Build a wall of shelves that doesn’t need brackets or nails to keep it in place. A page on a website, howto build a wall of shelves. What the heck does that have to do with my subject line? I’ll tell you.
Why would I want to build a custom wall of shelves, how to make a wall of shelves, how to make a wall of bookshelves? For starters, not every store has large, pre-made wall units in stock. Building one might be your only option for outfitting your laundry room or garage. A DIY project like this tends to make for a better finished product, too – you have full control over the color, size, material and design of the structure you create.
How to build a wall of shelves
Building a wall of shelves is a great way to add extra storage space to any room in your home. The best part is that it’s easy to do and you can use any type of wood that you like. There are a few different ways that you can create these shelves, but this tutorial will show you how to build them using standard 2x4s, plywood and some other basic materials.
1. Cut the plywood into pieces that are 1-inch shorter than the height of your wall. For example, if your wall is 10 feet tall, cut the plywood into 9-foot pieces. You’ll need enough for each side plus two for the bottom and top.
2. Attach one piece of plywood to each side of the wall by drilling holes through it and into the studs behind it (you’ll be able to see them) then screwing in 2-inch drywall screws through each hole until they meet in the middle of the stud. This will make sure that there’s no sagging or gaps between your shelf and wall behind it (if there is any gap, fill it with some extra screws).
A wall of shelves can be a great way to organize your home. They can also be used as a room divider or to display items.
Build a wall of shelves from scratch with basic tools and materials you can find at any hardware store. You’ll need:
Planks of wood for the shelf bases, sides and top
Wood glue or screws for attaching the boards together
Nails or screws for hanging the shelves on the wall
Building a wall of shelves is a simple project that anyone can do. You don’t need to be an experienced DIYer — just follow these steps and you’ll have your own wall of bookshelves in no time.
1. Pick out your materials
When it comes to building a wall of shelves, you need three basic components: wood, brackets and shelf supports. The type of wood used will depend on the look you’re going for, but if you want to keep things simple, use pine or spruce boards that are at least 1″ thick and 4″ wide.
For brackets, consider using metal L-brackets or T-brackets. These are easy to install and can support the weight of a few books without any trouble at all. Shelf supports are usually made from bamboo or plastic, but extendable metal ones are also available at most hardware stores if you want something more flexible than wood or bamboo.
2. Build the base with one long piece of wood
First up is building the base for your wall of bookshelves — this is essentially a long strip of wood that rests on top of two sawhorses or trestles
Step 1: Prepare the wall
Measure the length and width of your wall. If you’re building a full-length wall, add 12 inches to both measurements. This is how wide you’ll want the shelves to be so that they fit snugly against each other.
Step 2: Cut the plywood
Use a circular saw to cut two equal pieces of plywood for each shelf — one for the top and one for the bottom. You can also use a jigsaw if you don’t have access to a circular saw or want more control over how the cuts are made. Mark and cut two pieces of 1×4 lumber into strips that are about 2 inches shorter than your shelf widths (the height of two stacked books). These will act as supports for your shelves, so make sure they’re long enough to span from one side of your wall to another without any gaps in between.
Step 3: Assemble the frame
Attach four 1×4 supports around each piece of plywood with glue and nails so that they form an open rectangle shape with space underneath where books can be stored. The supports should be spaced evenly apart, with no gaps between them or between
Full Wall Shelf
The most basic way to hang shelves is to use a full-length wall stud. This is the most common technique used by professional framers, and it’s easy to do yourself.
1. Find an existing stud by tapping lightly on the drywall with a flat-head screwdriver. When you find one, mark the center of it with a pencil.
2. Attach one end of a cleat — which is simply a short length of wood — to the wall with screws driven through pilot holes drilled in from inside the wall (Photo 1). Make sure the cleat does not protrude beyond the thickness of the drywall — if it does, drill shallow counterbores for each screw so that only about 1/4″ of cleat projects from behind the drywall surface.
3. Fasten a second cleat directly across from (and aligned with) the first one using at least three 3″ screws. The distance between these two cleats will determine how many shelves you can install between them; we spaced ours about 2 ft. apart so we could fit four shelves per section.
How to make a wall of shelves
The most popular method of building shelves is using wood. Wood comes in many different sizes and species and can be purchased at your local home improvement store. You can also use pre-made wooden panels or buy premade shelving units.
Wooden panels are easy to install, but they can be expensive if you are not building them yourself. If you decide to go with this option, make sure that the panels are made from high quality materials so that they will last a long time and look good in your home.
Premade shelves can be found in many different shapes and sizes at most stores that sell home improvement products. These types of shelves are quick and easy to install, but they may not be as sturdy as other options since they have been mass produced by machines rather than handcrafted by craftsmen.
A wall-sized bookshelf can be an amazing addition to any home. If you’re looking for a project that will make a big impact, check out this tutorial on how to build full wall shelves. This post will walk you through the entire process, from choosing the right materials and tools up through setting up your new storage solution.
Shelves are a great way to display your favorite items, but they don’t have to be limited to books! You can use them as a backdrop for artwork or photos (or both), or even as a way to store toys and games in an organized way.
What You Need:
Basic tools (circular saw, drill, level)
Lumber (2x4s, 1x4s)
Nails or screws
Wood glue
Sandpaper
To build a wall of shelves, you’ll need:
Tools: Hammer, screwdriver, measuring tape and level, miter saw or circular saw (optional)
Materials:
Shelf board or plywood (1/2-in. thick)
Sandpaper or an orbital sander (optional)
DIY Wall of Shelves
Step 1: Gather the Materials
You’ll need a few tools and supplies to build your own wall of shelves. They include:
-Measuring tape or ruler
-Pencil or pen
-Framing square (optional)
-Stud finder (optional)
-Router (optional)
The size of your wall will determine how many shelves you need. For example, if you have a 10-foot by 10-foot room with an 8-foot ceiling, each shelf should be about 39 inches wide and 10 inches deep. You can make it as deep as you like; just make sure the shelves are not too deep so they don’t sag under the weight of books and other items.
If you’re looking to add some wall shelving to your home, these instructions will help you get started on the right track.
Step 1: Measure and cut your lumber
Measure the width of your wall. You’ll need two pieces of lumber (in our example, 2x4s) that are about 2 inches wider than your wall. The length of these boards should be at least 3/4 inch longer than the width of your wall. Don’t forget to leave a little extra length for error and cutting mistakes!
If you have a helper, have them hold one of the boards against the wall while you mark where to cut along each side using a pencil or chalk line. If you’re doing this alone, use clamps or blocks to keep the board in place while you measure and mark it out.
Use a saw (or circular saw if available) to cut through both pieces at once. You may want to use a high-quality blade with carbide teeth for best results.
When finished with all cuts, sand down all rough edges with sandpaper until they are smooth but not too round (you don’t want any splinters!).