How To Hang Shelves On Cinderblock Walls
We seem to keep doing organization projects. And like most families, we were looking for a kid’s craft room space that we could create for our children. This space in particular was the perfect place to add shelves to the cinderblock wall and open the basement closet. Learn how to build and hang wood shelves on cinderblocks with this craft shelving idea
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Our Basement Space
Repurposing a spare room into a kid craft room was just one of our basement DIY ideas. We were very lucky to have this small room with a closet that we could easily use as a space for all our children’s creative projects.
Other DIY Projects In This Space
This small room was the inspiration for many of our current DIY projects including a DIY wooden floating desk and DIY pegboard.
The “Before” Basement Closet
As you can see, the basement closet was in need of some serious help. First, we had to add a waterproof layer to coat the cinderblocks.
Then a new coat of paint would be needed to freshen up the space and create a cohesive color. After creating a clean closet, we knew we would add farmhouse brackets and wooden shelves to the cinderblock wall
We were very lucky that first, we had this small space to makeover and that it also had a closet in it.
Makeover To All Usable Space
We were not lucky, the basement closet was in pretty bad shape. See how and what we used to “re” waterproof the basement cinderblock walls. After using a waterproof you won’t believe it is the same basement closet!
Ideas For Craft Closet
- Add shelving using wood and brackets.
- Waterproof and fix existing cinderblock walls
- Remove closet doors and leave open spacing
- Create a bin on wheels so that nothing is resting completely on the floor (it is a basement after all)
- Store extra books with art materials in our “homeschool” closet
- Make some small areas a reading “nook” for our children
- Create an organized space for each art material and supply that our children can easily reach and some spaces that are just for storage where they have to ask to have that material.
In addition, once our DIY wooden desks are built, we will be adding pegboards and other organization methods (like our pallet wood crates on wheels).
Recommended Shelf Supplies
- Large Farmhouse Brackets (we used the smaller size in our laundry room storage and found this cheaper set)
- 1 x 12 cut to size (how many you need will depend on the layout of your closet)
- Latex Primer
- Latex Enamel Paint (our favorite current color that we have just a lot leftover)
- Small Foam Roller and Handle
How To Make Shelves For Brackets
If you do not want to have brackets on your walls, then check out how we added just wooden DIY shelves to our closet upstairs. However, we knew it would be so much easier to just use brackets for this basement closet shelving idea.
We also had experience with these brackets and wood shelves when we used them to add custom-looking shelving in our laundry room.
Step 1: Cut Wood To Size
Cut wood to size. The 1 x 12 boards that we used are pine. They are pre-finished (pre-sanded) from Home Depot.
Step 2: Set-up Paint Station
Place boards on sawhorses with a 2 x 4s on top. In this picture, you can see how we set up for a variety of painting projects.
Step 3: Prime and Paint The Wood
Prime and paint the wood using a small foam roller. This will take a little time as you have to do 2 coats and wait for each one to dry before flipping over to do the other side.
More like this: See how this color was used to redo our bathroom vanity and oak railing!
Hanging Supplies
- Hammer drill
- Cheapest/ Economic Hammer Drill: Dewalt Hammer Drill 1/2 in.
- Best Middle of the Road Hammer Drill with multiple speeds: Bosch 11255VSR Bulldog Xtreme
- 3/16″ Concrete Drill Bit
- Tapcons (concrete screws) *linked is the size we used
- Cordless Drill
- 4′ Level
- Tape Measurer
What is a Tapcon?
A Tapcon screw is specifically when attaching to concrete, block, or brick.
How To Hang Shelves On Cinderblock Wall
Note: If the wall where you are hanging the brackets is drywall and 2×4’s use a stud finder and screw the brackets into the studs.
However, it was going to be as easy as this particular closet in our house is constructed out of concrete masonry units (CMU’s), also known as cinderblocks.
Step 1: Mark Holes
Use a tape measure, a pencil, and a level layout (mark the drill holes) for the concrete screws.
It is best to anchor into and drill into the grout lines above and below the actual CMU blocks (see photo)
Step 2: Check If Level
Place a 4’ level from hole to hole to make sure you’re close to being level. The CMU grout line itself should be pretty level…(just check and don’t assume).
Step 3: Pre-Drill Bracket Holes
Using the hammer drill and bit pre-drill all of your bracket holes. Make sure you wear safety glasses people!
Step 4: Add Tapcons
Once the bracket holes are drilled put the Tapcon through the bracket and sink anchors with a cordless drill.
Step 5: Continue For All Brackets
Continue the above steps until all of your brackets are attached.
Step 6: Add Shelves
Place the painted shelves on the brackets and use the screws that came with the brackets to attach the shelves to the brackets from the underside.
Organize your closet and space. You can use recycled containers or other craft projects to help decorate your shelves.
The “After” Closet
Follow us on Pinterest, Youtube or Facebook for more DIY inspiration!
How-To FAQs
Yes, most of the time farmhouse shelves have a stained wood look. We chose to paint our closet shelving to match the accent wall in the room.
Yes, for maximum support you should add these brackets to the studs in the drywall.
What is a Tapcon?
A Tapcon screw is specifically when attaching to concrete, block, or brick.
Cheapest/ Economic Hammer Drill: Dewalt Hammer Drill 1/2 in.
Best Middle of the Road Hammer Drill with multiple speeds: Bosch 11255VSR Bulldog
From drab to a very useful space, we are happy with these DIY farmhouse shelves.
Equipment
- Hammer Drill
- Cordless Drill
- 4' Level
- Tape Measurer
Supplies
- Shelf Brackets
- Wood Shelves painted or stained
Instructions
Build Shelves
- Cut wood to size.
- Paint or stain shelves to fit your space.
Hanging Bracket Shelves On Cinderblock
- Use a tape measure, a pencil, and a level layout (mark the drill holes) for the concrete screws.
- Place a 4’ level from hole to hole to make sure you're close to being level.
- Using the hammer drill and bit pre-drill all of your bracket holes.
- Once the bracket holes are drilled put the Tapcon through the bracket and sink anchors with a cordless drill.
- Continue the above steps until all of your brackets are attached.
- Place the painted shelves on the brackets and use the screws that came with the brackets to attach the shelves to the brackets from the underside.
Video
Notes
- It is best to anchor into and drill into the grout lines above and below the actual CMU blocks
- The CMU grout line itself should be pretty level…(just check and don’t assume).