DIY Spray Paint Storage Wall
Lately I’ve been challenging myself to stop running to the store everytime I start a new project, or need to build something. Something I was forced to do during the pandemic when I made this Modern Coffee Table. Instead I look around at what I have already and see what I can create. This spray paint storage wall was the first result of that mindset shift — and honestly it turned out way cooler than I expected and was FREE!
I had removed my sons bifold doors from his closet about a year ago when I did a makeover on his room. It just so happened to be the perfect size to fit at the side of my rolling door in my new workshop. So I grabbed my drill and hole saw and cut out a ton of holes, and turned one of them into a wall-mounted organizer for all my spray paint cans. It’s practical, it’s budget friendly, and it kicked off my “use what you got” project challenge in the best way.
Materials & Tools Needed:
- Drill
- Impact Driver
- 2 3/4″ Hole Saw
- Old Door if available otherwise a 2″x 12″x 8ft pine board
- Orbital Sander with 200 grit sandpaper
- 220 grit sanding block
- Spray Paint/Stain
- Drill bit
- 2.5″ screws
Steps to the Build
Step 1 – Choose & Prep Your Door/Board
Grab that old door you may have laying around (or thrift) and clean it up. If you would rather start with a fresh piece of wood, a 2″ x 12″ pine board should do the trick. The reason a door works so well is because it is already a deeper slot for the paint can which is why you will need a thicker board if not using a door.
Step 2 – Mark Your Hole Layout
I will admit that I was not very precise in my measuring. I found the middle going across and marked a line. This was where I lined up the drill bit of my hole saw. I also measured up 3.75″ up from the bottom to start my first row.
From there I just “eye-balled” the two outer hole placements for 3 across total. Leaving about 1″ between each. I made sure to just stand back every so often to make sure I was staying consistent with my alignment. These doors were a total of 12″ wide.
Step 3 – Cut Out the Holes
Use a 2.75″ hole saw connected to your drill to cut the perfect size hole to fit a standard spray paint can perfectly.
Step 4 – Sand & Finish
Next I used my orbital sander to smooth out the door/board over all of the cut holes. I took a sanding block to the inside edges of the holes so that they would be smooth for easier storage of the paint cans. Next I chose to use one of the million spray paint cans to coat it in a fresh color, in this case Midnight Blue by Rustoleum.
Step 5 – Mount it to the Wall
Decide where you want your new spray paint wall to live. Predrill into the top sides and middle sides (4 total) on the edges of the board/door where you can hit a stud or anchor spot. My workshop is metal so I needed to use self tapping screws but regular wood screws will work just fine in normal garages.
Step 6 – Load Up Your Paint Cans
The best part is loading up your wall and seeing all those colors lined up neat and tidy! Also being easily accessible. Slide each can into place, in this case I was able to store 63 cans and honestly will probably make a second one!
Why I Love This Project
This project is a perfect example of why I love DIY, it doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated to be satisfying. I didn’t spend a dime, cleared up some space, and now I have a custom spray paint holder that looks like it was always meant to be there.
Plus it kicked off my personal challenge to start creating with what I already have on hand. If you’ve got left over doors, plywood, or even cabinet panels sitting around, this idea can easily be adapted for your own storage needs. The key is just starting – because once you make that first project, the ideas start snowballing.
I’m calling this my first official “use what you’ve got” project — and it already has me looking at every scrap and leftover piece in my shop differently. There’s something really rewarding about making something functional (and pretty!) out of things that might’ve otherwise ended up in the trash pile.
If you try this idea or come up with your own twist, I’d love to see it — tag me @nailgun_nelly so I can share your version! And stay tuned, because this is just the start of a whole series of projects built from what’s already sitting right under my nose.
More of my Woodworking Plans
