$20 Shelves Anyone Can Build!

January 25, 2012 By

That’s right… ANYONE!  These are super simple to build!  This is by far my favorite $20 project to date.

I have been in the process of redoing my oldest son’s room over the last few weeks.  I shared his bed HERE and the headboard HERE.

I know one of the next things on my to do list will be a desk, and I knew I wanted some shelving for above it.  I found THIS plan on Ana’s site and jumped on it.

If you own a drill (every woman should!) you can build these shelves.  I made 2 for my son, and I also made 2 for my younger sister.  Each shelf cost $10 to build.  Here are a few tips and progress shots…

You will need 2 – 1×4′s and 1 – 1×2 for each shelf.  That’s it!

I made 8′ shelves so no need to use a saw.  I also used my Kreg Jig, but if you don’t own one you can just pre-drill your holes and use wood screws to attach everything. I prefer drywall screws, but both will work.  You will also need wood glue.  I started by adding a line of glue where my 1×4′s meet.

Join your boards together like this.  Just pre-drill from the back and attach your screws.

Now add some more glue to edge of your bottom 1×4…

And use some finish nails to attach your 1×2!

That’s it! Not even kidding!

I didn’t even worry about filling nail holes because I stained mine and I like the imperfections… So shanty! ;-)

I used my new favorite stain on mine…

Rust-Oleum Ultimate Wood Stain in Dark Walnut

I  LOVE this stuff… It dries beautifully within an hour… Whoop!  You can get it at Lowe’s.

These are super easy to attach to your wall too!  I used 2″ drywall screws directly into the studs of the wall.  I didn’t even have to cover the screws because the things I put on the shelves covered them easily.

I got them up and took some pictures for you!

And if you aren’t quite convinced please look at this picture…

Yes.  Looks familiar! You can find this lovely at Pottery Barn, except it costs $85 for 4′! That’s half the length and 8 times the price.  No thank you!

What do you think???

You OFFICIALLY have no excuse to not build!  These are easier than putting together anything you can find in a store.  I LOVE them.

You can see the detailed plans HERE on Ana’s site!

FINALLY…

Did you like it???  Would you be a dear and PIN IT please?!?  I would appreciate it greatly ;-)

Thanks so much and happy Tuesday!

~Whitney

62 Comments Filed Under: Furniture, Knock-Offs, Wall Decor, Wood Stain Projects, Woodworking Projects

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  • http://thescottscrib.com Latoya @The Scotts Crib

    Very cute, I am in love. Very easy tutorial too, I’m sure I can pull this one off myself!

  • Lane

    already pinned it!! I need some shelves above a dresser/changing table and I was going to go out and by some!! Now I can make them any color I want and for such a great price!! :) Thanks for sharing!

  • Andrea

    Pinned! Love these.

  • http://www.balancinghome.com Megan

    LOVE THEM! We were thinking about putting a few above our desk. Now I have no excuse not to.

  • Julie

    I know this is about the awesome shelves, but I really LOVE paint colors on the wall. Do you have the name of the colors? They would love fabulous in my boys’ room! Thank you!

    • Shanty2Chic

      Julie… That is one of my next posts ;-)

  • Kristi

    Love this idea and I can’t wait to try it! One question though, where in the world did you find those amazing plane pictures?!?!

    • Erin

      I agree, Kristi!!

  • http://www.the-crafty-cowgirl.com Lauren

    Looks great! Will definitely be putting some of these above my desk (which I will also build from Ana’s site)!

  • http://www.jenandjercook.blogspot.com Jennifer Cook

    I’m a new follower!!! Your blog is so interesting. I’m so excited to keep reading! These wall shelves are too cute and so easy to make….oh and cheap!. Love blogs that inspire.

    http://www.jenandjercook.blogspot.com

    xoxo
    ~Jeni

  • nancy

    Pinned it! Thanks for this easy tut!

  • http://jhagfeldt.blogspot.com Jennifer

    LOVE those shelves and love that stain you’ve been using!!! (= Might have to try this!!!

  • Jenny

    Pinned! They look ten times better than the Pottery Barn ones!! Nice work :)

  • http://www.loveoffamilyandhome.net Tonya @ Love of Family & Home

    LOVE!!! Thanks so much for sharing! Now I just have to come up with a spot!!

  • Jae M

    Too simple/ nice not to try myself!!! Great project!

  • Jenny

    Love it!! And yes, care to share where you got your plane prints?

  • Farrah

    I just love, love your blog!!! I actually stalk your blog everyday for cute ideas! lol ;) . I was just wondering how you hung the shelves with?? Sorry for such a silly quesion but I am beginner. Thanks!

  • http://www.refresheddesigns.com kelly@refresheddesigns.

    Such a great idea and so easy! Thanks for sharing this. And the stain looks amazing.

  • Kelley

    Love these shelves. How did you attach them to the wall?

  • Erin

    I’d love to know more about the things that look like clip boards. Is that a bulldog clip on a piece of scrap wood?

    • Shanty2Chic

      This is my next project post Erin ;-)

  • http://decoratordust.blogspot.com/ Mrs Mike

    Oh wow, I was just telling my husband that I needed something like this in my son’s room! I love Anna’s projects, thank you so much for bringing this one to my attention. I love your blog!

  • Megan

    How did you hang them on the wall? Did you just screw it directly to the drywall, or did you find studs? I’d like to do this project soon! Yours look great, I love the stain as well.

  • http://pinterest Eriks

    I just made these and saved so much money thanks to you!! your advise was amazing and helped me so much!!

  • http://adwarren.blogspot.com Danielle Warren

    You’re right, these shelves do look so simple! I love them! Thanks for sharing the great tips!

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  • http://www.pbjstories.com Pamela

    BEAUTIFUL! Love them and love they’re so easy .. question being that you just used glue do you have any idea of how much weight they could bare?

    Pinned these too! :)
    Pamela
    PBJstories.cokm

  • http://thetootsiewootsie.com Tootsie

    Wow! that is super easy to make! thanks for sharing this tip!

    -Tootsie.

    http://www.thetootsiewootsie.com

  • http://shallwecook.blogspot.com Abby

    I love them! I’m going to try it. How did you attach them to the wall? I have plaster walls so I’d probably have to use sink hooks, but just wondering….

  • Danielle M

    Just made some today, very easy! Thanks for the great idea!

  • http://www.sixsistersstuff.com Six Sisters

    This is such a great idea! So cute! We would love to have you come share this at our weekly link party every Saturday! -The Sisters

    http://www.sixsistersstuff.com

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  • http://instantmommie.blogspot.com Kel

    I featured you today for my Pinterest Thursday post. http://instantmommie.blogspot.com/

  • http://fortheloveofacottage.blogspot.com Jan

    This is exactly what I am going to put in my breakfast area. I have been looking for the perfect, but EASY DIY shelving….THIS IS IT!!! I found you from Tator Tots and Jello….Happy Dance :) Hugs, Jan

  • Lisa

    yes inquiring minds want to know where the awesome plane prints came from! :)

    • Shanty2Chic

      Those were a gift from a friend who was actually going to throw them away! Crazy! Wish I could share where he got them but I don’t know… Sorry! ;-)

      • Mary

        darn! I was going to ask too! My husband is an air force pilot!

        • http://www.shanty-2-chic.com/ Shanty2Chic

          Boo! I get lots of questions on them! Wish I could tell you how to DIY them ;-) !!

  • http://www.sosimplerooms.blogspot.com Sonya

    These are awesome! Just the thing I need for my latest project, our multi-task room. How did you attach to the wall. With hangers it more securely attached to the wall?

  • Natalie

    Making these today !!! Love this !!

  • liz

    I was wondering, what do you use to sand down the boards? and at what step do you sand? After putting it together?

    Thanks!

    • http://www.shanty-2-chic.com/ Shanty2Chic

      Hi Liz,

      I usually just use a little hand sanding block with a 120 grit sand paper. I sand the corners and ends of the boards quickly before attaching everything. Hope this helps!!

  • Jana Hikichi

    Love these! I’m gonna make these for my son this summer. Did you use pine?

    • http://www.shanty-2-chic.com/ Shanty2Chic

      I did Jana! Good luck!

  • Kari

    When I saw this post I was THRILLED. I have been looking at Pottery Barn shelves for the past month wanting to buy 4 of the 3′ Holman shelves for a total of $150. However, I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. $150!!! Happily my story ends with me finding your site, follow your instructions, and building my shelves for a total of $35! Thank you SO very much for sharing!!
    *My husband also wanted me to make sure I sent his thanks as well seeing how you saved him so much money…LOL!

  • Olivia

    your projects are so inspiring. i actually have been looking for something simple and stylish such as this for a shelf im building above the inside of my shower. something to store my shower bottles yet using what little space i have to work with. im over pre made wire caddys and really wanted to get creative. my only concern is it holding up to shower steam and what wood would be appropriate for water.

    • http://www.shanty-2-chic.com/ Shanty2Chic

      Honestly, I don’t know the best wood for that! It’s a great idea! If it were me, I would just go with the pine and know you may have to replace it in a year or 2. Just my call ;-) Good luck!!

  • Guest

    This is a great idea! I wanted to do EXACTLY this in my hallway above my newly re-painted hall cabinet and for some reason could not conceptualize it. Thanks for the idea!! Running to Lowe’s right now ;) Oh, and I bought the “dark walnut” stain a while back to build the “FAMILY” sign you designed, so I have a ton left over! I have so many ideas to use it for now! I even build some “pallet” type boxes to use a drawers in my hall cabinet- 16″ wide by 22″ deep. I am attaching a picture of the progress… your blog inspired me! The cabinet used to be a light maple color- I painted and antiqued it and swapped out the middle cabinet for the pallet type drawers. Loving it now!

  • http://www.facebook.com/jill.rueblukins Jill Rueb Lukins

    This is a great idea! I wanted to do EXACTLY this in my hallway above my newly re-painted hall cabinet and for some reason could not conceptualize it. Thanks for the idea!! Running to Lowe’s right now ;) Oh, and I bought the “dark walnut” stain a while back to build the “FAMILY” sign you designed, so I have a ton left over! I have so many ideas to use it for now! I even build some “pallet” type boxes to use as drawers in my hall cabinet- 16″ wide by 22″ deep, and used the dark walnut stain. I am attaching a picture of the progress… your blog inspired me! The cabinet used to be a light maple color- I painted and antiqued it and swapped out the middle cabinet for the pallet type drawers. Loving it now!

  • Tiff

    Working on these this weekend for our home library for books. So far it’s been a breeze and can’t wait to see the finished product. Did you use a polyurethane finish or a seal after the stain or just the stain?

  • Huong Pham

    Thanks for the instructions. I’ve just made one for my son’s room.
    Please visit my blog to have a look at the pictures ;)
    http://lifecapturedfullness.blogspot.com/2012/12/first-diy-20-shelves-for-willies-big.html.

  • christiane

    I am very new to this and have a question. I had my wood cut at Lowe’s as I do not have a saw and all the ends and edges are really frayed. Is there any way to avoid that and would they be less frayed if I tried cutting the pieces myself?

  • http://www.facebook.com/jenniburchfield Jennifer Burchfield

    How did you mount them to the wall? Could I just screw directly into my walls where I find studs? Do I need to pre-drill holes? I am not that handy and neither is my husband. We have limited tools. Could we just screw them directly into the walls?

  • Nancy

    Just what I’ve been looking for!! I’m going to build for my craft room, love your taste that’s the exact color stain I’ll use already did my desk and then crates to stack for bookcase and other junk… thanks bunches

  • http://www.facebook.com/monica.n.miller.12 Monica Nicole Miller

    Thank you!! We made these this weekend and they look amazing!!!! I’m hanging them over my tub in the master bath. I think they might look better than Pottery barn only because of the rougher finish!! Did I say Thannk you!!!?? Now Im deciding where else I might use these–maybe a series of them in a hallway for a gallery look with picture frames!? –can’t wait!
    love–thanks again for sharing and saving me some moola!!

  • Natalie Diaz

    Ive been wanting shelves for a while and this is a great idea that doesn’t spend a lot of money on them! (which explains why i haven’t gotten any shelves yet lol)

  • theglad felders

    Thank you so much! I absoloutly love these in my little boy’s room. Where did you get your plane sketches that you put on your son’e shelf. I have been looking for something like that forever and refuse to buy the $200 from pottery barn :/

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/2UASFRFVCPQE77JK26T4COWTQE sweetorsassy

    Thank you a whole bunch! I have been wanting these shelves and don’t want to spend the huge amount of money they want at the stores and on line to buy them! Literally, $300 for the hall I want to fill with just four 8-foot shelves. This looks like a really easy tutorial to follow and it is something I think I can do myself. I can see my daughter enlisting my help once mine are up – so thank you in advance on her behalf! You rock!

  • Stephanie

    If I predrill to connect my 1×4′s Do I predrill through both pieces of wood or just the outer one (back piece)?

    • http://www.shanty-2-chic.com/ Shanty2Chic

      Both! :-)

      • Stephanie

        Great!! Thanks so much! :)