DIY PVC Tiered Shelving

You can have the PVC cut at the hardware store.

Shelving units are a necessity to keep your home organized, especially when cabinets and storage space is minimal. Store-bought shelving units range in price from cheaply made and inexpensive to very sturdy and incredibly pricy. The solution is to make your own from PVC frame and add wood shelves. PVC is lightweight and inexpensive. The pipes are sturdy enough to hold weight but easy to work with.

Things You'll Need

• 10-by-2-inch PVC pipes, 6
• Electric drill
• 1/4-inch drill bit
• 8-by-18-by-1-inch pine, 3
• 18-by-2-inch PVC pipes, 6
• 3-way PVC corner joints, 4
• 12-by-2-inch PVC pipe, 8
• 4-by-2-inch PVC pipes, 4
• PVC caps, 4
• 4-inch bolts, 12
• Nuts, 12

Instructions

1. Drill a pilot hole into the side of six 10-by-2-inch PVC pipes. Place the holes 4 inches in from each end of the pipe. Drill through the top of the pipe into the bottom of the pipe. Use an electric drill with a 1/4-inch drill bit.

2. Drill a pilot hole into each side of three 8-by-18-by-1-inch piece of pine. Use a drill with a 1/4-inch drill bit.

3. Place two 18-by-2-inch pipes parallel to one another on your work surface. Place two of the pre-drilled 10-by-2-inch pipes perpendicular to the 18-inch pipes. Place the two shorter pipes on the ends of the larger pipes to create a rectangle. Secure the four pipes together using a 3-way PVC corner joints.

4. Repeat Step 3 two more times to create two more rectangles. Use two 18-inch pipes and two drilled 10-inch pipes for each rectangle. Instead of the three-way joints, utilize four-way PVC T-joints to create the second and third rectangle.

5. Insert a 12-by-2-inch pipe into each of the open joints on the three-way connectors. Insert the other end of the 12-inch pipes into the open ends of the four-way connectors in the second rectangle. Place four more 12-inch pipes into the other side of the four-way connectors and insert the other end of the pipes into the four-way connectors on the third rectangle.

6. Insert a 4-by-2-inch PVC pipe into each of the remaining open joints of the four-way connectors on the third rectangle. Place a PVC cap on the end of each 4-inch pipe. The caps become the feet for the shelf.

7. Adjust the position of the 10-inch pipes so the pre-drilled holes are parallel to one another. Place one of the pre-drilled pine boards onto the top rectangle, aligning the holes in the board with the holes in the pipes. Insert a 4-inch bolt through each of the holes. Place a nut on the bottom of each bolt and tighten them to secure the shelves. Place the second board on the second rectangle. Secure it with more bolts and nuts. Place the third board on the third rectangle and secure it as well with more nuts and bolts.

Tips & Warnings

• If desired, paint or stain the wood prior to assembly. The pipes can also be spray painted any color. Let all paint dry for 24 hours before assembly.