Get creative with this old license plate DIY. With these easy tutorials, you can easily make a one-of-a-kind hat rack and wall decor.

License Plate DIY Hat Rack and Wall Decor
Tennis Anyone?

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This week, we tackled cleaning out an old shed on our property here at our home in Maine. A shed that was my father’s for years and where he made furniture and kept many of his collectibles like these old vanity license plates, pictures of all his DIY projects, and more.

He was a big tennis player, playing until he was 86 years old. So I was thrilled when I found these license plates amongst his things. I knew right away I wanted to create something fun with them to display in our guest bedroom, where a collection of his tennis racquets also resides. A license plate DIY in the making!

You may see more of this guest bedroom in the post Small Cottage Guest Bedroom, Vintage and Delightful.

Small Cottage Guest Bedroom, Vintage and Delightful

How to Make a License Plate DIY Hat Rack

Hat Rack Hooks

I first found these vintage hooks on Etsy, which was sold by Parkwood Treasures.

I really liked their white vintage cottage vibe.

And it was a bonus, too, that they came with the original mounting screws.

Vintage Wire Hooks for License Plate DIY.

There are so many vintage wire hooks to choose from here:

Paint a Backboard

Next, for this DIY license plate, I painted an old board in the same custom blue as the trim in this bedroom.

Maine Vanity License Plate for License Plate DIY.

I’ve included the custom paint formula here in case you would like to duplicate it.

It’s a beautiful shade of antique blue.

Mount the License Plate and Hooks

Once the vintage hooks arrived in the mail, I mounted the license plate along with three of the four hooks.

Hang License Plate DIY on Wall

I then hung my new license plate hat rack up in our guest bedroom with two Command Strips just to be on the safe side.

You may also really enjoy making these Dishy Kitchen Hooks You Can DIY in Minutes.

License Plate DIY Hat Rack and Wall Decor
Tennis Anyone?

You may also enjoy This Summer’s Thrift Store Decor Finds.

And check out what else I found with a tennis theme in the post, Antiquing Down East, A Day’s Jaunt

You may also enjoy the post How to Fold and Display Heirloom Quilts like this collection here that my mother made and Vintage Braiding Rug Stand | A Mother’s Day Reflection.

Braiding Rug Stand with Braided Rugs

License Plate DIY Wall Decor

After creating this license plate DIY hat rack, I found two more vanity plates in the shed with my father’s initials on them.

How to License Plate DIY Wall Decor

I also created this easy-hanging license plate wall decor using simple twine.

  • To create a hanger, tie a piece of twine between the top two holes of your top license plate.
  • Choose the measurement for the spaces you want between the license plates. I used 1 1/2 inches.
  • Then, tie a piece of twine between the bottom of one license plate and the top holes of the next license plate. It’s super easy!

When it was finished, I hung our license plate wall decor on the cedar shake siding just outside our back door. This license plate DIY wall decor has been hanging outside of our home for about two years now and has held up beautifully.

You may also enjoy this post, 15 Cool DIY Projects to Start this Summer.

DIY License Plate Wall Decor on Cedar Shake Home.

I love the contrast with the old cedar shakes.

Do you like cedar shakes? Check out How We Restored our Aged Cedar Shake Siding here.

And you may also enjoy the post, Adored One-of-a-Kind Handmade Birdhouse Restored.

License Plate DIY Wall Decor on Outdoor Cedar Shake Siding.

I hope you found some inspiration here today. We love our new hat rack and wall decor, which feature my father’s old vanity license plates. They are such treasures to have.

Gratefully Vintage

If you have any thoughts, comments, or suggestions, I’d love to hear from you. Please share in the comments below. And be sure to share this blog post link with your friends who are also vintage enthusiasts.

Do you have a flair for all things vintage, too? I would love to see and feature you in our Reader’s Showcase Series. A place for you to share and be recognized for your talents and passion for all things thrifting, vintage, and antique decor-related inspired by your time here with Dabbling & Decorating. Email me at annck@dabblinganddecorating.com

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22 Comments

    1. Thanks so much, I was so happy to find them amongst my dad’s things!

  1. So fun that you found a creative way to use your dad’s license plates! So cute with those old hooks; I’ve always loved those.

  2. Hi Ann,
    Love both of these craft projects with the old license plates. The hat rack looks perfect in the guest room with the old tennis rackets on display. I also love the twine connecting the others together. I just love your vintage style.
    Have a great week!
    Lynda

    1. Thank you so much Lynda. That’s so kind of you to say🫶🏻

  3. Thanks love this idea and a great way to display old license plates.

  4. Ann,
    This is such a cute ideas. I’m sharing it tomorrow with a link to your blog post.

  5. What a fun project! So special to have all those treasures from your mom and dad! Happy Saturday, Ann!

    1. Thanks so much, Kim! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Happy Saturday!

  6. Wow such a good idea putting twine between the license plates! I’m English and my son used to have a plate from every state we had visited in America. Our license plates aren’t as nice as yours!

    1. Aww thank you Shirley. I’m glad you enjoyed it 🤗