Build a shelf yourself - a unique piece just for you
Everyone knows it. You go on a relaxed shopping tour, look here and there in the window shutters and either you or your partner sees that one beautiful figure, that great book or those beautiful trousers that you always wanted to have. Or was it your birthday? But what to do with it? The closet is full, the cupboards are bursting at the seams. So why not a new shelf and why not build the shelf yourself? If you build your shelf yourself, there are no limits. We have summarized the options you have and what you should pay attention to here.
Build a stable shelf yourself - Instructions for everyone who likes to lend a hand.
Before you start wildly buying materials and building a shelf yourself, some planning has to be done first. The most important question is: What should the shelf be for? Should clothes be put in there or decoration? Is it for tools or books? Do you have different collections that you want to show off on your shelf, or do you need space for instruments such as your drum or saxophone? Or should it rather be universal for everything possible? The more specifically you know what goes into your DIY shelf, the more creatively you can plan and ultimately build your shelf yourself. The next question is where exactly should it go? In the living area or in the bedroom? On the wall or should it serve as a room divider? Should it stand on the floor or hang on the wall? Made-to-measure furniture can be positioned very flexibly. This is a big advantage over ready-made cabinets and shelves.
Now comes the question of what material you want to build your shelf yourself? Should it be wood? There is maple, birch, beech, spruce, oak, walnut, etc. There is a large selection and each wood has different properties. If you, as a furniture lover, want a shelf that will last forever, oak is the obvious choice. Should it be a little more elastic, but still solid, then beech. Maple is very expensive, but makes a lot. Larch has a beautiful grain, but sometimes it becomes resinous. Or do you want to use metal? This allows robust shelves to be built for heavy loads. Or should it be a light aluminum shelf? These are often used for storage. Or do you want to design very modern and stylish shelves for a modern apartment? Of course, you can also build a metal framework and insert wooden shelves into it. You really have a lot of options if you build your shelf yourself. That doesn't always make planning easier.
Build a bookcase yourself – you should pay attention to that
Let's get a little more specific and take on the category of bookshelves. Book lovers know how important a bookshelf is and how quickly you can fill it up. Therefore, depending on the space, you can plan a lot of space for your books. A bookcase as a room divider is just as popular as a wall shelf that takes up the entire wall. It is not always important that you can reach your books easily. On the one hand, the books should have a place where they can be used visually and aesthetically. On the other hand, it is also a bit boring to build a shelf yourself, where all the books are next to each other like in a library. So what can you do with a bookshelf? The idea is to loosen everything up a bit, to plan the shelves offset. How about if one compartment is slightly smaller and higher, the other larger but narrower? In this way, you can also catalog books and put together those that also fit optically.
It is also a good idea to build a shelf yourself that leaves space for other decorative elements between the book shelves. A plant, a beautiful figure, a picture. Especially when you want to put a bookshelf in the living room, you don't always want to see just a wall of books, but want to leave it relaxed and cozy.
But no matter how you want to build your shelf yourself, stability is crucial for books. On the one hand, this requires a solid frame and stable shelves that do not sag over time. Perhaps smaller compartments should be planned here or the shelves should be supported several times. On the other hand, anchoring to the wall is important. A bookshelf is heavy when filled. It should therefore be securely fastened to the wall with suitable dowels. If you build a room divider as a shelf yourself, it should be stable and therefore perhaps a little wider so that books can be placed in it from both sides.
Tips for the wall shelf - building it yourself made easy
A wall shelf is a great way to store things out of sight. Building this shelf yourself is a bit easier, since there are usually few elements that you have to consider. The most important thing about this type of shelf is the mounting. Due to the fact that this shelf has no floor contact, it is important to pay attention to how securely it is attached and how it is loaded. Heavy things are less suitable. For example, if you want to put up books, the construction should be very stable. For example, with attached brackets below the shelf. Angles can also look very nice on the sides as a delimitation of the shelves and provide additional stability. Or do you want the shelf on the wall for a TV shelf? Building it yourself is a lot of fun at this point because there are so many different options.
You can also be very innovative with a DIY wall shelf. Depending on the style or layout of the apartment, you can build very unusual shelves yourself. A wall shelf is not always there to store large amounts of things. Rather, the things that are put up can be very aesthetically accentuated. Sometimes the wall shelf itself is the main element in the room. If you want to build such a shelf yourself, it is worth making a drawing. Perhaps you want to incorporate several elements? Not only wood, but also metal struts or poles? Or several wall shelves of different sizes are arranged. Finding ideas for this type of shelf is easy and you can make anything you want. If you build this shelf yourself, you only have to like it.
Build a corner shelf yourself - Here's how
A corner shelf can easily be built very sturdily thanks to the two adjacent walls. If you want to build a shelf yourself in the corner, it does not necessarily have to be attached to the wall (unless you have small children). The nice thing about a corner shelf is that you breathe life into dead corners that are usually difficult to use sensibly. But be careful, not every corner is right-angled, even if it seems so at first glance. With old as well as with new buildings there is usually always some leeway. Therefore, it is important to determine the exact angle before you start building the shelf yourself. Precise work is required here so that the result is really pleasing. Wooden shelves make the most sense here, as you have to be very flexible with the angle.
Of course you can also build a hanging shelf yourself. This is advisable because of the stable mounting options. Once you have determined the angle, you can easily cut out several shelves with the jigsaw. So how about multiple rounded tiers that get smaller towards the top? To make it even more interesting, you can also attach back panels between the individual shelves. Or do you want to build a colorful shelf yourself and dedicate each compartment to a different color? You can make your corner shelf very unusual and individual. For example, you could build around a protruding corner.
A corner shelf embedded in the wall
A lot of effort is required here, but the result is breathtaking. What if you either have your shelf built into the wall or you seem to extend the wall and build a paneled shelf yourself? Here, high-contrast colors can be chosen for the floors and the end result is an absolute eye-catcher. The task is difficult for the hobby craftsman, here help will be needed if you want to build your shelf yourself.
This will make your shelf stable
Now you don't always want a shelf for decoration or for storing books, but to store either clothes or other items protected from light and dust. You can e.g. B. build a shelf with sliding doors yourself. Or should it be wing doors? They would be less complex, but you need space to open them, which you may not always have. For a dressing room or storage, however, a very stable construction is required. Nevertheless, not much manual skill is required to build such a shelf yourself. The structure is usually clearly structured and easy to implement. The most important thing is the choice of material. Wood is always a good choice for this. However, the right thickness is crucial, because the shelf should be durable and last for several years without giving in anywhere. Everyone has probably had problems with sagging shelves.
If you build the shelf yourself, the frame should be set up first. Ideally, it is attached to the wall at several points. The distances between the modules should not be too far apart. Squared timber can be inserted for reinforcement. Then only the floors have to be inserted. However, the compartments should not be too small if you want to be flexible with what you store. If you build this shelf yourself, you have a great advantage: you can make full use of the space and work out the maximum storage area. If sliding doors are to be installed, this can easily be extended. Simply attach a rail to either the sturdy shelf or the ceiling. Track and rollers are available in every hardware store. It is only important that attention is paid to the weight of the door. In the end you have built a very good shelf yourself with a few squared timbers, wooden panels and screws.
That is why aluminum shelves are a good choice
Wood is often used when you build your own shelf. It is easy to edit and customize. But wood is not always the best choice. Sometimes the style doesn't fit into the apartment. Then you can also use an aluminum frame. A dark metal frame and wooden shelves look very classy and modern. Of course, metal floors can also be used, everyone can decide for themselves. It's your decision, because you build your shelf yourself.
In addition, not every place is suitable for wooden structures. As soon as the floor or the walls are a bit damper, you should switch to aluminum. Wood makes no sense in a damp basement. If you build an aluminum shelf yourself, the preparatory work will be more complicated. Here you should have the necessary material cut to size in a specialist shop. The right dimensions are crucial, as it is difficult to rework. The advantages are clearly in the stability and durability. Aluminum shelves are very light and can easily be expanded. Therefore, such shelves are often used in large storage rooms. In addition, depending on the construction, the modules can be easily adjusted in order to be able to store any large or small items better and not to have to waste too much space. This gives you a lot of flexibility when you build this shelf yourself.
Ideas for your shelf to build yourself
We've already written down a lot of ideas here, but maybe you haven't found the right one yet so that you can build your own shelf? Then here are a few more ideas. How about a bookshelf as an armchair? Compartments can be incorporated around the seat. A colorful and unusual shelf to build yourself. Or how about a wall shelf above the sink? In order to hold the objects better, it is good to put a small ledge in front so that the spare cloth or the washing-up liquid does not accidentally fall into the sink. You can also build a shelf for your herb garden yourself. This shelf can be easily fixed on the balcony and many herbs can be cultivated in a space-saving manner thanks to several compartments.
If you build your shelf yourself, the possibilities are almost endless. You can gain a lot, for example if the apartment is difficult to lay out or you need a lot of storage space. In addition, a very creative and innovative shelf can be built yourself to make your living room a very special space. This is your unique piece and you created it. A great feeling and a good reason to dare and build a shelf yourself.