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.

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:

Large shelf:

2 pieces, 600mm long (uprights).