How to Make DIY Shelves

Making shelves nowadays can be a relatively simple process, provided one knows what supplies to purchase and what tools to use. While it may have been expensive in the past to buy shelving or bookcases to suit a particular room, it can now be done with a minimum of fuss.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Screwdriver
• Screws
• Stud finder
• Shelf standards
• Shelf brackets
• Shelf boards

Building Shelves

1. 
   Shelf Standard

   Measure the room and decide what size shelves you need and can fit into the space you have. Using sizes that are already cut will save you some time. Decide whether you want decorative or practical shelves, as this will simplify the choices.

2. Buy wall brackets to suit your space. For the wall, buy some shelf standards that you can mount into the wall as anchors for your shelf brackets.

3. 
   Shelf Bracket

   Attach the shelf standards to your wall at the predetermined places. Attach them to studs or battens so that screws will not just pull out of the wall. Standards should be spaced to provide the best support for the shelf boards. For example, if you are using 4-foot boards for the shelves, the standards should be about 3 feet apart.

4. Attach the shelf brackets to the shelf standards and place the shelf boards onto the brackets.

Tips & Warnings

• Attach your shelf standards to the studs.
• As always, use caution with power tools.

References

• DIY Shelves

Resources

• Building a variety of shelves and shelf units