How To Build a Shelf
Are your walls looking a little bland these days? Perhaps you would like to display a collection of books, magazines, or pictures to spice up those walls! But don’t go presenting your collection in any old way – why not build a shelf to show it off! Shelves are easy and fun to make and they can be built with a wide variety of materials. And, making your own will not only allow you to express your creativity but it will also save you a few bucks along the way! Here are some great ideas for building a shelf of your own!
Why Build a Shelf?
There are a multitude of reasons to build a shelf to adorn your walls. Not only do they look pretty, but they also serve a display and storage function. The following shelves can be used to store a variety of objects, including:
- books
- CDs and DVDs
- picture frames
- collectables
- candles
- flowers
Almost any thing you can think of will look great on one of these shelves.
Corner Shelf
Why waste all of the space at the end of your existing cupboards? This corner shelf will add much needed storage to your kitchen or bathroom!
Materials:
You will need:
- tape measure
- sand paper
- drawing compass or a large, circular object (like a garbage lid)
- clamps
- circular saw and saber saw
- drill
- 2" woodscrews
- 1 by 12" finished lumber
- paintbrush and stain
- safety goggles
How To Make It:
- Measure the height of your existing cabinets. Measure and mark the same space on the back and sides of your lumber. (Remember, you will make pieces for the sides, top and bottom, and back of the shelf).
- With the combination saw, mark straight lines on your lumber, which you can use to cut along.
- Cut along the lines with your circular saw.
- Drill holes along the long side of the lumber, approximately 3/8" from the edge
- Screw the boards together.
- Measure, mark, and cut three boards for shelves.
- With your circular object or compass, draw an oval edge along these shelves. Cut with your saber saw.
- Sand rough edges with your sandpaper.
- Drill the back and sides of your cabinet in order to attach the shelves. Fasten the shelves along the back and sides with your wood screws.
- Stain the piece. Let dry.
- Clamp the cabinet into place. Screw into the existing cabinets for extra support.
- Screw through the back of the cabinet into the wall. This will hold the cabinet in place.
Book Lovers Bookshelf
This shelf is perfect for book lovers or for those who want to add a quirky touch to their home. Even better, it requires minimal materials and effort to make!
Materials:
To make this shelf you will need:
- a selection of interesting looking books (that you don’t want to read anymore!)
- two 4-inch corner brackets
- liquid nails crazy glue
- drill
How To Make It:
- Grab your stack of books (there should be at least four good-sized ones) and glue any lose covers to the front panels of each book.
- Choose the book that you want to be on the bottom of the stack. Open it to the back cover.
- Glue the corner braces to the cover, so that they stick up perpendicularly from the book. Close the book. Put aside.
- Glue the other books together and allow to dry for at least 24 hours.
- Hang the bracketed book to the wall. Drill holes in the wall using your drill, if necessary.
- Glue the stack of books onto the bracketed book. You are left with a great "booky" bookshelf!
Game Board Shelf
For those who would like to add a little pizzazz to their room, consider making a game board shelf. These are lots of fun and are sure to be the center of attention. Perfect for a games room or den!
Materials:
You will need:
- one game board
- two 4" L-shaped brackets
- liquid nails crazy glue
- a piece of ½" thick plywood, cut to the half of the size of the game board
- paint (to match the back of the game board)
- drill with screws
How to Make It:
- Paint the plywood to match the bottom of the game board. Let dry.
- Glue the plywood onto one half of the underside of the game board
- Glue the brackets onto the other half of the game board, facing up
- Allow the glue to dry for 24 hours.
- Drill the bracketed side of the board onto your wall, screwing the brackets in place.
- Glue the remaining part of the bracket to the wall, so that the bottom of the board folds up, perpendicularly
- Decorate and have fun!
