How to Make a Rustic Wooden Shelf out of Cedar

There are many ways in which you can incorporate branches into shelving.

Building a rustic shelf out of cedar wood and cedar branches is an excellent way to make an attractive and distinctive piece for your home. A cedar shelf will not only serve as a place to put things, it will prevent moth damage within the area where the shelving is installed. Construct your cedar shelf in a manner that reflects the purpose for which it will be used -- give great attention to detail while making decorative shelving; or build a utilitarian moth-deterring shelf with less effort by using basic brackets and cedar boards.

Things You'll Need

• Cedar plank, 1/2 inch by 6 inches by 3 feet
• 4 cedar branches with 1-inch diameters, 6 inches long
• 2 cedar branches with 1-inch diameters, 8 inches long
• Saw
• Drill
• Drill bit
• 1½-inch wood screws

Instructions

1. Prepare the bracket branches by cutting both ends of all six of the branches to 45-degree angles. Cut the branches in such a manner that the overall length of the branch does not change -- the two cuts will both slope toward the same point so that that the final shape of the branches are essentially in a trapezoidal fashion. One "side" of a branch will be longer than the other.

2. Arrange each set of three brackets in a triangle with their shorter edges facing inward, so that one 8-inch branch will be the bracket crossbar, one 6-inch branch will attach to the shelf board and one 6-inch branch will attach to the wall. Predrill holes through both branches at each junction, angling the holes so that they do not exit the branches. Attach the holes securely with one wood screw at each junction in the predrilled holes.

3. Place the shelf board upside down on the working surface and position the assembled brackets on the underside of the shelf, separating them the desired distance based on the position of the wall studs. Predrill two holes into each bracket, slightly angling them if necessary and passing into the shelf board. Use a drill bit with a slightly smaller diameter than the 1½-inch wood screws.

4. Attach the brackets to the shelf using the 1½-inch wood screws drilled through the premade holes. Install the shelf to the wall in the same fashion by predrilling the holes in the side branches and angling them if necessary.

Tips & Warnings

• Add an additional design element to your shelving by having the branches overlap significantly at the front and bottom joints. Accomplish this by notching the branches rather than having them butt end to end, and simply screw them together where their notches connect.

• Take care not to drill holes or screws through the top surface of the shelf board, as they will be noticeable after installation.

References

• Chiropractor's Write Hand: What's Lurking in Your Closets?
• Backwoods Living: Go Rustic With Barnwood
• Remodelaholic: Build a Rustic Shelf Tutorial