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Walking in through your front door after a long day at work is one of life’s greatest pleasures. “Ahh, home sweet home”, you say.

Why not celebrate this feeling with a quick and easy DIY key holder as a unique way to welcome you home?

Using a simple picture frame and some coat hooks, here’s how to make your very own homemade key rack…

Easy DIY Key Holder (using a picture frame) with a "Home Sweet Home" cross stitch picture inside it

Supplies you’ll need:

Here’s what you need to make this quick and easy key holder:

Picture frame
- You need one made of solid wood for this project so the wood doesn’t split when you screw in the hooks. Ours was just a cheap one from Wilkos and has lasted for years!
Coat hooks and screws
Something cute to put inside your picture frame. (I made a cute cross stitch picture for ours)
Velcro strips for hanging the frame

How to make a DIY key rack using a picture frame

Step 1. Screw your hooks into the bottom of the frame.

Position your hooks so that the part where you’ll hang your keys from is slightly lower than the frame (so the frame doesn’t get in the way of you hanging your keys up!)

When you’re ready, screw the hooks into the frame.

💡 Quick Tip: An electric drill makes this step especially quick and easy!

Step 2. Make something cute to go inside your frame.

You could just use a photo of you and your family. Alternatively, you could make some special artwork to go inside it.

I made a “Home Sweet Home” cross stitch picture for ours. But I could also see this project working really well for calligraphy, watercolours, collages and other types of unique artwork to make it truly your own. I’ve also listed some other ideas below to inspire you.

Step 3. Hang your frame and you’re done!

📌 Important: You want your key rack to be secure on all sides so it doesn’t slip when there’s more weight on one side (such as when removing your keys!). We used velcro strips on all four corners of our frame but you could also screw it into the wall if you prefer.

Ideas for what to put inside your frame

It’s up to you what you decide to put in your frame. Maybe you’re a dab hand with a paintbrush? Or maybe you enjoy making collages.

Here are a few ideas to get you thinking:

Cross stitch picture (see below for cute “Home Sweet Home” patterns)
Painted artwork – either made by you or store-bought
Postcard from your favourite place
A small collage of photos and mementoes
3D artwork (paper crafts and pressed flowers would work well for this)
A family photo

“Home Sweet Home” cross stitch patterns

If you want to do the same as me and make a cute “Home Sweet Home” cross stitch picture for your frame then you might like these patterns on Etsy:

Home Sweet Home + Flowers Cross Stitch Pattern by SuperCrossStitch
Vintage Home Sweet Home Cross Stitch Pattern by Stitchrovia
Colourful Home Sweet Home Cross Stitch Pattern by AnimalsCrossStitch
Home Sweet Home + Orange Flowers Cross Stitch Pattern by LeiaPatterns
Home Sweet Home + Blue Flowers Cross Stitch Pattern by WhiteRavenPatterns
Home Sweet Home + Pink & Lilac Flowers Cross Stitch Pattern by AnimalsCrossStitch
Rainbow Home Sweet Home Cross Stitch Pattern by MODERNCrossStitchArt
Pink Charming Home Sweet Home Cross Stitch Pattern by Love4CrossStitch

💡 Quick note: The cross stitch picture I made was inspired by a very simple cottage design from this book and I stitched some quick text beneath it.