If you want to add more storage and aesthetics to your home, you can add simple wooden shelves. Your home’s value can even increase with the added functionality. These shelves and ledges are ideal for the garage, closet, library, and basically any area that you intend to display and store items.
This project is easy, quick, and inexpensive. There is no need for you to buy expensive materials. You can even use scrap wood to save money. A plywood, 2 x 4’s, tape measure, driver/drill or impact, miter saw, spirit level, and circular saw are all you need to build simple beginner wooden shelves for your home.
1. Clean your work area.
See to it that your work area is tidy and orderly to avoid accidents as well as to speed up the process. If the room is cluttered, it can be difficult for you to find the things that you need or to even get to where you need to be. You may even hurt yourself if something falls on you or trips you over.
So, before you start the project, you have to clean your work area and put your tools and materials in their proper places. Place them nearby, so you can easily reach for them.
2. Determine the dimensions.
How long, wide, big, or deep do you want your wooden shelves to be? Determine your dimensions beforehand to avoid confusion.
For example, you can go with 16 inches for depth. It is deep enough to hold standard boxes and tool cases in a garage. It is also shallow enough to make it easy for you to reach for your things.
Use a circular saw to cut your shelves from half an inch Oriented Strand Board (OSB). Then, measure about six feet in length. If you’re not confident with your cutting skills, you can have Lowe’s or Home Depot do the cutting for you. They typically use a track saw.
Use three support brackets per shelf. If you only use two, the support may not be sufficient. Use a miter saw to cut three lengths of the 2 x 4’s for your support brackets. You should have six pieces that are 8 ½ inches long, another six pieces that are 10 inches long, and another six pieces that are 12 inches long.
3. Mark the 45-degree angles.
Use a speed square to make these markings on every end of your bracket cross member (12 inches). Then, you should use the miter saw to cut it.
4. Assemble the brackets.
Use an impact driver and standard screws at 2 ½ inches. Place two screws at the connected ends. Put the longer piece at the top of the bracket so that its length is in contact with the shelf.
5. Raise your cross bracket with scrap wood.
Use a piece of scrap wood (1 inch) to make it easier for you to screw the cross bracket’s ends together.
6. Locate your wall studs and level your brackets.
You can use a stud finder to mark out your stud locations. Then, you can put your shelves about 16 inches from your ceiling and 16 inches beneath your top shelf. This would be spacious enough for your items. You should also use a spirit level to level your brackets before you mark and pre-drill them.
7. Attach the support brackets.
You can start pre-drilling holes into your stud and bracket when you have set your bracket placement. Secure them onto your wall using screws that are 2 ½ inches long.
8. Attach the brackets.
Attach your first bracket, and then your second bracket. They should be 16 inches apart. Your final brackets, however, should be 32 inches away from your second one.
9. Screw your shelves.
When the brackets are ready, you can screw down your shelves. See to it that they are pushed to the wall. Pre-drill 4 holes through your shelf and into your brackets. Drive 4 screws down through your shelf into the support and then drive your screws so that they do not snag on things that slid over them.
10. Load up your items.
Finally, you can load up your things on the shelves. Don’t forget to check if your shelves are indeed firmly attached to your brackets.
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