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.
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
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...
Anthropolgie Knockoff Repurposed Cake Pan Shelf
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...
Popular DIY Shelf Building Slideshows
Slideshows are a great place to start to get ideas for DIY shelf building projects.
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...
Appropriate depth of shelves over a toilet
I would like to put some shelves over a toilet. They will be for...
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....
Got a Building Question?
Got a question about how to build DIY shelves? We've got your answer.
70
New DIY Shelf Building Projects
Need some inspiration for your DIY shelf project? We have all the new projects.
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...
Browse Shelf Building Projects
My Steampunk Version
I am sure this has been done a few times but we just moved into a new house and we are making it...
How to Make Floating Shelves
Here's a new Extreme How-To video that shows how to build floating shelves, step-by-step. This is a...
wooden box made out of scrap wood
just fooling around, small wooden box
How to Hang a Shelf With Two Keyholes
When you have to hang anything with two keyholes, you have to not only get your piece level, but you...
D.I.Y Farm Style Floating Shelves !
These beautiful shelves can be accomplished with just some plywood and 1x4s! Watch the video for a...
Laundry Room/Mudroom Reveal
We finished our laundry/mudroom just in time for Fall's muddy boots and wet puppy paws! The extended...
