DIY Bedside Shelf

Sometimes a bedside shelf is the best storage option.

Adding your own bedside shelves is a perfect way to guarantee that you have the most convenient bedside storage while still allowing plenty of room to move on either side of the bed. An ideal solution for close bedroom quarters, handmade bedside shelves are also a great accent in a room and can be designed or painted to match the general style and color of a room. Uses can vary. You can use larger shelves to store books, lamps and jewelry boxes, while you can use smaller shelves simply to hold an alarm clock.

Things You'll Need

• Stud finder
• Measuring tape
• Pencil
• Drywall anchors
• 2-foot-by-6-inch-by-1/2-inch shelf board
• Brackets
• Drill
• Drill bit
• Wood screws

Instructions

1. Locate the studs in the wall next to the bed using the stud finder. Mark both sides of each stud with the pencil. Measure the distance from the center of each stud to the center of the next.

2. Turn the shelf board upside down and position the brackets evenly on the shelf's bottom surface, with the distance between the centers of each bracket the same distance as the distance between the wall studs. Mark the location of the bracket holes in the shelf board using the pencil.

3. Predrill the holes using a drill bit that has a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the intended wood screws. Attach the brackets to the shelf with wood screws, being careful not to penetrate the surface of the shelf.

4. Hold the completed shelf unit against the wall in the intended area, and position the brackets so that they line up with the wall studs. Set the carpenter's level on top of the shelf and adjust the positioning until the device shows that the shelf is level. Mark the location of the bracket holes on the wall with a pencil.

5. Predrill the bracket holes in the wall, making sure that the drill bit hits the wood studs with each screw. Attach the shelf to the wall using wood screws, installing each halfway before tightening them completely to ensure an even installation.

Tips & Warnings

• When choosing a location and depth for your bedside shelving, make sure to leave at least three inches between the shelf and the bed to allow plenty of space when making the bed. You may also want to install the shelf 6 inches above the bed to allow plenty of room for arms to hang between the bed and the shelf.

• You can easily paint or stain the shelf to match the look of the room. Paint the pieces of the shelf individually before assembling them to give the most professional appearance.

• If wall studs are not available or convenient, you can use drywall anchors, although you must take care that the load on the shelf does not exceed the guaranteed amount on the packaging.

• Do not allow children to play on this shelving, as it is not designed to support that type of force and could easily fall from the wall.

References

• The Stir; DIY Bedside Shelf (Instead of a Table); Kim Conte