DIY Gold Gallery Rails — How I Saved Over $500 with a Little Creativity

If you’ve ever admired the elegant look of small gold gallery rails on built-ins or bookshelves, you probably know how much they can elevate a space, but what shocked me was just how expensive they are. When I started pricing gallery rail hardware for this project, I quickly realized it would cost over $500 to outfit just a few shelves! Some decorative spindles alone were priced at $30 a piece—and that didn’t even include brackets or installation.

There was no way I could justify that cost, so I got creative and decided to make them myself.

Here’s how I pulled it off:

The Before

This built-in had great potential, but it felt a little plain and needed that extra layer of detail. I knew small gold gallery rails would instantly take it to the next level.

Materials

Spindles

Dowels

Paint

Glue

Drilling

First, I drilled small holes into the mini spindles so that the dowels could slide through easily.

Painting

Next, I took everything outside and gave it a coat of gold spray paint. I used Rustoleum’s metallic gold spray, which gives a beautiful, convincing finish that looks like real metal without the cost.

Assembly

Once the paint dried, it was time to assemble. I threaded the dowels through the spindles to create each mini railing and then secured them to the sides of the shelves with glue.

Here’s the halfway point where you can see the rails starting to come together:

The After

And finally—the finished look!

The gold gallery rails completely transformed the built-in, adding a layer of polish, charm, and custom character that you would never guess was a DIY project.

Final Thoughts

This project saved me hundreds of dollars and gave me the exact look I wanted. If you’re dreaming of installing gallery rails but not dreaming of the price tag, this DIY is absolutely worth trying.

A few quick tips if you plan to replicate this:

    •    Choose dowels that fit snugly into your spindle holes so the rails stay tight.

    •    Use painter’s pyramids or lift your pieces when spray painting to avoid sticky spots.

    •    Measure carefully and dry-fit everything before securing permanently.

Let me know what you think in the comments below!

Love,

Lindsay