How to Build Shelves: 5 Types of Shelves That Are Simple to Construct
When room is limited in the home, all you need is some extra storage for your belongings. Most individuals would get creative and make do with what they have, such as sliding cupboards, magazine holders, or areas under their mattresses. Using shelves, on the other hand, is an excellent way to increase storage space while also organising your home to make it appear clean and neat.
While creating shelves may appear to be difficult, this is not necessarily the case. To create a robust shelf that can handle anything, you'll need the right tools as well as some time and patience. This post will show you how to construct several types of shelves suitable for your home.
You would require the following tools and materials:
• Shelving boards.
• Shelf supports, which can be made of wood or metal strips and brackets.
• Screwdrivers and drills
• Screws in a variety of lengths.
• Miscellaneous items including pens, levels, glue, and measuring tapes
You may now easily create your shelves in a few quick stages if you have the necessary tools and materials. Before you begin building your shelf, you must first decide which type best suits your preferences. Other factors to consider are the sort of place in which you want to instal your shelf and the style that appeals to you.
Here are some examples of shelves you can make on your own.
1. Wall Shelves
By expanding vertical storage on walls, wall shelves make every area more functional. Typical wall shelves contain shelving boards that are supported by sturdy brackets that are screwed to studs. Fixing wall shelves demands a thorough understanding of the things that will be placed on them in order to get the best screws and brackets that will suit perfectly.
Here's how to make a wall shelf:
• Locate the wall studs to which the brackets will be attached. Wall studs are the wooden frameworks that are normally hidden behind the walls and offer extra support to the house. Once you've found it, dry fit the bracket against it.
• After determining the proper height and dry-fitting the bracket, mark the screw holes with a pen.
• Drill some pilot holes through the marks you made. After that, place the bracket in place and screw the screws well inside the stud.
• Repeat the preceding steps for the second stud that will be used to secure the second bracket. You can use a level or a digital equivalent to find a suitable height for the shelf so that it does not appear slanted.
• Attach the shelf board to the support brackets using small screws. When you're finished screwing, your shelf is ready to use.
2. Floating Shelves
Floating shelves have the same appearance as wall shelves, but they are not supported by visible brackets. Instead, it employs cleats that are normally concealed but maintain a solid grip. This form of shelving is great if you want a more attractive shelving design or to make them more appealing to your guests.
The two primary processes in creating floating shelves are as follows:
Putting the shelf together
• Cut the shelf board to the desired length with a saw. Ascertain that the two cut pieces are of equal size and length.
• Trim the spacers to the desired length. Spacers are the wooden pieces that go on the top and bottom sides of the shelf boards.
• After cutting them to size, ready to nail them together by smearing adhesive on the contact surfaces. Secure the spacers together with a screwdriver.
• Assemble the shelf components by sandwiching the spacers between the two shelving boards. To properly instal the shelf, add glue before driving in screws. Prepare the cleat when you've finished building the shelf.
Creating the cleat
• Using a saw, cut the cleat sections into three short pieces and one long piece.
• Form an E shape out of the cut pieces and drill pilot holes. Drill the pieces together after applying glue to the contact surfaces.
• Secure the cleat to the wall with a screwdriver and some appropriate-size screws. If feasible, identify the wall studs and secure the cleat with solid screws.
• Place the shelf box on the cleat and you're ready to use your floating shelf.
3. Stand-alone shelves
Free-standing shelves are frequently moveable and rely on their base for support rather than the walls. Typically, shelves are piled on top of one another until they achieve an optimal storage height. The fact that these shelves are mobile gives them the advantage of being able to be used anyplace.
Here's how to construct a free-standing shelf:
• Begin by assembling the two individual cleats. Before attaching the cleat pieces together, make sure they are of the same height.
• When the cleats are finished, stand them up and place the shelving board on top. Make sure the standing cleats are flush with the edges of the shelving board.
• Screw the shelving board against the base cleats to keep it firmly in place. You can also use glue to strengthen the bond.
• Nail or screw the remaining four cleat pieces to the shelf board edges to secure them in place. Attach and nail the next shelving board in place.
• Repeat the previous process for the remaining shelf boards until you reach the required height. Make the base larger for better stability if you want taller free-standing shelves.
• Attach the final shelving board at the very top, or leave it as is.
4. Top Hung Shelves
Top-hung shelves are typically supported by the roof and require metal holders for additional support. They aren't widespread in homes, although they can be useful for adding storage space. This style of shelf requires at least two metal supports that have already been attached, either by screws or welding. After then, it's a simple matter of installing them.
• Screw the two independent metal holders to the ceiling, most likely on a wall-to-wall crossbar above the ceiling.
• Screw the shelving planks in place once they've been securely secured. When you're finished, you can begin storing items on the shelf.
5. Corner Shelves
Corner shelves typically utilise the spaces on corner walls, but the basic approach used to create them is same to that used to create wall shelves and floating shelves. The only difference is that the shelves are joined at right angles. The design you can use while building them relies on your preferences, such as whether you want them to appear floating or if you think it's okay to utilise brackets for support.
Conclusion
Making shelves isn't difficult; it only takes a little time and following the right technique. Shelves in homes, schools, and workplaces are perfect for increasing storage space and making a space appear more orderly. If you're going to build a shelf at home, school, or business, be sure you have the required tools and follow the proper technique to ensure a sturdy and long-lasting shelf.
