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How To Build DIY Closet Shelves

Create simple wooden shelves in your closet with this step-by-step closet shelving idea tutorial.
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DIY small closet shelves
Prep:1 hour
Active Time:5 hours
Total Time:6 hours

Equipment

Supplies

Instructions

  • Remove all existing content from the closet.
    empty closet before DIY shelves
  • Patch any spots on the wall and paint the walls with the color and finish of your choice.
  • Develop a sketch of your closet design. See tips above for factors in your closet.
    Empty closet with lines sketched to show various heights of wooden closet shelving 24", 16" 10" 14".
  • Use stud finder and mark where you will be screwing in wooded brackets (small pieces of wood made from scrap pine wood).
    use stud finder to help install diy shelves
  • Cut 2 pine wood brackets for all shelves. Ours measured 1" x 1" x 12'.
  • Mark the wood where the studs are and drill pilot holes through the pine wood scraps.
    torpedo level on homemade wooden closet bracket with hands holding screw to create DIY closet shelving.
  • Attach pine wood brackets for the first shelf. Use a torpedo level to make sure they are level.
    drill attaching wooden pine scrap to wall in closet.
  • Use screws to attach the bracket to wall into the stud.
  • Cut common pine wood to desired length (the width of your closet).
    pine wood being ready to be cut for DIY shelves
  • Attach shelf to wood brackets by using wood glue and wood screws. Again, drill pilot holes before using 1.5" screws.
  • Repeat bracket building steps and add pine boards across for each level.
    Pine wood for DIY shelves resting on simple homemade shelf bracket in closet.
  • Use steps to create wooden shelves to fit your design.
    finished whitewood closet shelves in small closet
  • Prime and paint closet to fit your style.
    gray closet with white wooden shelves with door open.

Notes

See the full post for how to build shelves that do not go fully across the closet.
Author: Erin
Cost: $100