Nearly Free Fancy Scrap Plywood Closet Shelves

Ah the before.

This is actually a decent size closet, almost 8' wide but it was a dumping ground and eternally disorganized, at best. In one corner is an awkward angle but the key to an organized space, no matter how small:  use every available inch, especially the awkward ones.

I figured some shelves here would make a world of difference and keeping the budget extremely tight led me to my scrap wood pile.

Rooting around, I dug up some leftover plywood from the laundry room waterfall counter and went with that.

But what makes these shelves fancy? Cork! Rolls of cork, and my only expenditure for this project.

So measure your closet space and cut your shelf blanks. Lay the plywood atop the cork, trace it with a Sharpie, then trim the cork with a pair of scissors.

For all the tips, details, and finer points to this project, please come on by Flipping the Flip!

Next, a little construction adhesive as that's what I had on hand (again, keeping that budget tight) and lay the cork cutout atop. Flip the piece over and weigh it down while it sets up.

Back upstairs, I used pieces of 1x2 for the shelf supports. Those I attached to the walls with metal screw-in wall anchors.

A quick shelf test and a chin scratch....what to cover the ratty plywood edges with, hmmm....Ah! I had some leftover 1x2 cedar. Excellent!

A little glue on the edge and I tacked those on.

And voila! Nice clean, tidy, modern, and bonus - non-slip - closet shelves! You'd never know they were regular ol' plywood.

I turned this awkward unused corner into valuable storage and organized space, all with scrap wood! Practically for free!

Perfect use of scrap materials!

Yeah, ok, I uh, haha, didn't realize how much toilet paper was hiding in this closet but now I know.

After returning everything back into the closet, turns out I have loads of extra storage space available, even an entire empty shelf!

See what scrap wood can do for you!

Don't forget to come by Flipping the Flip (flippingtheflip.com) for more on this project as well as lots of other fun and handy ones!