DIY Project: Dress Boy in a Weekend

Ikeahackers.net recently posted this very cool Dress Boy Project.... 


Okay, by a show of hands… who knows what “dress boys” are?  Anyone?


Admittedly no one here knew what they were before either... and it took the office about 15 minutes before we finally stopped sniggering about the images the name conjured up.  Actually a "dress boy" is a pretty ingenious way to reclaim some old furniture and a cool way to de-clutter the bedroom floor. 


The basic concept is: cut the back portion off of a dining room chair, hang it on the wall and presto an artistic place to drape a few items of clothing - a “dress boy.”   After all, who doesn't like draping their coat (or other items of clothing) over the back of a chair, there’s something strangely satisfying about it… like staking claim on your domain, announcing you've returned to the castle, sort of symbolically peeing on the tree – perhaps just a wee bit much (no pun intended), but you get the drift. 

And the best part is, this impressive functional wall art is an inexpensive project that can be finished in a weekend -which means by Monday you could have some really cool clothing racks and no longer have to make excuses about why you left your shirt on the floor.  Here’s how to install this handy hanger in your own bedroom space:

Materials: Two second-hand Ikea Bertil chairs (but most any dining room type chair will do), cleat, glue, screws, drill, circular saw, piece of fine grit sand paper, brad nails (finishing nails), paint(optional).

Step 1:  Using a circular saw, cut the back end of the dining room chair off leaving 3-4” of seat remaining.   You can either draw a straight line to follow or use a fence for the cut.  For simplicity we prefer making a fence from a 2x4 clamped to the seat and resting against the back.   This ensures that even with the bow in the back of the chair the line will be the straight across.  The 2x4 should extend past either side of the seat by about 9” to give the circular saw something to ride against as it starts and finishes the cut.   

Step 2:  Measure the inside of the chair from apron to apron (side to side) and cut the French cleat (a 2x4 that has been cut at a 45 deg angle lengthwise) to length.  Install one half of the French cleat using some glue and nails. Fill the nail holes with spackle or wood filler.  Lightly sand and paint chairs to desired color - these were painted the same color as the wall for some additional contemporary flair - paint your's according to your decor.   

***Note*** The French cleat is a good way to “lock” the chair into place on the wall.  It is capable of holding an impressive bundle of clothes, doesn't take up much room and allows the chair to be removed for easy clean up.  Please DO NOT attempt to make the French cleat with you circular saw – the cleat should be cut on a table saw for safety.  We want you to keep all your fingers and avoid nicknames like stubby.

Step 3:  Hold the chair up to the wall so the back feet are on the ground (unless you want your dress boy to be floating), position the other half of the cleat under the half attached to the chair (should look like a complete 2x4), using a pencil, mark a line under the second half of the cleat on the wall.  Use this line as a guide to screw the second half of the French cleat to the wall (note the direction of the angle), preferably through a stud or two.
  
***Hint***  Cut the cleat on the wall about ½” shorter (in width) than the half that was installed on the chair.  It also helps to shim the cleat off the wallboard a little bit - a few thin strips of cardboard from a cereal box works pretty good.    

Step 4:  Slide the chair over the mounted cleat and walla… you’re done.  Dress it up with a shirt or two and some slacks.  For some added detail you can even label the back like “His” and “Her” (to ensure you get one for your stuff as well). 

***Word of caution***  Be careful who you announce you have a "dress boy" in your bedroom to – and be sure to follow it up with a detailed description. 

Happy Remodeling.