Hi Friends! I have had so so many questions on these open shelves in my home so I wanted to show you how you can make some for yourself! They are super easy and budget friendly! Yay, my favorite two words! I don’t even really need pictures of how I do it, I’m just going to explain it because it is so easy.
First you start with a 2×10″ or 2×12″ board from any hardware store. I actually found some cool 2×12″ barnwood pieces (from a junk store) to use here. Sometimes the lumber from the hardware store will warp a little if it is damp when you buy it. I have not found a local place that sells dry lumber but you may have one in your town. If you buy dry lumber, you will not have the warping problem. Mine from the hardware store have warped a little but I don’t mind it and it’s not noticeable unless you are looking for it.
Any hardware store will gladly cut your lumber for you if you do not own a saw. So, just measure the space where you want them prior going to pick out your boards and then have the hardware store cut them to the size you would like. The brackets will need to be screwed into studs so that may determine where you place your shelves or your brackets. I’m embarrassed to say that a couple of my shelves did not hit the studs but if that happens, no problem! You can just use drywall anchors. I would definitely recommend screwing them into studs but if all else fails there is the drywall anchor option.
After you cut your boards to size, you just need to sand them and stain or paint them the color you would like. There are so many great stain colors now! These shelves above my church bench were stained with dark walnut and then after drying for days, I sanded them down to give them more of a rustic look.
If you have been following me for any time at all, you know that I have these all over my home. They are just the best for decorating!!
These shelves in my dining area, I used grey stain.
These were my old shelves in my eat in area nook. They were stained with dark walnut stain.
I don’t seal my shevles with anything but hemp oil. I found my hemp oil at Sprouts ªa local market of mine) but you can also find it here. I just wiped it on with a rag and it helps keep the wood moist. I’ve read that you should oil them once a year if using hemp oil. I have not reapplied oil for a couple of years and mine are doing great. They are just more of a matte finish. You could also use poly urethane for a glossier finish. If you painted your shelves and want to use poly, just make sure it’s the water based polyacrylic or your paint will yellow. If you used stain, you can use the oil based polyurethane.
Once your shelves are stained and oiled or sealed with poly, you can get your brackets and drill them into the studs. You will want a stud finder and a level. Not every screw from these brackets that I used hit a stud but at least 2 usually did. The level helps make sure your shelves will be level I’m adding an affiliate link of where I found my shelf brackets at Home Depot . I LOVE them!! I get asked all the time where I find my brackets, so there you go.
I even have these shelves in my kids rooms. These in my daughters room are stained with grey stain and then I dry brushed them with my recipe of white chalk paint (that you can find here) for a washed look. I’ve used this chalk paint made with calcium carbonate for years and I just love it and how budget friendly it allows chalk paint to be. I also spray painted these brackets with a white spray paint.
This shelf in our spare bedroom was stained with grey stain and then I painted it solid white over the stain. I then sanded off parts of the white paint with my hand sander to allow for more of a barn wood, chippy look.
And that’s it! I hope this was a help and that I have inspired you to make you own shelves! It’s such a fun, easy DIY project! I hope to meet up with you on Instagram (@vintageporch), Facebook (“My Vintage Porch), and Pinterest (“My Vintage Porch) as well! Have a great day my friends! Here is a run down of the steps and the supplies that you will need.
Steps:
- Measure your wall space and decide the size of shelves that you would like.
- Cut 2×10″ or 2×12″ boards to the size you would like.
- Sand your boards.
- Stain or paint your shelves the color you would like.
- Seal your boards/shelves
- Buy brackets and screw the brackets into the studs in your wall.
- Screw your wood shelf into the bracket.
Supplies
- 2×10″ or 2×12″ boards
- Sand paper
- Stain or paint
- Paint brush if using paint and rags or stain brush if using stain
- Shelf brackets and screws for shelf brackets (if buying the ones I suggested, the screws are suggested with your purchase)
- stud finder
- level
- drill
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