Modern DIY Shelves

Many objects can be used as modern shelves.

Buying shelving for a home decorated in a modern style can be very expensive. Generally, the more visually impressive and interesting a set of shelving is, the higher the price tag. Making your own modern shelving is an smart way to decorate your own home in a style that you choose, while keeping within your budget. By adding a few personal touches, you can transform your shelving from purely practical storage to eye-catching feature.

Things You'll Need

• Long, flat board or other solid object
• Brackets or other supporting objects
• Wood screws
• Drill
• Drill bit
• Carpenter's level
• Stud finder
• Drywall anchors

Instructions

1. Find appropriately modern materials. Interesting shelves can be made out of old headboards, doors, windows, wooden boxes, and brackets can be made using scrap wood, small wooden boxes, old brackets and metal supports. It is easier to be creative with the shelf material, as the brackets themselves must support the weight, and in the long run it often is easier to match manufactured brackets with original shelving material.

2. Line up the shelf brackets with the shelving. Mark the location of the bracket screw holes onto the shelves, using a pencil. Predrill these holes, using a drill bit that is slightly smaller in diameter than the wood screws. Drill the screws in place, securely fastening the brackets to the shelving.

3. Determine the location of the studs in the wall using the stud finder, and mark their location using the pencil. Place the shelf on the wall and line up the brackets with the location of the studs. The placement of the studs may influence the spacing you have to use on your brackets. Set the carpenter's level on top of the shelf and adjust the shelf until it is level. Mark the screw holes on the wall using the pencil.

4. Pre-drill the holes in the wall, making sure that you hit the studs or use drywall anchors if you will not be mounting a very heavy shelf. Place the shelving over the holes and drill in each screw halfway. After all screws have been partially attached, tighten them all completely. This method allows the shelf to be evenly placed on the wall before the screws are tightened.

Tips & Warnings

• A light coffee table can be mounted on the wall and used as a modern shelf by simply screwing the legs to the wall using long screws and making sure that you are screwing into the studs. Wood boxes can be mounted to the wall in a similar fashion.

• Painting shelf boards or brackets can give a very modern look to a shelf, particularly if the design is striking.

• Never overload a shelf that is constructed based on design rather than load capacity. Decorative shelving should be loaded very lightly.

References

• 31 Modern and Creative Book Shelves: Home Interiors Zone
• Wall Mount Shelves, Glass Wall Mount Shelves, Wood Wall Mounted Shelf
• Glass Shelf Brackets