Wall storage is a popular solution for small spaces that need to be organized. To make the most of wall space, you can build your own storage or have a contractor do it for you. In either case, plan on spending about $300 and a few hours on this project. The goal is to build four shelves and enclose them from the room side with plywood and molding. Take your time when measuring to ensure everything fits properly – nothing is worse than having something not fit as expected
Remove the base molding.
Remove the base molding. If there is no base molding, remove the nails and hammer that secure it to the wall.
Mark stud locations with a stud finder. You can use a handsaw to cut into a stud if you don’t have one or want to save money by not buying one, but it’s best to hire an electrician for this job if you’re unsure about how to handle electricity safely.
Remove drywall from where shelving will be placed so that studs are exposed on either side of them—use your tape measure as guide for how far apart they need to be from each other and make sure there are no obstructions like pipes in the way before removing drywall! (If you’re building into an existing wall without any obstructions, skip straight ahead)
Measure size of opening with tape measure; purchase project panel that matches size exactly (or slightly smaller due to expansion).
Mark stud locations.
- Mark the studs with a pencil.
- Mark at the top and bottom of the opening.
- Mark all the studs in the opening. Make sure you mark both sides of each wall, if possible.
- Mark the studs on both sides of the opening, if possible, so that you can use a wood block or extra piece of drywall to mount your storage unit in between them.
Cut the 1x8s and 1x10s to cover the studs.
Cut the 1x8s and 1x10s to cover the studs. The boards should be straight, square, level and plumb (perpendicular to the floor). It’s important that you don’t end up with any gaps between your board and the wall. If you do, fill them in with wood filler before painting or staining your project.
Cut the pine panel to fit in the opening.
- Cut the pine panel to fit in the opening.
- Attach the plywood to the framing with 2-1/2in. screws and glue
- Lay out the rough opening for your cabinets on a level surface. All cabinet walls should be plumb, square and even from side to side
Attach the plywood to the framing with 2-1/2in. screws and glue.
To attach the plywood to the frame, you’ll need a drill with a Phillips head bit and a screwdriver.
First, use your level to ensure that both pieces of plywood are level with each other. Then, using your screwdriver as an anchor for your drill (it’s helpful if you have some sort of clamp), mark where you want to place each hole. Drill out those locations with your drill and then use it again to insert screws into those holes. Finally, make sure everything is still level
Nail blocking on adjacent studs in front of, behind, and on both sides of the new shelves.
To make room for the shelves, you’ll need to nail blocking in front of, behind and on both sides of each shelf. Be sure to measure carefully; if you’re not careful, your frame won’t fit correctly and you’ll have to start over. The best way is to get a friend or family member who is handy with tools to help out. They can put up blocking while you drive nails into the wall studs at regular intervals behind it so that it’s securely attached when it’s time for installation.
Cut 2x4s to length to make a frame on which to mount the shelves.
To make a frame, you’ll need to cut two 2x4s to length. Measure the distance between your studs in the wall and add 1 inch for each bracket you plan on using. Cut one piece of 2×4 at that length and use it as a template for your second piece, which should be cut with the same measurements for both sides of the shelf unit.
If you’re doing this project yourself, we recommend cutting both pieces with a circular saw; otherwise, ask an employee at your hardware store if they have any recommendations on cutting methods that would work best with their stock of lumber. If you’re feeling particularly ambitious and want some practice with power tools (plus extra-thick lumber), consider using an electric jigsaw instead of a circular saw (or even better: go ahead and get those table saw skills going).
When making cuts in wood like this, it’s always important to use a framing square or T-bevel so that each side is exactly 90 degrees from its neighbor—otherwise everything will look wonky when it’s assembled later on
Glue, nail and screw together and then attach to wall studs with 3-1/2in. screws through one side of each cleat into each stud.
- Glue, nail and screw together and then attach to wall studs with 3-1/2in. screws through one side of each cleat into each stud.
- Use a level to ensure the cleats are straight, then drive a few screws through each end of the shelves into the ends of the cleats for added strength (this is especially important if your shelf will carry heavy items).
Install 1×10 cleats for shelf support. The cleats are spaced about 16in apart and are flush with the top edge of the shelf framing below.
The next step is to install 1×10 cleats for shelf support. The cleats are spaced about 16in apart and are flush with the top edge of the shelf framing below. You can use plywood for this purpose, since it’s strong and usually inexpensive, but you may have to wait a while if you order it online or at your local lumberyard. Plywood is also easy to work with; a circular saw will make short work of cutting it down into pieces that fit into a standard door frame. Note that measuring carefully before beginning is essential, so take time before getting started on any cutting job
You can build storage shelving effectively from scratch in your wall
- Decide on the location of your shelf.
- Lay out where to place your shelf in relation to the studs and layout lines (you can use a stud finder or just mark it with a pencil). The top edge of your shelves should be at least 6 inches from the ceiling, and not more than 12 inches away from it so that you have enough room for hanging objects like jackets or hats and scarves.
- Once you’ve marked out where you want them placed, cut them out using either a circular saw or jigsaw (or both if they’re oversized).
- Apply wood glue along one side of each board that will be attached together to make up this side of the wall unit, then clamp them together until dried—this will prevent any movement when installing into place later on
Conclusion
If you follow these steps and are careful with your measurements, you should be able to build storage shelfing in your wall without any problem. There’s more than one way to make a storage shelfing in your wall, but this is the best way because it is the most structurally sound and easy for beginners.
