Categories: DIY Projects-Published On: February 19, 2020-

7 Easy DIY shelving projects

7 Easy DIY shelving projects

7 Easy DIY shelving projects

Great looking and functional shelving is something that can make such a big impact to show off your design style, but shelving can also make your life easier. I have found what I consider to be 7 easy DIY shelving projects. I tried one of the projects and it turned out great! I know that there are many different skill levels and even interest in making something yourself, but these are all fairly easy if you can cut boards. I used a table saw to cut my boards, but there are other tools that are less expensive and not as intimidating.

For instance, this mitre saw can sit on any flat surface. If you have a steady hand, a jigsaw will also work. And of coarse, you can also ask the home improvement store to make the cuts for you. If you’re interested in doing several DIY projects, it might be best to invest in a highly rated, affordable, saw.

I have been helping my lovely mother-in-law, Kathy, spruce up a few areas around her home and thought that some open shelves above her heirloom buffet would look great. Her style is eclectic, but it leans towards the vintage traditional look. She has inherited several pieces of furniture that have been in the family for many decades and they have beautiful detail and of coarse are built to last. The wood pieces throughout her home are a nice medium tone so it was easy to coordinate the shelf stain color. I wasn’t aiming for a perfect match, but if you were, you’d want to test out the stain on a practice board first.

There are many awesome bloggers who have successfully installed pipe and beam open shelves, but the one that inspired Kathy’s shelves was Suzy’s of Worthing Court. I sent the photo of Suzy’s shelves to Kathy and she loved it. So, I got to work collecting the supplies. I had to go to two Lowes to get all the pipe pieces. Apparently, these are popular items these days!

Easy pipe and board open shelves

Suzy’s instructions are fabulous, but here are my simplified ones so that you can determine if this is something you might want to tackle:

  1. Determine the number of shelves you want. I spaced the shelves about 14 inches apart. Two shelves fit best above the buffet.
  2. Determine the length of your shelves. I wanted the shelves to be a little shorter than the width of Kathy’s buffet.
  3. Determine where the studs are located on the wall. You’ll need to install the flange directly into the stud, so be sure that you’re happy with the location of the shelves on the wall before you even start.
  4. Collect your supplies: I used the black pipe pieces because cleaning the galvanized ones and then painting them wasn’t worth the minimal price difference. I still had to wipe down each piece.

    For each shelf bracket, you’ll need a 4 3/4″ floor flange, 12″ x 3/4″ pipe, and a 3/4″ end cap.
7 Easy DIY shelving projects

I used almost two inch screws to go into the studs. I painted the screw heads black. You will also need screws with anchors to go into drywall on the other two flange holes.

5. I used one inch thick boards that were one foot deep. I like the bulky look of this board because it coordinated best with the buffet and pipe brackets. You can select boards that work for your look and style.

6. Select a stain, test if necessary, and the follow the instructions on the can. I sanded the boards until smooth, and then used a shop vac to get most of the dust out and then I wiped them down.

7. Once the boards were stained to the desired color (two coats), I let them fully dry before painting on a coat of polyurethane. The polyurethane needs to fully cure – it may take less time in warmer weather.

8. After your pipe pieces are clean, your boards are painted or stained, and your hardware is gathered, you can measure and install.

Tip: Kathy’s buffet was wide so I skipped a stud and went further out so that the brackets weren’t too close. Make sure you consider the length of your boards to determine what studs to install the bracket into. For extra long boards, you may need a center bracket.


Here is the finished look of Kathy’s shelves above her buffet. The photo was taken at night and the dining room table prevented me from showing you the entire buffet, but you get the picture.


7 Easy DIY shelving projects

The pipe and board open shelves weren’t the only DIY shelves I found and considered. Here are 7 easy DIY shelving projects that beginners can do to save a ton of money.








Aren’t these DIY shelves awesome?! While I prefer shelves that I can style, I also love their practical purpose and how they can make life easier. As always, thank you so much for reading. I love hearing your comments (scroll down and leave a note) and seeing your follows on Facebook and Instagram. And thank you for spreading the word – sharing is caring!


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POSTED IN:  DIY Projects

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