I have a confession to make. I absolutely refuse to pay hundreds of dollars for a bookshelf that comes in a flat cardboard box. We all want that gorgeous, custom library look in our homes, but looking at the price tags in furniture showrooms is enough to make anyone weep.
That is why I love a good DIY shelf project. It is the perfect way to get exactly the size you need for that awkward corner without draining your bank account. Plus, there is something so satisfying about looking at a wall and saying I built that. Here are my favorite bookshelf ideas that are simple enough to knock out before Sunday dinner.
The Industrial Pipe Shelf
I am a huge fan of the modern farmhouse look because it is so forgiving. Head to the plumbing aisle at Home Depot and grab some black iron pipes and flanges. Pair them with stained pine boards for a sturdy, industrial vibe. My advice is to wipe down the pipes with a degreaser before you assemble them so you do not get oil on your walls.
Wooden Crate Stacks
This is honestly the easiest project on this list. Buy a few unfinished wooden crates from the craft store or hardware store. You can stain them dark for a vintage look or paint them white for something crisp. Stack them up on their sides and screw them together. It creates instant storage that you can rearrange whenever you get bored.
The Ladder Lean
Do not toss that paint splattered wooden ladder sitting in your garage. I think the wear and tear adds character. Clean it up, maybe give it a light sanding, and lean it against your living room wall. It makes for a perfect display for books and trailing plants. Just be sure to anchor the top to the wall so it stays safe.
Plywood Minimalism
Plywood is my secret weapon for budget decor. Have the nice folks at the lumber yard cut a sheet into twelve inch strips for you. The trick to making it look expensive is using iron on edge banding to cover the rough sides. Once it is stained, nobody will know it is not solid oak.
Leather Strap Shelves
I saw a version of this in a high end design magazine and knew I could make it for ten dollars. Take two strips of leather, I used old belts I found at a thrift store, and loop them to hold a single wooden plank. It looks incredibly chic and airy. It is best for lighter items like paperbacks and small succulents.
Cinder Block Industrial
Concrete blocks are not just for college dorms anymore. If you stack nice clean blocks with dark stained wood planks, it looks surprisingly modern and architectural. The best part is that gravity does all the work, so you do not need a single nail or screw.
Behind The Door Storage
We all have that wasted space behind the bedroom door. Use one-by-four-inch boards and add a dowel across the front to keep books from falling. It is a lifesaver for organizing kids books without taking up floor space.
Rope Hanging Shelf
This brings a fun nautical vibe to any room. Drill holes in the four corners of your wood boards and thread thick rope through them, tying knots underneath each shelf for support. Hang the whole unit from a heavy duty ceiling hook. It sways a little, so maybe keep your breakable antique vases on a different surface.
Vintage Suitcase Shelves
If you love flea markets as much as I do, you probably have a few old hard shell suitcases lying around. You can actually cut them in half and mount them to the wall. The flat side becomes the shelf surface. It adds such a cool travel theme to a room and is a total conversation starter.
Simple Bracket Gallery
Sometimes you just need to keep it simple. Buy a pack of standard metal brackets and some lumber. I like to cut the wood into different lengths to create a staggered gallery wall effect. It turns your book collection into a piece of art and lets you utilize vertical space in a small room.