Whole-House Cleaning Schedule You'll Actually Stick To

    Cleaning your home doesn't have to be a daunting, time-consuming chore. The key to managing household duties quickly and efficiently is to design an easy-to-follow routine that includes all the most important tasks. Follow these step-by-step instructions for creating a customized whole-home cleaning schedule.
    • House Cleaning
    • Laundry & Linens
    • Cleaning Tips
    • Closet Organization
    • Organization Tips
    • Kitchen Storage Organization
  • Recipes and Cooking

    Recipes and Cooking

    See All Recipes and Cooking
    21 Baking Essentials Every Home Cook Needs (Plus 16 Nice-to-Haves)

    21 Baking Essentials Every Home Cook Needs (Plus 16 Nice-to-Haves)

    Whether you're a beginning baker just starting out or a master chef looking to declutter, we'll help you set up a beginner's baking essentials kit with 21 tools. For anyone who already owns these handy baking tools, this list may finally provide the motivation you need to get rid of that soufflé dish you never use. Building your baking equipment inventory starts here.
    • How to Cook
    • Chicken Recipes
    • Desserts & Baking
    • Fish Recipes
    • Beef Recipes
    • Healthy Recipes
    • Breakfast and Brunch Recipes
    • Lunch
    • Dinner Recipes & Meal Ideas
    • Ethnic Food
  • Decorating

    Decorating

    See All Decorating
    7 Interior Design Trends Everyone Will Be Trying in 2021, According to Experts

    7 Interior Design Trends Everyone Will Be Trying in 2021, According to Experts

    Designers weigh in on the most popular decorating styles, colors, and materials you can look forward to in the coming year.
    • Choosing Color
    • Expert Decorating Advice
    • Fireplace Design Ideas
    • Do It Yourself Magazine
    • Window Treatments
    • Styles & Decor
    • Interior Painting
    • Home Makeovers
    • Small-Space Decorating
    • Traditional Home
  • Holidays

    Holidays

    See All Holidays
    International Women's Day: The Powerful Story Behind This 111-Year-Old Tradition

    International Women's Day: The Powerful Story Behind This 111-Year-Old Tradition

    What began as a small movement, has grown into a global holiday dedicated to celebrating the strong women in our communities.
    • Valentine's Day
    • Mother's Day
    • Easter
    • Father's Day
    • Fourth of July/Memorial Day
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
    • New Year's
    • Juneteenth
    • Hanukkah
  • Rooms

    Rooms

    See All Rooms
    Living Room Furniture Layout Ideas

    Living Room Furniture Layout Ideas

    Get tips for arranging living room furniture in a way that creates a comfortable and welcoming environment and makes the most of your space.
    • Bedroom Decorating and Design Ideas
    • Bathroom Decorating and Design Ideas
    • Kitchen Decorating and Design Ideas
    • Living Room Decorating and Design
    • Dining Room
    • Home Office
    • Kid's Rooms
    • Baby Nursery
  • Shopping

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Join Now

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • BH&G Books this link opens in a new tab
My Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • BH&G Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. BHG.com
  2. Decorating
  3. DIY Home Decor
  4. DIY Home Accents
  5. Creative Things to Do with Dowels

Creative Things to Do with Dowels

Caitlin Sole headshot
By Caitlin Sole February 19, 2016
Skip gallery slides
Save Pin FB
Dowels

Craving an easy, affordable DIY project? Turn basic dowels into pretty and practical home accents with these creative ideas.

Start Slideshow

1 of 11

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Reed Effect

Dowels

Vertical dowels, applied to the recessed areas of drawer fronts and cabinet doors, give a plain console a breezy, island-inspired vibe with reeded details. Pick a dowel diameter that best fits the depth of the recessed areas of your furniture (ours are 1/8 inch), and measure and cut the pieces to fit each area. Remove the drawers and doors from the cabinet and lay them on a flat surface. Coat the recessed area with wood glue, then press the dowels side by side into the wet glue. Wipe away any excess glue. Place heavy blocks of wood over the dowels to hold them in place as they dry. If desired, apply a protective coating of clear acrylic sealer.

 

1 of 11

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 11

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Cutting Cure

Dowels

Bundle and tape thin dowels together before cutting them with a miter saw. Use a wood block as a stop to prevent the middle dowels from moving.

2 of 11

3 of 11

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Store More

Dowels

A bookcase outfitted with dowel rods makes a handy and attractive gift-wrapping and crafts supplies station. Cut 3⁄4-inch-diameter dowel rods 1/8-inch shorter than the width of the cabinet interior, and support them from the side panels with shoulder hooks to keep wrapping paper and ribbon ready for dispensing and refilling.

 

 

3 of 11

Advertisement

4 of 11

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Hardware Help

Dowels

Drill pilot holes in the dowel and the cabinet using a bit that is the same diameter as your shoulder hook. Then insert the hooks into the holes.

4 of 11

5 of 11

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Handy Hangup

Dowels

Hang gift bags and scissors on 3-inch dowel lengths that have been screwed in from the outside of the bookcase with 1 1⁄2-inch self-countersinking wood screws. Conceal the screwheads with wood filler, then cover with paint.

 

 

5 of 11

6 of 11

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Rods and Rows

Dowels

Organize spools of thread by sliding them over dowels that have been inserted into holes drilled into a 1-inch-square dowel base. We used 1⁄4-inch-diameter dowels for the small spools and 5/16-inch-diameter dowels for the large ones. Use drill bits that are the same size as the dowel diameters for the holes and a rubber mallet to tap the rods into place. Leave the bases unattached so you can easily pull the organizers off the shelf when selecting thread.

 

 

6 of 11

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 11

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Penchant for Pendants

Pendant Light made of Dowels

Cut and nail square dowels together to form a box-shape base for this budget-friendly pendant. Lace-like decorative paper allows light to gently filter through the shade.

7 of 11

8 of 11

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Light Box

Dowels

A mini hanging light fixture (sold without the shade at home improvement stores) slips between two dowels and offers a polished result.

 

 

 

8 of 11

9 of 11

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Round It Out

Dowel side table

Round dowel segments turn a table with simple lines and a flat, wide top into a medley of texture. Using wood glue and a pin nailer, attach 3⁄4-inch-diameter dowel segments around the sides of the tabletop to make a raised border. (Add 1⁄2 inch to the thickness of the tabletop to determine the length of the dowel segments.) Cut 1⁄2-inch slices from dowels ranging in diameter from 1⁄2 inch to 2 inches; sand rough edges as needed. Starting with the largest dowels first and filling in gaps with smaller ones, arrange the slices on the tabletop like a puzzle and adhere them with wood glue. Use heavy books or wood blocks to hold the dowels in place while the glue dries. Sand the top to ensure a level surface, and spray with a coat of clear acrylic sealer. 

 

9 of 11

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 11

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

On a Limb

Dowels

Turn a blank wall into a functional and fun space for hanging outdoor gear by stenciling a tree design and screwing pegs onto the branches and trunk. To make the peg-style hangers, cut a 2-inch-diameter dowel into 4-inch segments; paint and let dry. Using a 3/16-inch drill bit, drill pilot holes into one end of each peg and the desired places on the wall. Using pliers, screw one end of a 1⁄4×3 1⁄2-inch dowel screw into the dowel, and then screw the opposite end into the wall. If you're not drilling into studs, use drywall anchors for added support.

 

10 of 11

11 of 11

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Got You Pegged

Dowels

Dowel screws, also known as double-threaded screws, offer a simple way to secure pegs to the wall.

11 of 11

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Caitlin Sole

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 11 Reed Effect
    2 of 11 Cutting Cure
    3 of 11 Store More
    4 of 11 Hardware Help
    5 of 11 Handy Hangup
    6 of 11 Rods and Rows
    7 of 11 Penchant for Pendants
    8 of 11 Light Box
    9 of 11 Round It Out
    10 of 11 On a Limb
    11 of 11 Got You Pegged

    Share & More

    Tweet Email Send Text Message
    • Better Homes & Gardens BHG Logo Products at Walmart
    • Better Homes & Gardens BHG Real Estate Real Estate Services
    Better Homes & Gardens

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • About Us
    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Books from Better Homes & Gardens
    • Help
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Sign Up
    MeredithBH&G is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Better Homes & Gardens. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.bhg.com

    Sign in

    View image

    Creative Things to Do with Dowels
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.