Backyard Chaos into Poolside Order: Building a Budget Towel Rack From a Free 4x4

Let me set the scene…

Our yard was an explosion of wet towels, dripping swimsuits, and rogue life jackets scattered around the pool. Every swim session ended with soggy chaos—nothing dried properly, and it made the yard look like a water park had exploded! Paige had been dreaming up a solution: a simple, standing towel rack that could help us stay a little more organized.

The 4x4 That Almost Got Away

Some time back, Paige casually mentioned a 4x4 stuck in a giant hunk of concrete on the side of the road. I kind of heard her but didn’t fully register it. That is, until I happened to drive past it myself—on the way home from picking up a log splitter I scored on Facebook Marketplace. I pulled a quick U-turn and muscled the heavy post into my truck bed solo. That thing was a beast!

When I got home, Paige lit up: “YES! That’s exactly what I wanted for the towel rack.” And just like that, the plan was on.

Quick, Simple, and Budget-Friendly Build

We didn’t want to spend much or overcomplicate things, so we kept it simple:

• Dug a hole next to the pool.

• Dropped the post in and squared it up.

• Reused the original grass around the hole to finish it cleanly.

• Screwed in eight hooks from a set of ten we bought on Amazon (link below).

• Used the two-prong design of the hooks to hold up to 16 items total!

We originally bought ten hooks, thinking we’d use them all, but ended up only using eight (four on the upper part of the post and four below). These are sturdy little guys and make a huge difference for drying and decluttering.

🔗 Shop the exact hooks we used on Amazon (affiliate link)

DIY Tip: Use Pilot Holes!

Whenever you're installing hardware—especially kits that include screws—always drill a pilot hole. The included screws are often poor quality and will snap if you try to screw them directly into hardwood or treated lumber. Trust me, a 30-second pilot hole saves a ton of frustration (and broken screws).

Family Teamwork Wins Again

Paige kicked off the project and had some help from our youngest, plus a curious walk-by from our ducks, Adam and Donald. I showed up just in time to help screw in the hooks and admire the finished product. It was fast, easy, and satisfying to knock out something that made such a visual (and practical) difference. And that...my friends, is how we turned our backyard chaos into poolside order by building a budget towel rack from a free 4x4.

Final Thoughts: Making the Most of What You’ve Got

Not every project needs to be flashy or expensive to be meaningful. This one cost very little, solved a real problem, and gave us a little moment of joy, creativity, and teamwork. That’s the kind of stuff that makes a life well lived.

We believe that when we steward what we’re given—even roadside trash—we reflect the heart of a Creator who brings beauty out of mess. And that includes our backyards.

Colossians 3:23 (NLT)“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.”