By
eHow Home & Garden Editor
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Step1
Buy shelving that fits the space you have for it. For a very small space, that might mean buying small, individual wall shelves and attaching each to a wall. Some plastic shelving comes in corner shelves that can take advantage of just a few inches of space to store small items.
Step2
Look for thick plastic if you intend to store anything heavier than a few pounds. Thin plastic may look elegant and may take up less space, but it will crack and bend easily. Thin plastic shelves won't last long if there is a lot to be stored. Handle the shelves of possible before you buy them. Try to bend a shelf and see how well it holds up. If it gives way easily, look for thicker plastic.
Step3
Get shelving that matches your level of mechanical skills. There are plastic shelving units that require hours and a variety of tools to put together. There are also units that snap together in minutes. Before you buy a unit, make sure you know what goes into assembling it.
Step4
Check the plastic to see how deep the color goes. Some plastic is painted with a thin layer of paint. That paint can chip away easily and leave the shelves an eyesore. Other plastic is the same color all the way through. Those units will not show chips or dents as easily.
