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D.I.Y. lightweight timber shelves

Three small timber shelves arranged vertically between two windows

Overview

These lightweight shelves are perfect for any room because they don't have any clunky hardware and they give you more storage space. In a few simple steps, we'll show you how easy it is to build and mount shelves with a great finish.

Steps

1

Cut your timber

Once you've worked out how long you want your shelves to be, you can have your timber pre-cut at your local Bunnings*. We cut 3 lengths of 300m from the 185mm x 19mm timber and 3 lengths of 280mm from the 42mm x 19mm timber.

*Not available at all Bunnings stores.

An assortment to tools required to complete this project

2

Drill the holes for the shelf support and shelf

Mark where you're going to drill the 3 holes in the bottom of the shelf support. Make sure the holes are in the middle of the timber and an equal distance apart. Then clamp the shelf and the shelf support to a workbench so that their edges are flush and pre-drill the 3 holes.

A person drilling a hole in a small piece of wood

3

Join the shelf and the shelf support

Apply some PVA wood glue to the back of the shelf support. Then clamp the shelf and shelf support to the workbench again. Drill three screws into the holes you've already made, driving them below the surface of the timber with a countersink bit.

A person applying glue to a small piece of wood

4

Apply the putty

Use a putty knife and putty to cover up the screws in the shelf support and to hide any gaps between the joints of the timber. Wait for the putty to dry, then sand it off until it's smooth. You can also give the whole shelf a sand for a nice, even finish.

A person sanding a small timber shelf

5

Stain or paint the shelf

Giving the shelf a stain or paint before you hang it will make it look great. If you're staining it, for a more professional look, wait for the first coat to dry, sand it back lightly and then apply the second coat.

A person coating a small timber shelf with clear varnish

6

Attach the wall anchors

Now you need to choose where you want the shelf to be. Using a spirit level, mark on the wall the distance of the holes you drilled in the shelf support. Screw wall anchors into these marks.

A person placing spirit level on a wall next to a window

7

Attach the shelf to the wall

Line up the holes in the shelf support with the wall anchors. Then drill screws into the wall anchors to secure the shelf.

A person screwing a shelf to a wall using a cordless drill and extension drill bit

8

Apply the finishing touches

You can also putty up the holes, sand it back and apply more stain for the perfect finish.

Three small timber shelves arranged vertically between two windows
Health & Safety

Please make sure you use all equipment appropriately and safely when following the advice in these D.I.Y. videos. You need to be familiar with how to use equipment safely and follow the instructions that came with the equipment. If you are unsure, you may feel it is safest to consult an expert, such as the manufacturer or an expert Bunnings Team Member.

Grave health hazards are linked to asbestos, which may be in homes built up to 1990. Health hazards may result from exposure to lead-based paints in older materials and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer.