How to Mount Pantry Shelves

Unclutter counter tops by storing things in the pantry.

An organized pantry can make your kitchen seem larger. Items that once took up space on counter tops and in cabinets can be stored on pantry shelves. Pantry shelves need to be mounted properly to support small appliances and heavy or bulky food items. The first step to designing an organized pantry is deciding what you want to store in it, then you can determine proper shelf placement to allow for any tall or bulky items.

Things You'll Need

• 3/4-inch plywood
• 1 by 4-inch boards
• Circular saw
• Pencil
• Sandpaper
• Hammer
• Nails
• Level
• Measuring tape

Instructions

Measuring and Cutting Shelves

1. 

   Determine shelf size by measuring width and depth of pantry.

   Measure the width and depth of the pantry.

2. Measure and mark plywood 1/2 inch shorter than the width of the pantry. This will allow enough wiggle room to put shelves in place. This marked line is the width of all the shelves. The depth of the shelves depends on what is to be stored on them. All of the shelves do not have to be the same depth. Upper shelves can be more shallow so that you can reach them. Decide how deep to make the shelves, remembering that this measurement must be less than the depth of the pantry. Mark shelf depths.

3. Use circular saw to cut out shelves. Sand edges and set aside.

Shelf Supports

1. Using pantry width measurement obtained earlier, measure and mark 1 by 4 boards. Cut one for each shelf to be mounted.

2. Use pencil, tape measure and level to mark where the shelves will go on the back wall of the pantry. Attach one of the 1 by 4 shelves that you cut in step 1 at each mark using hammer and nails. Repeat for all the shelves.

3. 

   Side supports should be shorter than actual pantry depth to allow for thickness of back shelf support.

   Using pantry depth measurement obtained earlier, measure and mark remaining 1 by 4 boards, 2 inches less than depth measurement. Cut two side shelf supports for each shelf. Sand edges.

4. Use level to mark placement of side supports even with back supports installed in step 2. Attach shelf supports to side walls of pantry using hammer and nails.

5. Place shelves on supports in pantry.

Tips & Warnings

• Shelves may be painted or covered with shelving paper.

• Place nails every 4 to 6 inches in shelf supports to ensure strength.