DIY Door Handles (Under $30!)

Whenever we take on a new house project  – from painting the walls to adding on a mud room – I like to add a personal touch to it. We recently built a new garage, which is clad in barn board, and were on the hunt for the perfect door handles to complement the rustic look. When we couldn’t find any we liked (at a reasonable price), I was determined to come up with a DIY option that was easy and didn’t break the bank.

I knew I wanted something that had an industrial feel to it, and could withstand the elements… nothing too precious or fussy. So, last weekend I stopped by my local home improvement store to peruse the shelves in the plumbing aisle, and found lots of inspiration! Check out my DIY door handles that rang in at under $30, then I’ll show you how to make them!

How to Make Rustic Sliding Barn Door Handles

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 4 – 3/4″ galvanized metal* floor flange (shown below, far right)
• 2 – 6″ galvanized metal pipe (shown below, far left)
• 4 – 3/4″ galvanized metal 90 degree elbow, male/female (shown below, middle)
• screws appropriate for your job (length/size varies)

*Note: I used black galvanized metal components for my project

Step 1: Screw elbow joints (male end) into metal flanges.

Step 2: Attach 6″ pipe length to female ends of elbow joints. 

Step 3: Make adjustments as needed to ensure proper visual placement of flanges. Note: elbow joints do not need to be tight; adjust them so you get the best visual placement when screwed into your door (i.e. screw holes in flanges are level/horizontal, not at an angle; see below).

Step 4: Mark the desired door handle placement on your door. Tip: If drilling into wood, pre-drill holes with a small bit, to ensure wood doesn’t split.

Step 5: Using a level, install the second handle; both handles should line up nicely.

Here’s my finished project…

I think they look great, and the components rang in at under $30!

Here’s the breakdown:

$4.65 x 4 – 3/4″ black galvanized metal floor flange 
$1.79 x 2 – 6″ black galvanized metal pipe 
$1.72 x 4 – 3/4″ black galvanized metal 90 degree elbow, male/female 
————-
$29.06 Total (pre-tax)

Note: I didn’t include the cost of screws in the total, as each application will require different types of screws – often ones you already have in your toolbox. Since my project is exposed to the elements, I splurged and bought stainless steel screws which were almost $1 each, bringing my project total to $45. 

Inspiration can be found everywhere! I loved the satisfaction of creating something unique, durable, inexpensive and that looks amazing.

I’d love to be inspired by your projects, so feel free to tag me on social media (@fabfrugalmama).

Happy DIYing!