How to Make a Clothes Pole

With a miter saw, cut the 2 x 2-inch board to 4 feet in length for a child, or 6 feet for adult use. Cut the 2 x 12-board to 11 1/4 inches in length to make a square base.

Daub wood glue on one butt end of the cut 2 x 2-inch pole and position it perpendicularly in the center of the large flat side of the square 2 x 12 base. Screw two wood screws through the bottom of the base and into the butt end of the pole with the screwdriver. Wipe excess glue with a clean, wet cotton rag.

Stand the pole upright on its base. Measure 3 inches down from the top of the pole and drill a 1/2-inch diameter hole completely through the pole. Turn the pole one quarter turn, measure 6 inches down from the top of the pole, and repeat. The two holes should be horizontal with the ground and perpendicular to each other.

With the miter saw, cut two 10-inch lengths from the 1/2-inch diameter dowel. Daub wood glue in the two holes at the top of the pole and center the first 10-inch dowel into the top and the other 10-inch dowel into the bottom hole. Wipe off any excess glue with a clean, wet cotton rag.

Wait one hour and sand the entire clothes pole with a medium-grit sand paper, then repeat with a fine-grit sandpaper. Wipe off the dust with a clean, wet cotton rag. Apply stain or paint, according to the instructions, to match the decor.