How to Build Shelves

Is building your own shelf your next DIY project? Here you can get ideas for different kinds of shelves and building hacks on how to best build them. Take a look at our discussion boards, video tutorials, top projects, and slideshows. You can even go ask a question that's been puzzling you about how to build shelves. Make yourself at home.

How to Create More Storage Using DIY Floating Shelves

Watch video

Create Storage with Shelves

Cut and assemble parts Your shelf may only have one part, or it may have several. Cut the pieces needed and assemble them.
Sand and stain materials Use 100- or 150-grit sandpaper to sand each piece of the shelf and stain it in your desired color before installation.
Build and install a wall cleat A wall cleat is a piece of wood that your shelf will adhere to. This ensures it’s securely on the wall.
Keep a level handy Use a level when installing a wall cleat to a wall in order to ensure the shelf is installed straight.
Attach the shelf to the wall Fit the shelf to the wall using the wall cleat and voila, you now have extra storage space.

More building categories

Decks

Doors & Windows

Fire Pits

Furniture

Planters

Raised Garden Beds

Sheds

Walls

Top Shelf Building Projects

We've compiled the top DIY projects for building shelves. Prepare to be inspired.

Shelving Ideas Guaranteed to Improve Your Space

Shelving can easily transform any room in your home. It can be decorative or functional, or both...

How to Make DIY Floating Shelves for Less Than $20!

Floating shelves are a great way to add a minimalist and clean look to your home, and you can make...

15 Creative DIY Wood Projects

Wood is one of the most versatile materials for DIY home projects. No matter your style or budget,...

DIY Farmhouse Shelves Under $10 (Maybe Even LESS!)

Hey y'all! It's Lori from graceful + lovely! So, today's post is going to be talking about my...

Get Trendy Anthropolgie Storage Using a Cake Pan

I saw a shelf at Anthropologie recently that was made to look as if it was formed from an old cake...

New Custom Pantry Replaces Our Tiny Shallow Closet

I tore out the simple shallow closet we had and put in a custom pantry with built in drawers. Huge...

DIY Wooden Hanging Pot Rack

When planning a kitchen one of the primary goals is to ensure that there is sufficient storage so...

Hide-Away Pantry / Kitchen Storage

Get ready for a GAME changer! This is literally changing my life! Haha ok maybe not so dramatic, but...

DIY Pallet Bookshelf for Kids

DIY Shelf Building Videos

Looking for video tutorials to get you started with your first DIY shelving unit?

How to Build Garage Shelves | The Best Way!

This loft style garage shelving setup allows you to utilize the top portion of your garage walls...

How To Make A $7 Floating Shelf

For this project, I’ll be making 2 floating shelves. Affordable, stylish and easy to make. These...

Closet Door Built-In Storage

Okay, so I have to admit, I have A LOT of shoes. I'm not the type to put away my summer shoes during...

How to Create a Nice DIY Floating Bathroom Shelf + Free PLAN

For this project, I have been invited to work on a new bathroom design in Paris and the goal was...

Hometalkers' Favorite DIY Shelf Projects

Here you'll find our best projects for building shelves. Have a look around.

WINE RACK (Wall Hanging)

I designed a piece of laminated plywood wine rack hang on the wall.It is 110x20x14 centimeters and...

The Turning Point--DIY Corner Shelves

My office redo has got me all like "what am I doing with my life?!" Seriously, do you ever get to...

Repurposed Ladder Into Shelf

I had this old ladder sitting around and thought I would repurpose it somehow. Now ladders can be...

A Brilliant Solution for Small Bathrooms With No Counter Space!

We just moved into a new apartment & our bathroom is tiny and oddly laid out with no counter space &...

Bookshelves for Children's Reading Nook

We are creating a closet reading nook in our daughter's playroom, and found a simple way to build...

Mini Hanging Shelves

This is a super easy DIY project and it will only cost you three dollars!

Popular Shelf Building Discussions

Add your voice to the popular discussions happening now about building shelves.

I need information on how to hang pipe shelves from the ceiling

I want to be sure I hit a joist on the ceiling so I need to know how...

View discussion

Appropriate depth of shelves over a toilet

I would like to put some shelves over a toilet. They will be for...

View discussion

How do I make a storage unit with shelves between wall studs

View discussion

How can I add shelves to my tall kitchen cupboard to use wasted space?

I just moved into a mobile home and it has nice kitchen cupboards....

View discussion

How can I add shelves to my tall kitchen cupboard to use wasted space?

View discussion

Got a Building Question?

Got a question about how to build DIY shelves? We've got your answer.

New DIY Shelf Building Projects

Need some inspiration for your DIY shelf project? We have all the new projects.

DIY Hula Hoop Wood Shelf

Okay, you will not believe what I made using some dollar store 24" hula hoops. Check it out!

Hide-Away Pantry / Kitchen Storage

Get ready for a GAME changer! This is literally changing my life! Haha ok maybe not so dramatic, but...

Crate Storage With a New Spin

I am always looking for inexpensive ways to create storage in my kids' rooms. I originally made this...

Rain Gutter Bookshelves

For those of you who tuned in to the Hometalk Facebook Live Segment on mine and Rob's house a few...

Drawer Flip

What do you do when you have an unattractive dresser from the 70's and a blank empty space in need...

DIY Folding Wall Desk (Space Saver)

In this HT tutorial, I show you now to save space by installing a folding wall desk.My 10 year old...

Create Storage with Shelves

Cut and assemble parts

Sand and stain materials

Build and install a wall cleat

Keep a level handy

Attach the shelf to the wall

Decks

Doors & Windows

Fire Pits

Furniture

Planters

Raised Garden Beds

Sheds

Walls