Housekeeping Storage Solutions Shelves These DIY Wood Shelves Add Vertical Storage and Visual Interest This custom shelving provides architectural interest and ample storage for accessories. By Beth Eslinger Beth Eslinger Website Beth Eslinger has been providing home improvement tips and tricks for more than two decades as a senior editor and executive editor for Dotdash Meredith. She has focused on building the perfect country home aesthetic as well as DIY ideas for readers. Her writing has been featured across a host of different publications, including Lowe's publications, where she partnered with Lowe's Home Improvement's Creative Ideas program. In addition to her work with Lowe's, Beth spearheaded the Better Homes & Gardens DIY magazine where she helped shape DIY ideas for readers. She also worked with Country Home Magazine to provide readers with ideas for home improvement tips and tricks. Beth has won several awards, including the Meredith Creative Excellence Award. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Published on April 1, 2021 Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Blaine Moats Project Overview Working Time: 3 hours Total Time: 12 hours Skill Level: Kid-friendly Set against a colorful wall, natural wood shelving provides architectural interest and ample storage for books, art, plants, and other accessories. You can even install a light source by screwing a wall-mount fixture to the side of the unit. Although it looks complicated, this DIY vertical shelf is an easy beginner project and a good introduction to using a table saw and nail gun. Rent tools if storage and cost are concerns. What You'll Need Equipment / Tools 1 Table saw 1 Nail gun 1 Cordless drill Materials 1 1-inch-thick birch plywood 1 Fine sandpaper 1 Nails 1 Wood filler 1 Semigloss polyurethane 1 Screws 1 Wall anchors Instructions Measure and Cut Wood Measure and cut wood to size. Cut three vertical pieces 15x96 inches. (These instructions are standard for 8-foot ceilings; if your height is different, adjust the length.) Cut seven pieces measuring 15x15 inches and three face frames measuring 1-1/2x96 inches (or your alternative height). Sand Wood and Install Shelves Sand all wood pieces using fine sandpaper. Lay out left-side shelf components, placing three shelves to form four equal spaces. Install shelves by nailing from the outer sides of the vertical pieces. Nail Center Vertical Support Lay out the other components, dividing them into five equal distances. Nail through the center vertical support and the outside of the right-hand piece. Nail Face-Frame Pieces Nail the face-frame pieces into place on the front of the vertical boards. Fill nail holes with wood filler; when dry, sand smooth. Seal with Polyurethane Blaine Moats Working in a protected, well-ventilated area, seal with polyurethane; let dry. Install Shelving Blaine Moats Install by driving screws into the side wall and using wall anchors for the back wall; secure anchors to wall studs to support the weight of the shelf.