How to Build Shelves From Skids

Sand the surfaces of each pallet with medium-grit sandpaper until all sides and edges are smooth. Sand down any splinters and rough spots and all corners or edges.

Use a stud finder to locate a stud along the wall where you want the shelving. Mark the position of the stud on the wall with a pencil. Measure 32 inches from the mark along the wall with a tape measure, and mark the position of the second measurement. Double check the second mark with the stud finder to ensure you landed on a stud. Adjust accordingly. You will be attaching the skids to the wall via the studs.

Position the skids with their sides vertical. Set the skid facing away from the shelving. The face of the pallet becomes the exterior of the shelving unit. Set the pallet against the first stud. Have the middle support of the stud parallel to the floor. Repeat this step with a second skid against the second stud. Position the second skid so it mirrors the first skid.

Drill wood screws through the pallets into the studs every 3 inches.

Measure the width between the pallets from the underside of one to the underside of the other. This is the length of the shelving. Cut your shelving boards to this length with a circular saw.

Set your shelves between the pallets on their middle supports. Hammer nails through the shelving into the supports. Line up each shelf board against the previous board so they are snug. Repeat this step for each shelf board.

Paint or stain the pallets and shelving as desired with a suitable soft bristle brush.

Repeat the entire shelf-building process for each successive section of the unit. You can build the shelves as high as desired.