This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

I have been wanting to add shelves to Aiden’s Montessori playroom for quite some time now, but after searching for some to buy I realized I could make my own at a fraction of the price.

Shelves are a great way to add extra storage to any room without it being too cluttered. You can easily makes shelves for any space in your home.

This is not impossible to do alone, but I would strongly suggest having someone there to help you with this.

Before Purchasing your materials

First decide where you want the shelves to be and measure the length of the wall. Since I knew I wanted the shelves above Aiden’s toy rack in his playroom I picked a length that was slightly longer and centered it on the wall. If you can’t find the exact length you need most hardware stores will cut it for you free of charge.

Decide on the kind of bracket you want there’s so many different possibilities, and if you can’t find the color you want purchase a white one and and paint it.

Materials

• (2) 12 x 3 ft wood Panel, here is the exact one I used . If you can’t find the exact length you need most hardware stores will cut it for you free of charge.
• (4) 9 inch shelf brackets, if your wood panels are a different width make sure yo get the appropriate bracket size. The exact ones I used here
• (8) 3/4 inch wood screws to attached the bracket to the shelf. The exact ones I used here.
• (8) #8 1.25-in x 0.164-in screws and anchors, to attach shelves to the wall. The exact ones I used here

Total Cost for 2 shelves $51.44

Tools

• Drill
• 3/16 drill bit for the wall. This is the exact set we own here
• 7/64 drill bit for the shelf (to attache the bracket). This is the exact set we own here
• Phillips head screw driver
• Hammer
• Tape measure
• Swanson Speed square ( to ensure bracket is straight on wood panel). The exact one I own here.
• Level tool
• Pencil

Steps

Step 1- Attach the brackets to the shelves

To do this first measure the distance you want your brackets to from the edge on each side, we went with 6 inches.

Mark where you will be drilling with your pencil

Using the 7/64 drill bits from this set, slowly drill a hole where you marked. Be careful not to drill the hole thru the other side.

Using the drill or a screw driver screw the bracket to the wood panel using the 3/4 inch screws.

Repeat this for each side of both shelves

Step 2- Decide the exact height for the shelves on the wall

This is where having another person there with you becomes helpful they can hold the shelf while you make sure that its leveled.

Once you have determined the shelf is leveled mark where you will screw the bracket into the wall.

Step 3- Attach the shelf to wall

Using the 3/16 drill bit, make a hole where you marked the wall.

Hammer the anchor to the wall of each hole

Screw on the top screw into the anchor for each shelf half way (this step may slightly differ if you are using different brackets.

Align top hole brackets to the screws on the wall, screw in the bottom screw for each bracket, and tighten the top screw.

All done!

You can also choose to stain or paint the wood panel but I love the natural look so I left it as is.