Industrial Style Hanging Bookshelves

Dysko7710
by Dysko7710
7 Materials
$75
3 Days
Medium
My husband wanted bookshelves to hang from the wall in our office so we could get rid of our ugly standing bookshelves. We both love industrial style, but it can be pricey. So, I did my DIY thing and built them myself! I literally did everything by myself, so it is doable. But, to save yourself a headache, get someone to help you hang them! I did it, but it was a workout!
I started out by finding studs in my wall where I wanted to hang my shelves. You want to hang these in studs, since you are hanging piping on your walls. I measured how far apart the studs were and added a couple of inches to each side since you want the wood to hang slightly over the pipes on each side. I wanted three shelves, so I measured how long I would need the piping on each side. You will need wood planks, I had three, that you can get cut to the size you need at Home Depot or Lowes. You can get your piping cut here too.
I had six shorter pipes measured for how far I wanted the shelves to come out from the wall, then four longer ones for how far I wanted the shelves apart from each other. I did three shelves, so I needed 6 flanges, 2 tees, and 4 elbows as far as the fittings go.
I painted the wood with gray stain. After that dried, I made a homemade brown stain by boiling instant coffee on the stove and then painted that on to give the wood an aged look. It turned out pretty good!!


This is how you put the pipes together before mounting them to the walls. They will each go on the wall vertically into the studs and then the wood shelves just rest right on them.
Here it is hanging on the wall! After we put books on it, we noticed it bowing in the middle and added L brackets in the center under each shelf to help support it.
Here they are stuffed with books (which we have millions of), and with the L brackets in the middle for support. And my daughter hand made that Hobbes plush for my hubby for his birthday - she is a talented 13 year old:). I also want to add a note about the time I put in. I think I worked on this off and on for about 5 days, but that included drying time for my stains and I didn't work on it all day every day. Thanks for reading!
Suggested materials:
  • 3 common/wood boards cut to size   (Home Depot)
  • 6 black iron flanges   (Home Depot)
  • 2 black iron tee fittings   (Home Depot)
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2 of 3 comments
  • Arvilla Arvilla on Aug 03, 2017

    Thank you I wanted to do this went to lowes and Home Depot they dident have the pipea I dident know they cut them

  • Dysko7710 Dysko7710 on Aug 03, 2017

    They do, you pay for the whole pipe and they cut it into the measurements you need. Make sure to write down all of your measurements for both the pipes and wood to take with you so they can use that as a reference when they cut it for you.

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