SHELF-INDULGENCE

Free-standing shelves are a versatile solution for tidying up almost any space. Whether it's your desk, kitchen, workshop, craft room, children's room, or even a spot for plants, these shelves can help you organise and declutter.

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They are highly adaptable and can be used in different orientations. You can customise their length or height to fit your needs, whether to stand them in a corner or flat against a wall.

These shelves are simple to build and require minimal tools and time. Let's get started!

What you will need

To build these shelves, you'll need the following: A cluttered corner that needs organisation (most of us have at least one!).

• Wood: The type of wood depends on your preference and what you have available. For example, leftover planks of plywood. See step one for size details.

• Table saw (optional, only necessary if your wood needs resizing).

• Mitre saw (or have your wood precut at a hardware store).

• Planer (optional).

• Sandpaper: 220-grit and 320-grit.

• Measuring tape.

• Drill with a countersink or small drill bit.

• Screws: 25mm screws will work well.

• Spirit level (or use a levelling app on your phone).

For finishing:

• Stain or paint in a colour of your choice.

• Paintbrush or soft cloth (for applying stain).

• Varnish (I recommend a waterbased, semi-gloss finish).

Step-by-step guide

Step 1: Determining the size

Customising your shelves allows you to tailor them to your needs.

Consider what you'll use them for.

For a desk, you'll want a smaller size.

For organising a child's reading nook or a workshop, you may prefer larger dimensions.

Here's an example of the wood sizes used for two shelf designs, but feel free to adjust these measurements to suit your project: