How to make a shelf from plywood: 6 models that you can design yourself

Despite modern design solutions, for many years the rack has been a universal option for storing things . But it’s not even about convenience or comfort. The aesthetic component also plays an important role here, because good shelving fits perfectly into almost any interior. You don’t have to spend money on buying such furniture, since you can make a wooden shelving unit with your own hands, without any carpentry skills.

DIY wooden rack

Types of racks

The rack is a spacious structure made of different types of wood. It consists of several shelves that are fixed on durable racks. The advantage of making a rack yourself is that you choose the size, color and number of tiers of the future structure. There are several types of racks that are designed to perform their functions . We are talking about stationary, mobile, rotating and hanging racks. Let's consider each of these varieties separately.

Shelving comes in different types

Advantages of shelving

Stationary

The structure includes crossbars that serve as supports for the shelves being installed, and racks. To increase the strength of the rack, the structure can be attached to the wall. The number of shelves may vary depending on the taste preferences of the master. Stationary shelving can be open or closed, but the second option is more difficult to manufacture.

Exquisite stationary shelving

Mobile

The design is very similar to the previous version, with the exception of wheels on which the rack can be moved along the floor. The advantages of mobile products include their mobility, so you don’t have to disassemble the structure every time or ask a neighbor for help to rearrange the house. Racks are made with plastic or rubber wheels. The first option is cheaper, but the second is more reliable.

Rack on wheels

Rotating

A popular type of shelving that is easy to use. Such designs are great for people who need constant access to various items stored on wooden shelves. For example, a rotating rack is suitable for motorists who are working on their vehicle in the garage.

Rotating rack

Rotating bookcase Albero

Mounted

Such structures can hardly be called shelving, because the shelves are not attached to the supports below, as is the case with traditional shelving, but to the wall. But still, hanging racks are in great demand. The advantage of such shelves is their convenience, because the rack can be installed almost anywhere where there is extra space. As with other structures, wall-mounted shelving provides for the installation of a different number of shelves.

Modern wall shelving

Location and purpose of the structure

When choosing the size of the shelf, its type, consider the room in which it will be located in the future.
It is important to create a complete interior with a functional detail.

The main purpose of the shelf is to optimize space in the house

Kitchen

For the kitchen, it is important that all the necessary items are always at hand, and not hidden in numerous drawers. It is best to use a compact, yet spacious wall design

Wooden models are most suitable for the kitchen, as they create a cozy atmosphere. A variety of designs allows you to choose an option that harmoniously complements the interior of the room.

Not the most practical solution for the kitchen would be models from:

• plastic;
• glass;
• metal

A good alternative to wood is decorated gypsum fiber sheet.

In a small kitchen, the shelf has a practical purpose, helping to keep necessary utensils in order.

Hallway

By using an original hanging shelf, you can easily decorate your hallway. Such furniture can easily perform several functions.

1. A small shelf is suitable for storing keys and small items.
2. The larger design allows you to easily accommodate all your bags.
3. The tall design, complemented by figurines, will add sophistication to the hallway.
4. The shelf with hooks is easy to use as a hanger.

For the hallway you should choose wooden furniture. Glass, metal and plastic cannot be called practical or universal. Take this into account when arranging the room.

A corner shoe stand will be a functional addition to the hallway

Bathroom

It's hard to imagine a bathroom without a convenient corner shelf on which all hygiene products are stored. Of course, numerous jars can be neatly stacked in a closet, but getting them out of it every time is not entirely convenient. It is better to have them at hand at all times.

For the bathroom they most often choose:

• glass structures with chrome stands;
• plastic shelves with metal racks.

It is important that such an interior detail is distinguished by its laconic execution. This makes it easy to care for, since high humidity in the bathroom causes rapid contamination of surfaces.

Manufacturers make the design as functional as possible by adding hooks, soap dishes

Living room

The living room is an ideal place where you can install a functional corner structure. Reading lovers will use shelving to store their home library. On the shelves you can easily place:

• family photos;
• decorative items.

During installation of the structure, you should definitely consider what load is planned on it. Fastenings must be as reliable as possible. Its size directly depends on the future purpose of the selected shelf. Decorative elements look good on compact models, and for a large library or collection, choose a spacious shelving unit.

Small corner shelves with carvings and shaped wooden details are often used as stands for icons

In many living rooms, wooden or metal corner shelves are used as flower stands. Glass specimens are much less common in living rooms. Designers advise not to clutter the shelves with numerous flowerpots and figurines. This eliminates the feeling of lightness that such a design is intended to add to the room.

In a spacious interior, options installed on external corners look harmonious. More often they are made of plasterboard or chipboard. You can design such an addition to the room yourself, taking into account the characteristics of the place chosen for the shelf.

For a small room it is better to purchase a compact design

What is needed to make a rack

Once you decide on the type of structure to be made, you need to calculate the amount of material that will be needed for the work. For example, to make a regular straight rack you need the following materials:

• wooden supports from 1.5 to 2 m long;
• bars for connecting supports;
• boards for making shelves;
• metal corners;
• a set of nails and screws (you need to take it with a reserve, because some of them may get lost in the process);
• special impregnation for wood;
• varnish or paint (optional).

Wood for making a rack
For work you also need to prepare some tools, most of which can be found in any garage:

• brushes for painting wood;
• vacuum cleaner or small brush to remove dust;
• electric jigsaw or regular wood saw;
• crosshead screwdriver;
• sandpaper or sanding machine (if you have one);
• hammer.

What tools may be required

Note! The amount and type of materials used may vary. It all depends on the chosen rack design. But in order not to interrupt the work process to purchase additional wood or screws, it is recommended to take materials with a small reserve.

Interesting wooden shelf. Master Class

Original DIY bookshelf
You will need:

• Rope;
• Board at least 2 cm thick;
• 2 corners (mounts) for shelves;
• Steel washers;
• Lighter;
• Drill;
• Saw.

Using a saw, we cut the board into several parts so that we get 2 bars of 6 cm and 11 bars of 5 cm. Now, using a drill, we drill holes in the existing bars

We stretch the cord through all the bars, using washers in the form of separators (3 pieces each)

We stretch the cord through all the bars, using washers in the form of separators (3 pieces each)

Fastening the corners

Hanging a shelf

Step-by-step instruction

Step 1. Cut the lining, adjusting its length in accordance with the length of the rack. If the planks you bought are longer than the width of the structure, then the excess needs to be carefully cut off.

Trimming parts according to the length of the future rack

Step 2. Treat the surface of wooden products with impregnation, thereby protecting them from external factors.

Next, protective impregnation is applied

Impregnation application process

Step 3. Paint each of the structural elements. To save time, you can lay several planks together at once and paint them as one surface. Then turn them over to the other side and continue painting.

Convenient to process several boards at a time

Step 4. Once all the parts are painted, leave them outside until completely dry. The impregnation does not smell very pleasant, so it is not recommended to dry painted products indoors.

Wait until the wood is completely dry

Step 5. Make marks on the bars in the places where future shelves should be located. Then install metal corners in the designated places. If you have a screwdriver in the house, this will significantly speed up the work process.

Metal corners fixed

Step 6. Install the lower horizontal elements to create an “H” shaped structure. As a result, you need to make four such products.

There should be 4 such elements

On a note! At first, the installation of second horizontal lines must be performed only in the outermost structures. It is necessary to start installing the remaining horizontals a little later, when the bottom shelf is ready.

Step 7. This is what the rack design should look like at this stage of manufacturing. She is not very attractive yet, but this can all be fixed.

Making a rack with your own hands

Step 8. Fasten the first shelf, or rather, the boards of the first shelf to the horizontal bars. It is not necessary to use screws for this - you can get by with ordinary nails.

Installing the first shelf using nails

Step 9. Start nailing the outermost board first, which will be visible to everyone. Here it is necessary to choose high-quality material, without defects. After installing all the elements, the bottom shelf will be ready.

Finished bottom shelf of the rack

Step 10. Make small stands for the legs of the structure being manufactured, thereby protecting the floor covering from mechanical damage. In addition, if you add a few laminate scraps, they can be used to level the rack in the future.

Stands for shelving legs

Step 11 . Proceed to make the second shelf of the rack. All actions should be similar, only at this stage of work you can immediately install the upper horizontal lines.

Installation of the second shelf

Step 12 . Make sure that the shelf, or rather the planks from which it is made, lie on all horizontal lines. Ideally, all these elements should be in the same plane.

The boards must lie on all horizontal lines

Step 13 . If large gaps appear between the shelves and horizontal bars, level them using small pieces of laminate. Simply cut out a strip and place it under the board in the desired location.

This gap needs to be corrected

Step 14: Do not screw the side of the square that attaches to the upright too tightly. When eliminating too large gaps, the horizontal will need to be moved a little. Once everything is level, screw the fasteners as tight as possible.

One part of the corner is not fully screwed

Step 15 . Install the last shelf, making it slightly wider than the others. If the first two shelves use 5 planks, then the top one should have 6. This will increase the strength of the entire structure.

DIY rack is ready

Additionally, you can make a small ladder if the rack is high enough. The design of the staircase may vary. Now everything is ready and you can enjoy the result of the work done.

Corner wooden shelves

Often, to save space, shelves are made corner, and they can be mounted both in the inner and outer corners.

Corner shelf

Corner wooden shelves

The blanks are made according to the scheme described above, only the upper and lower boards consist of two elements, with the ends cut at an angle. The process of making such a shelf is quite simple:

• the halves of the top board are coated at the ends with glue and clamped with clamps;
• repeat the same actions with the bottom board;
• when the glue dries, all workpieces are covered with stain or primed;
• Attachment lines are marked on the upper and lower workpieces and holes are drilled;
• insert the side walls and secure them with self-tapping screws.

Next, screw the brackets and secure the shelf to adjacent walls.

Corner shelf made of wood

Rack with side walls

In almost every apartment there are places that are not used in any way. Such places include a small space on opposite sides of the door, where there is usually nothing standing. If desired, it can be used rationally by placing a small rack in which you can store books, shoes or other items. The peculiarity of this design is that it should be covered with walls on the sides. You can make a rack yourself if you follow all the rules and recommendations.

Rack with side walls

Tools and materials

The list of tools and materials for making a compact shelving unit is practically no different from the list mentioned above. Prepare the following for work:

• chipboard (chipboard);
• thick sheet of plywood;

Plywood sheets of different thicknesses

• boards for the frame of the structure;
• set of self-tapping screws;
• glue for working with wood;
• impregnation (stain);
• router or electric jigsaw;
• roulette;
• paint brush and work gloves.

What you need for work

Important! Stain not only gives the wood a certain shade, decorating the entire structure, but also protects it from pests. Therefore, if you are in doubt whether to treat wood with stain or not, it is better to spend a little to save yourself from unnecessary problems in the future.

Manufacturing

After the wood has dried from the previously applied impregnation, you can proceed directly to the manufacture of the rack. Below are step-by-step instructions, following which will make the work much easier. This is important for beginners who have not previously worked with wood.

Table. Instructions for making a wooden shelving unit.

After assembling the rack, you can immediately load it with various items, for example, books, toys or indoor flowers. The product can be installed not only in an apartment, but also in a garage, although for garage conditions you don’t have to worry too much when choosing materials for making the structure. It can be made from cheaper plywood sheets and wood.

White bookcase

Features of the material

First, let's figure out why plywood? The answer is simple: characteristics that make pressed veneer an excellent alternative to wood, MDF or chipboard.

• Flexibility due to its small thickness, lightness and strength.
• Resistant to temperature changes.
• Simple installation - you can cut, glue and install this material without special skills.
• Cost-effective - the cost of a plywood sheet is significantly lower than that of natural wood.

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The main disadvantage of the material is that it is not suitable for areas with high humidity. Since the material is made from specially prepared veneer, which is glued together, when exposed to water, harmful fumes from the glue may be released.

But for living rooms or corridors this material is perfect. Therefore, if you want to quickly and inexpensively furnish your home, read our tips on how to make a shelf out of plywood with your own hands.

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Recommendations for placing shelving

Installation of stationary shelving can be done in the kitchen, pantry or garage. Large open shelves provide great visibility. In this case, all items are easily obtained and just as easily returned to their place. It is better to install a closed shelving unit in a children's room or living room . For example, you can store a large number of books or toys there. The baby will be able to store his things in such a rack.

Kitchen shelving

Rack partition

If we talk about the rotating structure, then it can be installed almost anywhere, be it a children's room, a garage or a living room. The rack is more complex to make, and you also need to learn how to decorate it, because if you install the product in the middle of the living room, it will always be in sight of guests.

Transferring the template to plywood

In order to start cutting, you need to transfer the drawing to the workpiece, for this: Print the template in the required scale. Using tracing paper and a ballpoint pen to transfer the diagram onto the plywood. For convenience, secure the template with tape, buttons, or just your hand. Consider how best to arrange the elements of the towel shelf in order to save lumber. Take your time, your future product depends on the correctness and accuracy of the translation.

You might be interested in the article: Quick transfer of a drawing.