DIY Files |  A Quick & Easy Peg Rail 

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If you’re looking for a quick and easy DIY project that does not require much skill or time investment on your part yet is immensely satisfying, then today’s DIY peg rail project could be for you! Peg rails are a charming cottage detail often found in colonial style homes, and their beautiful simplicity makes them both timeless and modern. A sturdy peg rail is a practical storage opportunity and a great way to coral stray coats, hats and handbags in busy entryways and mudrooms, or neatly display an assortment of hand towels in bathrooms and kitchens. They are as practical as they are pretty, and I love using them throughout our home.  

When we designed the hallway at our house, I knew I wanted to have a large peg rail installed to catch the daily influx of coats and backpacks. It fit the cozy & unpretentious  cottage vibe I was after but I could not find anything reasonably priced or sturdy enough that would fill the length of wall I had my at disposal – so I decided to build my own. It was so easy, and so gratifying, that I knew I had to share the process with you! Here’s what I did:   

FIRST, I ordered some screw-on pegs from Amazon. Pegs can come in different sizes but depending on your needs, you can find a size that works for your project – I chose the larger pegs that could hold our heavy winter coats and backpacks. For smaller pegs, you can start your search HERE and HERE.

NEXT, I measured the wall distance, corner to corner, and cut a piece of wood to fit my measurements.  I used these 1×4 primed boards from Home Depot, but different widths of wood could work just as well, as long as the depth can accommodate the peg screws.

LAST, I marked the position of each peg with a sharpie and pre-drilled the holes to make the process of installing the pegs easier. My pegs are 6” on center and I managed to fit 5 pegs on a 36”-long rail. Depending on the length of your rail and the number of pegs you have, your measurements will be different.  

Once the pegs were attached to my piece of lumber, I primed and painted everything with an emulsion paint designed specifically for wood, cabinets and trim. And doesn’t it look pretty? 

OPTIONAL: If you have access to a router / router table, you can finish off the edges of your peg rail in many different ways prior to installing the pegs. This beading bit, which I’ve used on numerous projects so far, is my favorite and it gives the rail a distinctly New England cottage-y vibe. 

What you’ll need for this projects: 

1. A measuring tape

2. Primed 1x4s

3. A drill;

4. Screw-on pegs

5. Stain or paint in the color of your choice; 

Optional: router and router bit;

If you love the look but don’t want to attempt making your own, the Shaker Shoppe has a great selection of ready-made peg rails, which you can find HERE. Wishing you all a great rest of your week!