How to Hang Sliding Pegboard – Upcycled Tool Storage

Every once in a while we come up with a novel idea, but how to hang sliding pegboard is more than that! Hidden behind cabinet doors, our upcycled sliding pegboard tool storage solves two very real issues: too much clutter and how to install sliding pegboard where there’s a lack of wall space!

You see, I love the function of pegboard in my craft room for tools and such, but don’t like to see the visual clutter of the stuff that hangs there! Our sliding pegboard can hide away in my Pax cabinet to solve that issue. As a matter of fact, I can slide the pegboard out when I need it and tuck it away, behind cabinet doors, when I don’t.

How to hang sliding pegboard; shown sliding out of cabinet

We love incorporating pegboard into our home decor in new and creative ways, like this Hudson’s Bay Point Blanket Inspired Upcycle Ikea Hack.

Materials for How to Hang Sliding Pegboard

* [If you’re looking for some of the things we used, we’ve got you covered (disclosure): Clicking on the affiliate links below means we may receive a commission. But don’t worry, you don’t pay a cent more and it helps us make more unique crafts to share with you! Thanks for helping to support our blog!]

How to Hang Sliding Pegboard

Watch the Video!

If you’re a visual learner, watch this video on how to hang sliding pegboard:

How to Hang Sliding Pegboard

In my old craft room I had several walls of pegboard tool storage. Unfortunately my craft room is much smaller now and I don’t have accessible wall space to hang  pegboards.

So we did what any upcycler would do and came up with a compromise. We cut this pegboard down so we could mount it vertically onto slow close drawer slides. As you see below, the drawer slides are attached to the pegboard. Then, as we’ll explain further ahead, the pegboard is attached to spacers and finally the cabinet. No wall space needed like in my old craft room!

But before we hang the pegboard we have to cut it to size and paint it! We use a circular saw to cut it to fit the Pax cabinet. In order to fit above a glass shelf, we cut the pegboard 33″ high by 22″ wide.

Also cut a riser to lift the bottom of the pegboard when it’s installed so that the pegboard will clear the door hinges. Ours is 1-7/8″ high by 2-” long to fit our Pax cabinet configuration, but your’s may be different depending on the kind of cabinet you’re starting with and how it’s accessorized. Read more here about the Ikea Pax Planner and how to install the Ikea Pax System.

How to Paint Pegboard

Step 1. Scuff Sand

Use fine grit sand paper to scuff the front and back of the pegboard.

Remove all sanding dust.

Tip: we use an old sock, lightly dampened with water. That reduces the static electricity that can attract unwanted elements to your wet paint!

Before priming and painting the pegboard, glue furring strips to the back (more info on that further ahead in the next section).

Step 2. Prime

You can either spray or roll the paint. For this project, we’re using a roller for the primer.

First, pour primer into a paint tray.

Then roll on a coat of primer and let it dry. However, all rollers are not created equal. Because the nap gives a smooth paint finish, our favourite roller is a Bennet mini roller. Of course you can use a full size roller too; we’re using what we have.

Once dry, we paint the pegboard white using PPG BreakThrough. While working on another pegboard project, I recently learned how to paint using a spray gun.  As a matter of fact, this DIY jewelry display, using pegboard, was my first paint sprayer project!

If you’re looking for a fast and efficient way to paint your DIY project, this video explains how:

How to Hang Pegboard That Slides

Step 1. Furring Strips

Cut two 1/4″ thick furring strips to the width of the pegboard. Glue it to the top and bottom of the pegboard with wood glue. Being that the performance of the drawers slides depend in it, before clamping, ensure that the two furring strips are mounted perfectly parallel to each other before allowing them to dry.

Paint the pegboard as described in previous section.

Step 2. Cut Spacers

The pegboard will need to clear the Pax unit hinges (sitting above the bottom one and below the upper one) so we cut a riser out of plywood for the pegboard to sit on. As mentioned, our riser is 1 7/8″ high.

However, as you can see below, the pegboard also needs spacer rails on the sides between the drawer slides and cabinet so the pegboard can slide out and clear the door. Cut two spacer rails 1 7/8″ deep and slightly narrower than the width of the pegboard. We’ll show you how to mount those together later.

Notice that we also cover the glass shelf with a scrap piece of carpet underlayment to cushion and protect the glass (in case anything falls during the installation and tool organization).

Step 2. Mount Drawer Slides

The drawer slides we’re using are soft close full extension, 22″ in length and rated for 100 lbs.  Because they need to be mounted separately, separate the drawer slides into the inner and outer parts first. To do that, press the yellow button, and the inner member will slide right out.

Below you can see the separated pieces: inner member on the left and the outer member on the right. The inner member gets attached to the furring strip on the pegboard, while the outer member gets attached to the spacer.

Below, with the pegboard already hung,  you can see how the inner member of the drawer slide is attached to the furring strip on the back with the screws provided.

You could actually mount the inner member to the pegboard using Chicago screws (no furring strip), but that would require drilling new holes in both the pegboard and the metal drawer slide (which we’ll show you in an upcoming post).

Again, when you attach the inner members to the top and bottom of the pegboard, you must ensure that they are parallel to one another. Once those are attached, it’s time to mount the outer members of the drawer slide to the spacers.

Step 3. Spacers

The outer member of the drawer slide gets attached to the spacer you see below (it’s not attached to the pegboard).

It’s aways a good idea to pre drill first. When you pre drill the holes to attach the outer member to the spacer, be sure to vacuum up ALL the resulting wood dust; it can attach to the grease and affect the functionality of the sliding mechanism.

Once both outer members are screwed onto the spacers, re-attach them to the inner members on the pegboard. Just line them up and slide them back on.

You will now have the drawer slides back together in one piece.

Essentially, the drawer slides are sandwiched between the furring strip on the pegboard and the spacer – which then gets attached to the IKEA Pax cabinet in the next steps – with help from some double side tape.

Step 4. Use Double Side Tape

Double side tape is indispensable in hanging pegboard that slides! We mount 3 strips in between the screw holes in the spacer. However, a film tape just won’t work, as we discovered. Note that the tape shown below (and on the video) was not heavy duty enough for this application.

Any variations in the wood spacer requires a tape that’s thick with a bit of cushioning and extra adhesion.

So we end up using this double-sided carpet tape.

Once the proper tape is on the spacers, we rest the bottom of the pegboard onto the plywood riser that sits atop the glass shelf.

Making sure the back of the pegboard hits the back of the cabinet, we push the sliding pegboard unit against the side of the cabinet until the double side tape makes contact and sticks.

Step 5. Pre-drill Holes

Between the riser and the carpet tape, this pegboard is not going anywhere! While the pegboard is ‘stuck’ into its proper position, we can carefully slide the pegboard out.

When you slide the pegboard out, it exposes the screw holes.

Ensure that both the drill and the screws are set for the proper length: less than the thickness of the materials they’re going through.

Pre-drill right through the spacer rails into the cabinet. Then screw through the drawer slides and spacers right into the cabinet.

Step 6. Screw in Pegboard

Use an electric or regular screwdriver to screw the pegboard into the side of the cabinet. Once all the screws are in place, remove the plywood riser at the bottom and ensure the pegboard slides in and out effortlessly.

Step 7. Insert Pegboard Hooks

Now it’s time to load the pegboard up with tools! Pegboard hooks come in all shapes and sizes, for every tool imaginable. Most commonly, you can find light duty 1/8″ or 1/4″ peg board hooks, like the ones in this kit.

However, the one challenge is getting the metal hooks to stay in the pegboard without falling out every time you remove a tool! We have a few great solutions on how to keep pegboard hooks from falling out!

How to Hang Sliding Pegboard FAQ

How do you keep pegboard hooks from falling out?

Watch the video to see some of these methods demonstrated.

Method 1. Pegitz

For traditional metal peg hooks, Pegitz Pegboard Peg Locks are silicone bumpers that fit into pegboard holes. The pegboard hook then slides into the Pegitz and provides a slip-free lock to hold the peg. Pegitz are removable in case you want to move tools around on the pegboard. The come in a pack of 50 for around $18 (with tax) Canadian. They are a little pricey so if you are watching your pennies, see other options below.

Method 2. Heat shrink tubing

Raid your electrical supplies for shrink wrap. Use a piece that’s just slightly bigger than the peg prong. Slip the heat shrink tubing around each prong of the peg hook. Cut to size. Then wave a lighter around each piece until the tubing has shrunk to fit tightly around the prong.

This method works pretty well. To make it even sturdier, shrink wrap it twice as we’re showing below. In all honesty, I do prefer the Pegitz, but there’s no denying it’s fun to play with fire!

Method 3. Pegboard Locks

Pegboard locks are plastic clips that snap into the holes in the pegboard.

Locks are great for locking single hook pegs into a hole, but they don’t work for two prong hooks.

Method 4. Zip Tie

Zip ties are a cheap and flexible option; you can use as many as you need to lock the hook into place. The only drawback is that you need access to the back of the pegboard – which isn’t a problem with a sliding pegboard!

Method 4. Hot Melt Glue

If you don’t have any other options, add hot glue onto the prong(s) before placing it into the peg hole(s). The drawback is that hot glue is not as easily removable as other methods and you may damage a beautiful paint job if you need to pull it out to relocate the peg.

Method 5. Use Talon Hooks

Talon hooks are a patented plastic pegboard hook that functions similar to drywall plugs.

The hooks have a screw that you can tighten into the pegboard hole that expands and locks it into place. Talon hooks are available in 7 styles and are an extremely sturdy option that will never fall out! They’re so strong, you can even use the G04’s, shown on the left, to mount a shelf (which I may just try with our next project)!. With a money back guarantee, you really can’t go wrong.

Slide Out Pegboard

Once you’re done arranging your tools on the pegboard, you can slide it back into the Pax cabinet.

When you close the door, you’ll no longer see the visual clutter. Moreover, the sliding pegboard organizes your most used tools – all within reach.

I don’t know why we didn’t think of this tool storage idea before for my craft room, but better late than never. But this isn’t the only way for how to hang sliding pegboard. Stay tuned for how to hang sliding pegboard – on a wall! Remember I said I was short on wall space? Have a look at where our newest pegboard project is going:

Pin How to Hang Sliding Pegboard

Pin our sliding pegboard for later. It’s an idea you just might want to find again :).

35 thoughts on “How to Hang Sliding Pegboard – Upcycled Tool Storage

    • Thanks Anita! It’s great knowing where my tools are now – as long as I put them away – lol!

  1. This is seriously brilliant!! I love your idea of being able to hide all the tools but still have access to them quickly! I need to find an area in my house to do this kind of organizatin! Pinned!

    • Thanks Cindy – we’re really thrilled with how it turned out! Stay tuned for our next pegboard post because the slide out we’re doing on the wall might be a good option for you too. We’re squeezing every inch of organization space out of my craft studio!

  2. Very clever idea, Sara, and thanks for the awesome ideas for keeping the hooks on the pegboard (a frustration of mine in both my workshop and home office). I’m definitely giving the heat shrink tubing and talon hooks a try.

    • Thanks Marie! Your frustration is my frustration so I knew going into this upcycle that keeping the hooks from falling off the pegboard was going to be a priority. Nothing worse than having your tools crash to the floor! I have more stubbed toes than I care to remember.

  3. That’s ingenious, Sara. I need to do something similar in our holiday home. It’s so tiny and while it’s fun to still be able to do crafts when we’re on holiday I hate the craft tool clutter.

    • Yes, the clutter is the worst. I have a few more pegboard ideas coming soon that may help tame the tools 🙂

  4. This is such a cool idea! My hubby is not going to like this! 😂😂 A new project for him to build for me! 😉

    • Ha ha, poor hubby! But he’ll probably love a more clutter free space 🙂

  5. This is such a great idea, so much easier when you can actually see where all of your tools are! Thanks for sharing.

    • Thanks Olivia; it really has made life in the craft room so much easier now. I don’t know how I managed without it – lol!

  6. This is such a great idea. I wish I had cabinet space in my craft room to use it on. Maybe I can get my husband to adapt it to work in the closet.

    • Thanks Janet! Does your closet happen to have a flat wall along one side? If so I have one more storage idea that might work for you. Hopefully I can post that soon!

  7. What a magnificent idea! Perfect way to organize your tools!

    • Thanks so much Jayne! We really have to put our thinking caps on to eek out every inch of storage space around here!

  8. Very innovative and space saving! So smart for keeping organized and everything has it’s place. Being able to slide it is a whole game changer!

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