If you’re an artist, crafter, or DIY enthusiast, you’ll know the frustration of searching for the right paintbrush in the middle of a project. Brushes get lost in drawers, tossed in baskets, or buried under other supplies. In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to make a DIY wooden paint brush holder that keeps every brush organised and easy to reach. Not only does it save time, but it also looks stylish on your desk or craft table.

I created this project as part of the International Bloggers Club (IBC) challenge with the theme “Get Organised.” With my growing collection of paint brushes—including makeup brushes I use for applying wax paste—I needed a proper storage solution. This stand keeps everything neat, prevents damage to bristles, and makes it simple to grab the exact brush I need.

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DIY Wooden Paint Brush Holder for Artists and Crafters

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Materials Needed

• Recycled wood or plywood (cypress pine, pine, or similar)
• Orbital sander and sanding discs (120 grit)
• Pencil, ruler, and tape
• Drill with drill bits to match brush sizes
• Wood glue
• Clamps
• Nail gun (optional)
• Thickness planer (optional, if recycling painted wood)

Preparing the Wood

For this project, I recycled old painted picket fence panels. After running them through a thickness planer, I revealed beautiful cypress pine with a fresh surface. The wood was cut into:

• 2 pieces at 25 cm x 6 cm x 2 cm thick
• 2 pieces at 8 cm x 6 cm x 2 cm thick

If you’re working with different wood, adjust the sizes to suit your needs.

Once cut, sand the surfaces to remove paint, smooth rough spots, and prepare for drilling.

Marking Out the Holes

Measure and mark a grid of 2 cm squares across the top piece, leaving room on the sides for supports. Avoid using wood with knots—drill bits tend to slip across the hard grain, leaving uneven holes.

Mark each centre point clearly with a dot to ensure precise drilling.

To keep the top and bottom holes aligned, tape the two wood pieces together before drilling.

Drilling the Holes

Choose drill bits that match the thickness of your brushes. I prefer makeup brushes, which are softer and create fewer streaks on painted surfaces. They also work beautifully for wax paste. Mark the depth with tape on your drill bit so the holes stay consistent.

Drill slowly and keep the holes as straight as possible. If you reuse a template, make sure it’s accurate—my first attempt was uneven because I used wood with knots.

Assembling the Paint Brush Holder

Glue the side supports to the base piece and secure with a nail gun if desired.

Attach the top section with wood glue, clamp it tightly, and allow it to dry fully.

Once dry, sand the entire holder with 120-grit paper for a smooth finish. Now you’re ready to insert your brushes and admire your new organiser.

Finished Paint Brush Stand

This handmade wooden paint brush holder not only looks great but also makes painting and crafting so much easier. No more wasting time rummaging through messy drawers—you’ll have every brush neatly stored and ready to go.

More woodworking projects you may like.

This birdfeeder was made with a recycled teapot and scrap wood.

Create unique wall art for your home using scrap wood offcuts and recycled materials.

More about IBC

If you follow my blog, you will know I am part of the IBC (International Bloggers Club), which is a group of talented bloggers from around the world. We have members from Spain, South Africa, Australia, the United States, and Canada. Each month, we come together and create a project with a common theme.

The “Get Organised” contributions from my fellow bloggers joining us this month are listed below. Please feel free to jump over and give them some love.

1. Tea and Forget Me Nots| Rachel shared this cool bookshelf made from a crate
2. A Crafty Mix|Michelle shares this unique Flintstones-inspired concrete shelf
3. Fifth Sparrow No More| Kristin shared how to recreate a vintage French laundry basket
4. Me
5. Birdz of a feather| Sara shared another unique way to store your paint brushes.

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