• Explore Projects

    How to

    • Build
    • Paint
    • Upcycle
    • Craft
    • Decorate
    • Clean
    • Repair
    • Tile
    • Organize
    • Grow

    Rooms & Spaces

    • Kitchen & Dining
    • Living Room
    • Bedroom
    • Bathroom
    • Craft Room
    • Laundry Room
    • Home Office
    • Entryway
    • Basement
    • Outdoor
    • Windows & Doors
    • Floors & Ceilings
    • Staircases
    • Home Tours
  • + Post Project
  • Ask Question
  • Join Now
    Sign Up Sign In with Facebook
    Already a member? Log In
    About Us•Contact
  • DIY Projects
  • How to
  • Build
  • Shelves

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
How to Create More Storage Using DIY Floating Shelves

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

Decks

Doors & Windows

Doors & Windows

Fire Pits

Fire Pits

Furniture

Furniture

Planters

Planters

Raised Garden Beds

Raised Garden Beds

Sheds

Sheds

Walls

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 Ideas Guaranteed to Improve Your Space

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

Best Of HometalkBest Of Hometalk
How to Make DIY Floating Shelves for Less Than $20!

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...

Best Of HometalkBest Of Hometalk
15 Creative DIY Wood Projects

15 Creative DIY Wood Projects

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

Best Of HometalkBest Of Hometalk
DIY Farmhouse Shelves Under $10 (Maybe Even LESS!)

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...

Lori | YouTuber at My Lovely Texas HomeLori | YouTuber at My Lovely Texas Home
Get Trendy Anthropolgie Storage Using a Cake Pan

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...

Amanda C, Hometalk TeamAmanda C, Hometalk Team
New Custom Pantry Replaces Our Tiny Shallow Closet

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...

David McIntoshDavid McIntosh
DIY Wooden Hanging Pot Rack

DIY Wooden Hanging Pot Rack

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

KaseyKasey
Hide-Away Pantry / Kitchen Storage

Hide-Away Pantry / Kitchen Storage

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

Amanda C, Hometalk TeamAmanda C, Hometalk Team
DIY Pallet Bookshelf for Kids

DIY Pallet Bookshelf for Kids

DinahDinah

Popular DIY Shelf Building Slideshows

Slideshows are a great place to start to get ideas for DIY shelf building projects.

12 Terrific DIY Floating Shelves to Give Your Walls a Lift

12 Terrific DIY Floating Shelves to Give Your Walls a Lift

View Project Book
Pretty and Practical Shelving Ideas to Improve Your Home

Pretty and Practical Shelving Ideas to Improve Your Home

View Project Book
19 Clever Shelving Ideas That Aren't Actually Shelves

19 Clever Shelving Ideas That Aren't Actually Shelves

View Project Book
17 Surprising Shelving Ideas You Would Never Have Thought Of

17 Surprising Shelving Ideas You Would Never Have Thought Of

View Project Book
Get Your Girlfriends Together To Create These Mind Blowing Shelves

Get Your Girlfriends Together To Create These Mind Blowing Shelves

View Project Book
16 Floating Shelves That Will Stun Guests

16 Floating Shelves That Will Stun Guests

View Project Book
15 Incredible Crate Projects That You Can Do On A Time Crunch

15 Incredible Crate Projects That You Can Do On A Time Crunch

View Project Book
14 Fantastic Ways to Make Pipe Shelves Work for Your Home Decor

14 Fantastic Ways to Make Pipe Shelves Work for Your Home Decor

View Project Book
15 Clever Ways to Add More Kitchen Storage Space With Open Shelves

15 Clever Ways to Add More Kitchen Storage Space With Open Shelves

View Project Book

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!

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...

Ericlindberg27Ericlindberg27
How To Make A $7 Floating Shelf

How To Make A $7 Floating Shelf

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

GlenGlen
Closet Door Built-In Storage

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...

Rob & Courtney M, Hometalk TeamRob & Courtney M, Hometalk Team
How to Create a Nice DIY Floating Bathroom Shelf + Free PLAN

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...

Mr ATCMr ATC

Hometalkers' Favorite DIY Shelf Projects

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

WINE RACK (Wall Hanging)

WINE RACK (Wall Hanging)

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

VcraftcustomcreationsVcraftcustomcreations
The Turning Point--DIY Corner Shelves

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...

Woodshop DiariesWoodshop Diaries
Repurposed Ladder Into Shelf

Repurposed Ladder Into Shelf

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

Amanda C, Hometalk TeamAmanda C, Hometalk Team
A Brilliant Solution for Small Bathrooms With No Counter Space!

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 &...

Abbie MAbbie M
Bookshelves for Children's Reading Nook

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...

Ellora at Creatively SouthernEllora at Creatively Southern
Mini Hanging Shelves

Mini Hanging Shelves

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

Couponing4everCouponing4ever

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

PatriciaPatricia

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

View discussion
View discussion

Appropriate depth of shelves over a toilet

PattiPatti

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

View discussion
View discussion

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

PattyPatty

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?

Wylie ZieglerWylie Ziegler

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.

70

New DIY Shelf Building Projects

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

DIY Hula Hoop Wood Shelf

DIY Hula Hoop Wood Shelf

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

Shelly L NemethShelly L Nemeth
Hide-Away Pantry / Kitchen Storage

Hide-Away Pantry / Kitchen Storage

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

Amanda C, Hometalk TeamAmanda C, Hometalk Team
Crate Storage With a New Spin

Crate Storage With a New Spin

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

Stacy DavisStacy Davis
Rain Gutter Bookshelves

Rain Gutter Bookshelves

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

Rob & Courtney M, Hometalk TeamRob & Courtney M, Hometalk Team
Drawer Flip

Drawer Flip

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

Sarah K., Hometalk TeamSarah K., Hometalk Team
DIY Folding Wall Desk (Space Saver)

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...

Jeremy HoffpauirJeremy Hoffpauir

Browse Shelf Building Projects

Railroad Spike Wine Rack Diy

Railroad Spike Wine Rack Diy

Earlier in the year I shared a coat rack made out of railroad spikes. At the time, I wanted to make...

ScavengerChicScavengerChic
Making Needed Shelves in the Kitchen

Making Needed Shelves in the Kitchen

I saw this post.https://www.hometalk.com/31420491And I thought what a great idea. My only problem...

Nadine Hartman BourneNadine Hartman Bourne
Repurposed Headboard Wall Shelf

Repurposed Headboard Wall Shelf

after hanging out in my storage area for SIX years, this headboard was finally joined with a recent...

Gail--My Repurposed LifeGail--My Repurposed Life
5 Charming Farmhouse DIY's to Try This Weekend.

5 Charming Farmhouse DIY's to Try This Weekend.

Looking for some farmhouse inspiration? Here are 5 projects to tackle this weekend to bring a rustic...

Kara S.Kara S.
DIY Craft Stick Shelves Wall Decor

DIY Craft Stick Shelves Wall Decor

These geometric wall shelves are not only functional but they’re cute and beautiful as well. This...

Petro NeaguPetro Neagu
A Wine Cellar

A Wine Cellar

Learning the art of winemaking using your own fruit can be fun and rewarding. Where to store your...

Feral TurtleFeral Turtle
See more
AboutPrivacyTermsGuidelinesMediaSupportAdvertise
Follow us
© 2021 Hometalk.com By Hometalk Inc.