How to make shelves

Video: Easy DIY FLOATING SHELVES No bracket | DIY CREATORS

Content

Steps
Part 1 of 5: Getting Started
Part 2 of 5: A Very Simple Brick and Wood Floor Shelf
Part 3 of 5: Wall Shelf
Part 4 of 5: Freestanding Shelving
Part 5 of 5: Creative Shelves
Tips
A warning
What do you need

Shelves are the most useful piece of furniture in any home or office. Shelves can hold books, jewelry, kitchen utensils, photographs, handicrafts and much more. They help organize, catalog, clear space, and keep things in order. There are many ways to make a shelf, some easier, some more difficult, and some of them are presented in this article.

Steps

Part 1 of 5: Getting Started

1 Choosing a board for the shelf. Choose the board according to your preferences, budget and taking into account how the future shelf will complement your interior. The choice of such boards is quite wide.
- Softwood board. These boards are easy to cut to length and can hold a variety of objects, including heavy books.
- Plywood board. Made from several layers. The surface often imitates polished wood or is laminated.
- Chipboard Shelves: Made from pressed sawdust glued together under pressure, they are usually lightweight and easy to find. It is best to give such boards to professionals for sawing. they can blunt a normal tool.
- Blockboard shelves: These are usually stronger than chipboard and are suitable for heavy items like tools or gadgets that are usually stored in a garage.
- Shelf blanks with specific dimensions: traditionally this is part of a set that you can assemble yourself. This kit should be accompanied by assembly instructions, and if not, contact the manufacturer.
2 Select shelf fasteners based on the type of shelf. In some cases, the fasteners are hidden, but be that as it may, any shelf needs some kind of support.
- Wood Planks: Simple and Effective - Wood planks or blocks are used to hold the shelf in place. Slats nailed to both ends of the shelf are also known as tapered support. Wood strips: Simple but effective, wood strips or blocks can be used to keep shelves in place.
- Metallic Strips: Can be purchased at a hardware store and used as shelf support. They don't look as pretty as wooden ones, so they are best used for garage shelves or shelves in closets.
- Brackets: Usually made in the shape of a corner (or Latin letter L), they can be fanciful or simple. Some of them are so decorated that I can decorate the interior, but they will cost much more than simple ones.

Part 2 of 5: A Very Simple Brick and Wood Floor Shelf

This is the simplest shelf anyone can put together. Suitable for people with low income. Due to the somewhat unstable structure (nothing holds it together), one should be at the bottom, in case it collapses. We do not recommend doing this if you have children or pets.

1 Find some bricks and wooden planks. Shelf boards must be the same size. If not, you will have to saw off one of them to the same length.
- You can use cinder blocks, and then you only need one on each side - better than two bricks.
2 Choose a suitable place for the shelf. Because it will have little support, it must be close to the wall, or there must be something flat behind it.
3 Place two bricks next to each other at the chosen location. Place two more bricks on the opposite side, creating the base for the shelf. The distance between the bricks should be determined by the length of the board, which should "hang down" a little at the edges (about 5cm).
- Two bricks on either side are needed to support the shelf.
4 We make a shelf. We put the first board on these bricks. Then we put two bricks next to each other above the same place where the base bricks are.
- This time we add two more bricks for the two already existing ones to make something like a rack.
- We do the same on the other side.
5 Add the next shelf. Now it's done.It's simple, but good enough to keep books, audio CDs and DVDs in order.
- If you want to reinforce this structure, add planks screwed crosswise to the back of the boards.

Part 3 of 5: Wall Shelf

If you don't mind drilling holes in the wall, these standard shelves can be hung anywhere in the house for easy storage or display of decorations.

1 Choose a pair of brackets. Choose simple or decorated, depending on your needs.
2 Choose a board for the shelf. If the length does not suit you, cut off the excess.
3 Bring the bracket up to the wall where you plan to hang the shelf. Make notes with a pencil. Use a tape measure to measure the position of the bracket on the opposite side.
4 Drill holes (or holes) for the first bracket following the marks you made. Always check the location of electrical wiring and pipes before drilling. We recommend placing a mat on the floor to make it easier to collect dust from the work process.
- Use a concrete drill (bolt).
- Drill deep enough for the screw to go into the wall.
- Insert the plug.
5 While holding the bracket in place, screw the screw (s) into the wall until it stops.
6 Hang the shelf on the bracket. While holding the board with one hand, use a spirit level to check if you have marked the correct mark and if the shelf will hang straight. If the mark is accurate, everything is in order. If not, then adjust to make it right.
7 Drill a hole or holes for the second bracket. Do the same as for the first bracket.
8 Attach the shelf to the brackets. Place the board on the staples and screw them from below. Take the size of the screws so that they do not come out from the front side, they should be completely in the board.
9 Gather up the litter and get rid of the dust. Press lightly on the shelf to check if it is firmly attached to the wall.
10 Place decorative trinkets, books, or something else on top of it. Make sure the shelf will support heavier objects first before placing them there, and do not place valuables on your DIY shelf until you are sure it is firmly in place.

Part 4 of 5: Freestanding Shelving

As indicated in the table of contents, the rack stands separately and can be easily moved to another room or to another place. This method can be used by assembling the shelves within a prefabricated structure, such as a kitchen cabinet, where the side panels are the cabinet walls and the lid is not needed.

1 Select the items required for the shelf. You will need:
- Shelf boards. They should be at least 2cm thick.
- Shelf support. Wedges (wooden corners) are ideal for such a design.
- Two vertical support panels. They will be on the sides of the shelves.
- Top part. It should be slightly wider than the shelf boards so that it can be nailed or glued to the entire structure.
- A piece of solid fiberboard for the back wall. (Ask your timber supplier to cut the right size for you if you can't do it yourself)
2 Measure the height and width that you would like for your shelving unit.
- Then adjust the boards to this width, if they have not already been adjusted to the desired parameters.
- Adjust the vertical support panels in height if they have not been adjusted to the required dimensions in advance.
3 Nail or glue wedges to the first vertical support at the base. They need to be placed on the side of the support that will look inward.
- Do the same with the second vertical support.
- This will be the primary support for the shelves.
4 Place the vertical support panels on the floor and align them to the width of the boards.
- Mark on the entire first support where you want to place the shelves.
- For each level, use a board to measure the exact position of the wedge to the vertical support panel (this will help determine if it will be level) and make notes.
- Repeat measurements and set marks for each subsequent shelf.
5 Nail or glue the next wedge onto the first vertical support panel. Check that the opposite side is at the same level by placing the board on the already attached wedge and bringing it up to the mark on the opposite vertical panel. Check with a level for evenness, then nail or glue the wedge on the opposite side.
- When nailing or glueing the wedges, make sure that the nails will not pierce the backing panel, and the glue will not leak onto it: both the nails and the glue should remain completely in the panel.
6 Repeat the same for each level.
7 Add the top shelf. A wedge is not required for this level. This board should be slightly wider than the others so that it can be nailed, screwed, or glued to the tops of two vertical support panels.
- If you need to disassemble the shelves, you don't need to glue the top one. Better to use screws, they are easy to remove and then screw in again after reassembly.
8 Add the back wall. The rack runs the risk of collapsing or collapsing if you don't add a back wall. Nail or glue the back of the rack.
- Another option is to use cross-reinforcement instead of a single wood panel. Use whatever you like best.
9 place books and other items on the shelves. The rack can be placed anywhere and can be easily disassembled and stored in individual parts (the wedges, for example, remain attached to the vertical side panels.

Part 5 of 5: Creative Shelves

If you want to make yourself shelves that would stand out with something unusual, here are some suggestions.

1 You can make corner shelves. In some cases, only the corners remain free, and if possible, take advantage of this! For example, find how to create corner shelves in a garden shed.
- You can also find instructions on how to install corner shelves if you need bathroom shelves.
2 Floating shelves. This kind of shelf looks like it just sticks out of the wall without support. Of course, there is support there, but it is done with the help of a couple of tricks.
3 There are invisible shelves. It looks like the books are just in the air. These shelves are more entertainment than useful items.
4 We turn the skateboard into a shelf. This is a great way to save your favorite skateboard, which is already battered by life, but still holds many good memories for you.
5 Make a bookcase that is a secret door. Let the shelves hide your jewelry! Or, if you are more into books than clothes, then turn your dressing room into library shelves.
6 You can add shelves for audio CDs. The principles of creating such a rack shelf can be used to make the same rack shelf in different sizes for different purposes, such as storing spices or shelving for decorations.
7 Make a shelf for your cat! The cat "shelf-window sill" will lure your cat for the whole day, and it will not get tangled under your feet!

Tips

Prefabricated shelves (metal or plastic vertical supports with pre-drilled holes, removable brackets and shelves) are a commercial product. They come in a variety of sizes, styles, and weights. They are often used in dressing rooms, kitchen cabinets and pantries. they, standing out against the background of the wall, clearly do not have a glamorous look. Just follow the collection instructions or ask your dealer for help.
- You can also look for instructions on how to set up cabinet organizers and how to hang storage shelves in your garage.
If you live in an earthquake-prone area, it is best to use Velcro or similar to keep fragile items in place on the shelves and prevent them from breaking.

A warning

Double-check your measurements of the boards and where you nail them before starting work.It is terribly insulting when you do something, and then it turns out crooked or does not sit down like milk!