How To Make A Shelf Bracket

Shop-bought shelf brackets are almost exclusively made of metal in some form, but brackets were traditionally made from wood. In this project, Clifford Roberts and woodworker Andries Eygelaar show how it’s done.

- Clifford Roberts and Andries Eygelaar

We wanted to put up a shelf in our bedroom, but the style of most shelving these days is contemporary. We wanted old-school. It turns out that the DIY job is super easy, can be made with the most rudimentary tools and barely costs anything to make.

Plus, it allows you to show off your woodworking skills even though you may think you have none.

Project info

• Skill level: Easy
• Time: ± an hour

What we used

For a single bracket:

• 3 x 40mm chipboard screws (for a single bracket only)
• 22 x 22 x 600mm SA pine timber
• G-clamp
• Drill
• Cold wood glue (optional)
• Table or handsaw
• Sandpaper
• Tape measure and pencil

Step-by-step guide

Step 1: Start by identifying the size shelf you require. Keep in mind the load it will have to bear; this will determine how many supports you’ll need to make. We simply wanted a narrow shelf above our headboard to carry three or four pot plants.