How to Make Inexpensive Shelves

Nearly every home, whether it's a small apartment or a large house, could use more storage space. Adding shelving is something you may want to do to keep your belongings more organized. Custom shelves can be costly, and affordable purchased shelving units may be of poor quality. It's not difficult to make inexpensive shelves using materials from your local home improvement center.

1-inch by 8-inch lumber
1-inch by 4-inch lumber
Stud finder
Level
2-inch wood screws
1-inch wood screws
Sandpaper
Wood putty
Latex paint or stain
Polyurethane
Paintbrush
Drill and bits

Instructions

How to Make Inexpensive Shelves
- 1
  Have the lumberyard cut both the 1-inch by 8-inch and the 1-inch by 4-inch boards to the length you prefer for your shelves. Choose a length over 16 inches for easy hanging. Cut both lumber widths to the same length. Pine is cheap, or you can choose better-quality lumber if your budget permits.
- 2
  Sand the 1-inch by 4-inch boards and the 1-inch by 8-inch boards. Use wood putty to fill any large knots in the wood.
- 3
  Paint or stain all surfaces of each board. Allow to dry completely. Apply a polyurethane sealer if desired.
- 4
  Stand the 1-inch by 8-inch board on one long edge. Place a 1-inch by 4-inch board along the remaining long edge, perpendicular to the wider board. Screw together with 1-inch wood screws.
- 5
  Use a stud finder to find the studs in your wall. Mark the position of your finished shelf on the wall, using a level to be certain that the shelf is positioned correctly. Screw the shelf into place, screwing through the 1-inch by 4-inch board and into the wall studs.

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