DIY Wooden Paper Towel Holder

“DIY Wooden Paper Towel Holder” was written by a paid contributor. All photos by Kate Hollingsworth.

After revamping my entire kitchen, the last little project on my list was to replace my paper towel holder. I wanted one that matched the newly dark timber throughout my kitchen, but I didn’t want to spend a lot of money on it. I ended up using a scrap of wood and an old broom handle to make a homemade paper towel holder, and it came together perfectly. Out of my entire DIY kitchen refresh series, this project was the simplest of them all!

Want to learn how to create your own DIY wooden paper towel holder? Keep reading, and I’ll share step-by-step instructions on how I made mine with the help of Flex Super Glue!

Materials

● Flex Super Glue Gel (any size)

● Timber offcut (about 140mm wide)

● Wooden dowel (an old broom handle works well)

● Drill

● Stain (optional)

● Varnish

● Paintbrush

● Sandpaper or sanding block

● Ruler or tape measure

Note: Use caution when working with power tools and always follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Before using Flex Super Glue, please read all directions carefully. When using Flex Super Glue Gel, make sure to shake the gel down towards the applicator tip before applying.

Steps

1. Cut Timber

Cut your scrap timber board into a square (mine is 140x140mm, but anything from 120-160mm will do). Then cut your wooden dowel to roughly 270mm (it just needs to be as long as your paper towel plus a bit extra).

2. Sand

Wrap a piece of sandpaper around a block of wood and sand the top edges of your wooden square. I chose a beveled edge profile, but you could also try a round-over edge.

Flexpert Tip: You can get a perfect result by using a router for this but if you don’t mind a few imperfections, then sandpaper will do the job just fine.

3. Measure and Drill

Mark the center of your square by drawing two diagonal lines from corner to corner. Where they meet is where you will drill. Choose a drill bit that matches the diameter of your dowel (I’m using a spade bit) and drill halfway through your wooden square.

4. Flex Super Glue Dowel Into Base

Take your Flex Super Glue and shake the bottle so the product moves down towards the applicator tip, then squeeze a couple of dots of into the recess you’ve just drilled. Next, place your dowel into the recess and press firmly for 30 seconds. Allow an hour to cure before moving on to the next step.

Flexpert Tip: Use a carpenter's square to ensure your dowel is perpendicular to your square base. I didn’t do this and consequently set my dowel on a lean, so please learn from my mistake!

5. Stain and Varnish DIY Paper Towel Holder

Once the Flex Super Glue was fully cured, I stained my paper towel holder a dark walnut color and added a coat of varnish. If you prefer a natural wood look, feel free to skip the stain and just add a varnish.

6. Add Paper Towel

Pop a roll of paper towels on top and you’re done! My new DIY paper towel holder matches the rest of my kitchen perfectly, and I’m so glad I decided to build it. This project was done in a couple of hours and added a personalized touch to my kitchen's aesthetic. Grab some Flex Super Glue and give this one a try!

By Kate Hollingsworth

Based in Perth, Australia, Kate is a self-taught interior specialist with over 20 years of DIY knowledge. She’s also a Content Creator on IG, where she shares tutorials, before and afters, and easy-to-follow stories empowering women to attempt home DIYs.