Do It Your-Shelf: 7 Great DIY Shelving Ideas

Shelving is one of the simplest ways to organise clutter. Whether you’ve got overcrowded kitchen countertops or you’ve started piling books on your bedside cabinet, installing shelving could be the solution. And you don’t have to hire a pro! Installing a shelf can be an easy DIY task – allowing you to save money and get creative with different styles. Below are 7 DIY shelving ideas to consider in your home. 

Floating shelf

Floating shelves are a simple minimalist option that can be hung over furniture, countertops or fixtures. They are excellent for displaying framed photos, plants and ornaments. Alternatively, you can use them for storing books, kitchen equipment or toiletries. Installing a floating shelf is relatively easy – you’ll need a wooden board, brackets, screws and cordless drill. A spirit level could also be worth using to get the shelf level (there’s an app for that, if you don’t have a spirit level at home). You get to choose the length and depth of the board. Heavy-duty iron brackets are worth buying if you plan to store heavy items on the shelf. 

Belt shelf

Got some spare leather belts? A hanging belt shelf could be a fun, improvised shelf option to bring character to your home. This consists of a wooden board hanging from two belts which are fastened to the wall using screws. While heavier items are safer to display on a floating shelf, a belt shelf could still be secure enough for storing ornaments or photos or even a few books.

Pipe shelf

For a playful industrial look, consider pipe shelving. This consists of wooden boards secured to a wall by metal piping. You can buy pipe shelving unit kits that come with the pipes and wooden boards for easy installation. Those who are feeling more ambitious can buy their own boards and pipes – start by assembling the pipe frame and then add the boards. This can make for a stylish and incredibly sturdy shelving option. 

Corner shelf

A corner shelf could be ideal for slotting into a bare corner if you haven’t really got space on any of the other walls. This could consist of standard rectangular wooden boards, or you could consider triangular boards. A popular corner shelving solution involves installing multiple floating shelves on top of each other on brackets. This can be great for storing photos, ornaments and plants (check out this post about creating a plant shelf). 

Window shelf

It’s also possible to install shelving within a window frame. This involves securing boards to the walls on either side of the window using brackets. In a kitchen, this can be a great option for displaying sun-loving plants, including herbs and succulents. A window shelf could also be well-suited to a bathroom window – giving you space to display toiletries and plants while also providing privacy by blocking out the view into your bathroom. Just be wary that a window shelf could restrict sunlight into the room. 

Box shelving

You can also build shelving out of boxes. These could be purpose-designed storage cubes or an improvised option such as wine boxes (as in the photo above). These can be secured to the wall using brackets or hung from ropes or belts. The boxes could have the open side facing the room to display items. Alternatively, you could install them with the open side facing up for growing plants in or securely storing tall items in. 

Ladder shelving

Those feeling a little more ambitious could even consider building their own ladder shelf. These shelving units are shaped like ladders with each board acting like a rung. You can build these units as tall as you want and use them to display all kinds of different items. They are a unique shelving option for adding a focal point to the room. While it may be possible to build a freestanding ladder shelf, securing the unit to the wall is still recommended.

What type of shelf will you build?

There are many other quirky styles of shelves that you can explore. However, if you want to keep things simple, start with one of the above options. There are many shelving kits you can buy that take the work out of building a shelf. That said, designing your own unit could allow you to cut the boards to your desired length and truly create a shelving solution that is right for you. Remember that you can also paint your shelf different colors to further customise it.