How to build wall shelves

This step by step diy project is about how to build wall shelves. If you want to learn more about building simple but sturdy wall shelves, we recommend you to pay attention to the instructions described in the article. Work with attention and adjust the size of the shelves to suit your needs. Invest in high quality materials (cedar, pine, redwood), as they are both durable and have a very nice finish.

There are many other storage plans featured on our home-improvement website, so make sure you take a look over the similar project before starting the actual assembly of the wall shelves. Remember that you need to plan everything from the very beginning, as there are so many things that could go wrong, so you need to work with attention and to ask a friend to assist you, if you don’t have expertise in DIY projects.

Always take accurate measurements before adjusting the size of the components to the right dimensions and smooth the cut edges with sandpaper. Check if the corners are right-angled before inserting the screws and don’t forget to drill pocket / pilot holes, to prevent the wood from splitting. Plumb the shelf unit with a spirit level before locking it to the walls studs with screws. See all my Premium Plans in the Shop.

Made from this plan

Building wall shelves

Materials

A – 2 pieces of 2×2 lumber – 60 3/4″ long STUDS
B – 2 pieces of 2×2 lumber – 26″ long SUPPORTS
C – 5 pieces of 1×12 lumber – 32″ long SHELVES

2 pieces of 1×12 lumber – 8 ft
2 pieces of 2×2 lumber – 8 ft
2 1/2″ screws
1 1/4″ screws
glue, stain
wood filler

Tools

Safety gloves, glasses
Miter saw, jigsaw
Chalk line, tape measure, spirit level, carpentry pencil
Drill machinery and drill bits

Tips

Apply several coats of wood stain to the wooden components
Fill the holes with wood filler and smooth the surface

Time

One Day

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Building wall shelves

Building the frame of the shelves

The first step of the woodworking project is to build the frame of the shelves unit. Therefore, we recommend you to cut the components out of 2×2 lumber, using the instructions described in the diagram. Drill pocket holes at both ends of the horizontal supports and insert 2 1/2″ screws into the vertical components. Make sure the corners are square before inserting the screws.

Building the shelves

Building the shelves is a straight-forward process, but you need to take accurate measurements and to use appropriate tools. Make several parallel cuts inside the marked areas and remove the excess materials with a chisel. Smooth the recess with sandpaper and repeat the procedure for the rest of the shelves.

Fitting the shelves

Drill pocket holes on both side of the notches and insert 1 1/4″ galvanized screws into the studs. Align the components with great care and check if the corners are right-angled before inserting the screws. Work with attention and with great care, otherwise the end result won’t raise up to your expectations. Use a spirit level to check if the shelves are perfectly horizontal.

How to build wall shelves

Last but not least, we recommend you to take care of the finishing touches. Fill the holes with wood filler and let it to dry out for several hours. Afterwards, smooth the wooden surface with fine-grit sandpaper and vacuum the residues. Drill pilot holes through the horizontal supports and secure the unit to the wall, by inserting several screws. Use a stud finder before fitting the screws, otherwise the shelves won’t be locked into place properly.

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