I love a project that turns a plain household leftover into something genuinely useful, and this bathroom headband holder does exactly that. By wrapping an empty round oatmeal canister in velvet ribbon and mounting it on the wall, you get a soft, pretty spot to store headbands where they’re easy to grab instead of tangled in a drawer. It’s quick, inexpensive, and polished enough to look like something you bought for a boutique bathroom makeover.
This is especially nice if you have kids sharing a bathroom, or if you’re like me and appreciate anything that makes the morning rush a little smoother. The velvet gives the canister a soft grip so headbands stay put, and the finished holder adds a warm decorative touch without taking up precious counter space.
Materials
1 empty round oatmeal canister, 5 to 5 1/2 inches in diameter and 9 to 10 inches tall
Instructions
1. Wipe the oatmeal canister clean inside and out, then remove any paper label so the surface is smooth and ready to cover.
2. Brush a thin layer of craft adhesive over the side of the canister, wrap the quilt batting around it, and trim the excess so the padding meets neatly without overlapping too much.
3. Cover the batting with the cream felt, gluing it smoothly around the canister and folding the top and bottom edges inward for a clean base under the ribbon.
4. Starting at the back seam, hot glue the end of the rust velvet ribbon near the bottom edge and begin wrapping it around the canister in slightly overlapping rows so no felt shows through.
5. Continue wrapping and gluing until the entire cylinder is covered from bottom to top, then trim the ribbon and glue the final end down at the back for the neatest finish.
6. Cut a felt circle to fit the exposed end of the canister and glue it in place so the front opening looks finished and soft rather than raw cardboard.
7. On the back side, attach the sawtooth hanger near the top with the two short pan-head screws, keeping it centered so the holder will hang straight.
8. Mark your wall, install the wall anchor and screw, and hang the canister horizontally so it sits securely with the open end facing out.
9. Slide headbands over the ribbon-wrapped canister, layering them from the wall side outward until the holder looks full and keeps every band visible and easy to reach.
Variations & Tips
For fuller storage: Use a taller oatmeal canister if you have a big collection, or make a pair and hang them one above the other for kids and adults separately.
For picky color preferences: If rust doesn’t suit your bathroom, swap in blush, cream, sage, or navy velvet ribbon while keeping the same wrapping method and amount.
For extra grip: A thin padded layer under the ribbon helps headbands stay in place much better than wrapping ribbon directly onto bare cardboard, so I wouldn’t skip that step.
For a cleaner edge: Always keep the ribbon seam and final glued end at the back or underside of the holder so the front looks smooth and store-bought.
For bathroom durability: Hang it away from direct shower steam, and use a little extra hot glue at the starting and ending points of the ribbon wrap so humidity doesn’t loosen the edges over time.
For a polished finish: If you want it even prettier, glue a small matching velvet bow or a pearl pin near the outer end, but keep embellishments light so they don’t snag the headbands.