Unique DIY Wall Shelves
Updated on May 7, 2019
When it comes to adding storage to our home, we find that we just can’t get enough shelving. Whether it’s a simple setup to put decor on or something more sturdy that we’ll actually keep more practical things on top of, we find that shelving is something we need, but we still always like it better when we’ve made it ourselves with some kind of creative twist rather than just buying and installing a set from the store! That’s why we’ve had our eyes peeled so well lately for all kinds of different DIY shelving options.
Just in case you love the idea of making DIY wall shelves for your home just as much as we do, if not more, here are 15 of the very best ideas, designs, and tutorials that we’ve come across so far in our search for inspiration and guidance!
1. Mod paint bucket shelves
Have you actually decided that your house could use a little bit of a mod makeover and now you’re trying to find simple, subtle ways that you can add curved lines and colour pops to your home’s details? In that case, we think you’ll get a real kick out of the way Oh oh Deco made this set of awesome cylindrical shelves to put their books in! Their tutorial shows you how to make it happen using paint buckets.
2. Slanted wood shelf
Perhaps the space you have available for some extra shelving is good in terms of length because it’s got a lot of vertical room but you’re just not sure that a lot of the ideas you’ve seen so far in your searches would work because you need more than once shelf and mounting several to that wall won’t work width wise? Well, particularly if you love the way clean wood adds a sort of rustic aesthetic to a space then we have a feeling you’ll get along quite well with this fantastic slanted wood shelf by Scandifoodie that gives you several surfaces to set things on all the way down.
3. Distressed wood and metal bracket floating shelves
Maybe a simple floating shelf actually is the very kind of thing you’re looking for but you just haven’t been able to track down the style of shelf you really want in stores? Well, if the aesthetic you’re aiming for has a little bit of rustic chic, then we think you’ll get along very well indeed with this tutorial from Sugar and Cloth that shows you how to make distressed wood shelves and mount them with metal brackets.
4. Rope shelves
Are you actually such a lover of rustic aesthetics that you can’t help enjoying when a finished piece is very clearly homemade and guests can openly tell that you created it yourself? Then perhaps you’ll get along very well indeed with something like this wood and rope tiered shelf outlined step by crafty step on Recreate Home!
5. Wood and leather suspended shelf
Just in case you’re feeling rather intrigued indeed by the concept of making suspended shelves like the rope shelf you saw above but you’re just not sure that the rope itself really suits your space, here’s an awesome alternative for your consideration! Camille Styles walks you step by step through the process of making a simple wooden floating shelf that is suspended solidly and stylishly by strips of leather.
6. Honeycomb shelves
Perhaps this concept of alternatively shaped shelving that makes it almost look more like a decor piece than a functional thing is really hitting home with you but you’re also really feeling like putting your simple wood working skills to good use? In that case, we think you just might be the perfect person to give these fantastic honeycomb shelves a try! Get the full details for making it happen on A Beautiful Mess.
7. Wood and pipe shelves
Are you absolutely still interested in the idea of making slightly rustic chic looking wooden shelves but your home also has a slightly vintage modern or industrial chic aesthetic that you’d like to incorporate as well? Well, especially if you’re in need of quite a lot of shelving at once, like a whole DIY unit, then we think you’ll get along very well indeed with this wood and pipe shelving project outlined step by detailed step on The Brick House!
8. Wooden pegboard shelf
Did we really catch your attention with the idea of making a wooden shelving option that features several boards to set things on vertically but you don’t have the floor space to make the leaning kind so you’d prefer a wall mounted version? Then we’d definitely suggest taking a look at the way Apartment Therapy made this awesome wooden pegboard shelving that will actually let you choose and change how the little balanced shelves are laid out.
9. Wood and nail rustic wine shelf
Perhaps we really caught your attention when we started talking about clearly homemade rustic aesthetics but you just haven’t quite found the kind of thing you’re looking for so you’ve been holding out? In that case, we’d absolutely suggest taking a look at how Shanty 2 Chic made this wood and nail rustic wine shelf, just in case you’re the kind of person who likes to keep a few bottles on hand.
10. Industrial modern floating shelves
In case you couldn’t tell by now, we really love rustic wood and industrial chic aesthetic pieces. There’s just something about them that’s fun to make and suitable for so many different kinds of spaces! Here’s another kind of wooden industrial modern floating shelf tutorial for your consideration, this time thanks to Vintage Revivals.
11. Hand painted stacked shelves
Are you actually totally fine with building a simple set of store bought wood shelves with metal brackets but you’re still convinced that you’d love to customize them in some creative way so that you can make them a little more your own? In that case, we’d definitely suggest taking a look at the way Design Love Fest outlines the process of using tape and paint to create lovely patterned shelves with unique cover contrasts.
12. Vintage book floating shelves
Just in case we caught your attention with all our talk of slightly vintage influenced details but you can’t help feeling that you’d really like to take the whole idea even more vintage, here’s an awesome tutorial that does just that, especially for book lovers! Creating With KLC guides you step by step through the process of making it happen.
13. Anthropologie inspired copper shelves
Have you ever found an awesomely decorative home piece in a store and loved the way it looks but decided that the price tag on it is a little too high for you thanks to its brand name? That happens to us all the time with lovely practical and decorative home pieces from Anthropologie, which is why we’re always very pleased to come across tutorials that recreate their pieces with unique DIY twists. These stunning copper covered floating shelves outlined by Vintage Revivals is the perfect example of what we mean!
14. Wallpaper backed rounded shelves
Did we actually really catch your attention when we started talking about mod inspired, cylindrical wall mounted shelves but you think you’d rather keep the outside of your little rounded shelves neutrally coloured on the outside to suit the room, even though you wouldn’t mind adding a bit of colour or pattern on the inside? Then we think you’ll really get a kick out of the way The Lovely Drawer backed their rounded shelves in wallpaper.
15. Fruit slice shelves
Just in case your sense of personal style, in both your clothing and your home decor, is a little more bright, friendly, and unique, here’s a wonderfully colourful DIY shelving tutorial from A Bubbly Life that we have a feeling will really appeal to you! We love the way they show you how to make your shelves look like slices of fruit.
Have you made other kinds of awesomely unique DIY shelves before that you were very happy with and still use but that you don’t see here on our list? Tell us all about what you created and how you did it or link us to photos of your finished work in the comments section!