How to Make Shelves in Attic Rafters

An attic is commonly used for storage but it can become very disorganized if all you do is pack items into boxes and place the boxes on the attic floor. You can improve this situation by building shelves along the rafters in the attic. This is a basic shelf structure you can build with nothing more than 1-by-4 and plywood.

1-by-4 boards
Circular saw
Safety goggles
Tape measure
Drill
Drywall screws
Plywood

Instructions

- 1
  Create a template board for the miter cuts you need to make for the end of the brackets by holding the corner of a 1-by-4 board directly against the roof sheathing, with the top edge of the board parallel with the floor. Trace the edge of the rafter across the corner of the 1-by-4.
- 2
  Cut the 1-by-4 along the line.
- 3
  Cut 1-by-4 boards for the brackets to the desired length for the height and depth of the shelving.
- 4
  Mark a cut line on one end of each 1-by-4, using the template as a guide. Cut the boards along the line.
- 5
  Build the brackets for the shelving by putting two 1-by-4 boards together to form a right angle, and screw them together with three drywall screws. Position the boards so that the uncut edges meet, with the angled edges on the outer ends of the brackets.
- 6
  Place the brackets into position against the roof sheathing and the side of the rafters, and attach them to the rafters with three drywall screws at each end.
- 7
  Cut sheets of plywood to fit along the top of the brackets.
- 8
  Slide the plywood shelving into position on top of the brackets.

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