Entryway Organizer – Wood and Pipe Entryway Stand
Hi guys! With organization as this month’s theme for our West Elm Knock Off Series, it seemed like a no-brainer to create some storage and organization for our front entryway with an entryway organizer. I’ve been searching for the perfect stylish yet functional piece yet everything I found comes with a hefty price tag. This wood and pipe entryway organizer caught my eye. It’s cute and functional but I knew I could DIY something similar for a much lower cost.
An Entryway Organizer You can Build Yourself
This entryway organizer is pretty large and by DIYing this project we were able to create a custom piece that fit our family’s needs. We saved just over $300 by making it ourselves and after two-plus years we’re still using this piece every single day.
SUPPLY LIST (it’s a doozie): For your convenience, this post contains affiliate links. For more information read my disclosure policy.
- (2) 36 in. long 1/2 in. galvanized threaded steel pipe
- (2) 48 in. long 1/2 in. galvanized threaded steel pipe
- (2) 10 in. long 1/2 in. galvanized threaded steel pipe
- (2) 5 in. long 1/2 in. galvanized threaded steel pipe
- (2) 3 in. long 1/2 in. galvanized threaded steel pipe
- (4) 2 in. long 1/2 in. galvanized threaded steel pipe
- (6) 1/2 in. galvanized steel pipe tees
- (6) 1/2 in. galvanized steel pipe flanges
- (4) 1/2 in. galvanized steel pipe caps
- (2) 1/2 in. galvanized steel pipe 90 degree elbows
- (3) 2 in. x 6 in. wood planks cut to 41 in.
- (3) 2 in. x 6 in. wood planks cut to 36 in.
- (1) 1 in. x 4 in. wood plank cut to 40 in.
- (2) 1/2 in. conduit straps (this holds the tree portion to the pipe)
- (5) wall hooks
- black spray paint
- Kreg jig
- Pocket Screws
- Drill – this is the one we have and love
- Screws
- Minwax stain with Polyurethane in Mission Oak – I like this because it’s a stain and poly in one.
Entryway organizer assembly tutorial:
I know the supply list is really intimidating but this project isn’t difficult. It does require quite a bit of assembly of the pipe but the pieces come together really quickly.
[not pictured] First, you’ll want to cut your wood and join the three boards together using a Kreg Jig and pocket screws to create the bench and the bottom shelf. Ps – this was my very first time using the Kreg Jig and I was amazed at how easy it was to use and how easy to made the process of meeting joints. Total win!
After you’ve created the bench and shelf, give it a good sand. Since we have a little person and a dog running around here, I didn’t want any sharp edges so I made sure to sand the edges really well. After sanding I stained both the bench and shelf with Minwax stain. Then I set it aside to dry while I assembled the pipe portion.
We purchased all galvanized steel pipe so I had to spray paint it before using. Before I sprayed it black, I removed all the labels (super annoying task) and wiped down each piece of pipe really well. Then I sprayed (evidently not well – see next photo) all pieces with black spray paint.
In the above photo, you can see how we assembled the legs and tree. The tree is simply two 48 inch pieces attached to a 36-inch piece using two elbows.
The assembly of the back legs are in the second photo, and the front legs are in the third photo. The tees above the 2-inch pipes create a ledge for the bottom shelf.
Here you can see how the legs were assembled. Carefully, measuring the distance from each corner, we attached the legs using the flanges, making sure that all of the tees faced inward.
After the bench was assembled, we added the bottom shelf.
The top portion of the entryway organizer connected to the bench using the last two flanges. We attached the flanges, then screwed in the long 48 inch pipes.
The last step was to attach the hooks onto the 1×4 and then attach it to the pipe. We did this using two conduit straps, one of each side. They just strap over the piece and screw into the wood.
Two year update: I’m amazed at how much use this piece of furniture even after two years. It houses all of the girls’ shoes in the baskets below and we hang coats on the hooks above. It has also become the drop zone for all of my things so I usually drop my bag, keys, and sunglasses along with the mail or whatever else is in my hands when I walk through the door. The girls know to put their shoes away in the basket when we come inside so it keeps the entryway clear. This piece really does its job!
Here are some more ideas for entryway benches that offer storage.
This project has been featured in Better Homes and Gardens Magazine.
Pin this entryway organizer tutorial for later:
And guys, there are even more West Elm organizing projects to try out! My buddies each are sharing their West Elm organizing Knock Off Projects today as well! Be sure to check them all out!
TINY SIDEKICK – WEST ELM INSPIRED NOTICE BOARD
PLACE OF MY TASTE – WEST ELM DIY DEEP PICTURE LEDGE
MAKING HOME BASE – WOOD AND PIPE ENTRYWAY STAND
HOUSE OF WOOD –WEST ELM INSPIRED RECLAIMED CUBBY SHELF
HOME MADE BY CARMONA – ACRYLIC SIDED SHELF KNOCK OFF
Your entryway stand looks AWESOME, Chelsea! You knocked it out of the park with this one, girl!!! <3
Jen!!!!! yay! That means so much coming from you lady! I do love the additional organization. PS your wall cubby is next on my list – I need that for mail sorting!
Chelsea!!! I love this! It turned out great, and looks so functional!
Thanks girl! I originally had a chest here and it worked out okay but I was always knocking stuff off with my bag – love having a place to hang it now 🙂
I love this series Chelsea! Your bench turned out amazing. pinning!
Really love how this turned out! pinning.
this is so good! Really impressive how not DIY it looks!
This is awesome,Chelsea! Perfect entry way solution!I love the industrial look!Pinned!
This is beautiful! Such a great entryway solution, both practical and stylish (pinned!).
OMG Chelsea, this is amazing!! Can you make one for me now?? Sharing on my FB page today 😉
Hugs, Jamie
Hi Chelsea, very very interested in doing a few things like this for some office furniture.
I’m not sure exactly how you fit the boards together, I understand you used a Krieg jib, or whatever it’s called.
If I understand correctly you
put the middle board in the jig and screwed it to the others?
so you used only a screw?
3 questions about this process if you don’t mind
1- did you only use screws, and were they screws only sold by this company for this device or are there other screws that will work
2- You only used screws to attach the wood, not glue or clamps
3- how strong is the middle seam? What weight is a comfortable maximum? I understand the majority of the weight will be supported by the pipe and the purpose for the screws is only to keep the wood tightly together, I’m simply curious how well this would work out for lengths greater than say 2′ beyond a support brace?
Thanks tons, love this project.
My wife is getting tired of all the old rusty metal cabinets I am buying waiting to make them something lovely.
Daniel
Hi Daniel –
How did your project come out? I’m building this also. Did you have issues with the legs not being flush when they were all fit together. My two front legs are taller than my two back legs. Did you have the same issue?
Hi Amanda! How big of a difference is it? I noticed that with the pipes some of them screw in tighter than others as the threads aren’t all the same. We had one leg that was a hint shorter than the other three so we unscrewed it to about even and added some gorilla glue to keep it in place. Definitely not ideal but worked out fine for us and is super stable! Hope that helps!
Hi Daniel – sorry for the delay in response. Yes kreg jig screws hold together the three boards. If you look closely at the photo where the bench portion is upside down you’ll notice there are pocket holes (created using the kreg jig) on the two outer boards about 6-8 inches apart. That’s where the screws go in to join the two outer boards to the middle one. The kreg jig does take special screws since they go in at an angle. If you click the hyperlink above you’ll see exactly which screws I used. The bench is VERY stable as boards are point by screws. We didn’t use wood glue since there are three boards and I don’t think that would hold up solely overtime. I’m not sure what the supported weight would be. My three year old and I regularly sit on it as we are getting our shoes on each morning. Hope that helps. If you have any more questions email me. chelsea@makinghomebase.com
Hi! What are the finished dimensions? I love this bench and am hoping to be able to make it work for our back entry which is VERY small!
You’re the greatest! JMHO
Your project looks great and functional. Did you total up the cost? Just wondering how expensive the pipes are. I don’t have much experience with pipes.
Thanks!
The total cost was around $200.
Hi there, can you share the finished dimensions with the pipe dimension you used?
Hi Megan, it’s about 38 inches wide and 68 inches tall.
I’m so excited I’m making it this weekend!! Question though, I noticed in the comments that you spent about $200. Did that include the Kreg Jig? I just bought all the supplies from Home Depot without the kreg jig and it was about $200 so I was just curious.
thanks!
Emily Owen
Hi Emily, that doesn’t include the price of the Kreg jig – that’s the price of all the supplies not including tools.
Hi! I’m trying to make this and my back legs are about an inch shorter than my front! Wondering about switching out the 1/2” x2” pieces in the back for 1/2” x3” to hopefully get the height I need! I tried unscrewing the pipes a bit, but still didn’t get enough height out of it!
Hi Sherie, it can be tricky because the pipes can be different thread lengths. I’d give the 3 in pipe a try!
This is so amazing! Good job!