Home » Misc » How to build pantry shelving

How to build pantry shelving


How to Build Pantry Shelving

Home » DIY Home

Learn how to build strong and sturdy pantry shelving (or walk-in closet shelving or garage shelves) with this detailed tutorial.

We’ve lived in our home for four months now, and we’re finally nearing the end of The Pantry Project. I’m almost ready to show you the whole, glorious project! But today I’m sharing how we built the pantry shelving. If you are new here, you have got to see what this space used to look like!

One common question I keep getting is about the size of this space. Our pantry measures 3 feet by 4 feet.

I spent a lot of time trying to decide on the spacing of the shelves. I knew the bottom space needed to be big enough to fit a five gallon food storage bucket. I also wanted a few large shelves for oversized items. But I also wanted to be able to fit as many shelves as possible into this little space. I even measured the height of canned goods, mason jars, cake mixes, cereal boxes and soda bottles, just to help me know what sizes would work. After I came up with an idea of what I wanted, I used blue painters tape to mock up the shelves:

It was so helpful to see what the shelves would look like!

Next, it was time to start building. I turned this part over to the hubsters. He started by screwing 1×2 pieces of wood to the walls, making sure that each piece hit a stud in two places and was perfectly level.

I painted the wood on the walls at this point. I figured it would be a lot easier than trying to do it after the shelves were in.

Next, we cut shelving out of MDF boards. THESE are the boards we purchased at Home Depot. We chose MDF for the price, but it is kind of a pain to cut. The edges crumble if you aren’t careful, so be patient. I painted all of the shelves before installation and it made the process so much easier!

The shelves are mitered where they meet in the corner, and have an angled edge on one corner near the front because they needed to go around the door trim instead of butting up against it. (You can see that part in the very left edge of the photo). To reinforce the back corner where the two shelves meet, we used a 2×2 piece of wood as a vertical pole. The shelves are attached to the 2×2 with metal L-brackets, two on each level.

Here’s a close-up of the brackets. You need two on each level so that one is attached to each of the two boards that meet at the corner. Make sense?

After everything was installed, I did a whole lot of caulking. It made all the difference! See for yourself:

The caulk took away all the screw holes, cracks and imperfections and we were left with clean, crisp shelving!

Isn’t it breathtaking? Okay, okay, that might be strong vocabulary for shelving, but this is my baby we’re talking about here! I’ve watched my crazy idea come to life before my eyes, and it’s given me the remodeling bug so hard!

The spacing we settled on worked out to be:

And here’s the pantry fully stocked:

There are still empty shelves in here and I cleaned out all the food from the kitchen cupboards and one shelf from the linen closet that’s next to the pantry in the hallway. Isn’t that amazing! Ahhh… I love my pantry!

We figured out a great solution for the third wall of the pantry that doesn’t have shelving on it… we built a shelf between studs! Read about that HERE!

We are getting close on the outside too. Two out of three walls are textured and primed. We need to put up moulding and baseboards, trim the door, texture the last wall, then paint everything. Can’t wait to show you!

TO SEE THE FULL PANTRY REVEAL, CLICK HERE!

Reader Interactions

The Craft Patch is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. “This site uses cookies from Google to deliver its services and analyze traffic. Your IP address and user-agent are shared with Google along with performance and security metrics to ensure quality of service, generate usage statistics, and to detect and address abuse. ”

how to build pantry shelves

We all have our own dirty little secrets in our home… the ones just hidden out of sight. From the crazy closet to the horrible garage, we wince a little every time that door opens. Ours was the pantry. Our literal skeleton in the closet, and we pretty much had everything in the pantry… minus the skeletons. Which is what drove us to this post on how to build pantry shelves.

Sometimes we keep those sore spots because let’s be honest: They’re working for us right now and we don’t have time to change them.

There’s no shame in that, right?

Okay, maybe we did let it get a little out of hand. Such is life.

A needed makeover

Our pantry makeover was our desperate attempt to change something. Our nonexistent system had gotten out of control, and we were ready for something simplified and different.

In retrospect, who knew the new system we have going would make grocery shopping so much easier?

Like a breath of fresh air in the menu planning department, we’re even amazed by how much smoother our meal prep rituals for the family can run.

Not too long ago with the previous albatross of a pantry, we’d just guess at what to buy, because figuring out what we did and didn’t have with the old system was like searching for that lego piece your 5 year old had sucked up in the vacuum cleaner.

Ain’t nobody got time for that.

And most of the time we pretend we didn’t see that obscure piece that was sucked up into said vacuum cleaner. It’s one less casualty to the foot at night.

 gutting and getting started

So we gutted it…….

And spackled it……

And began building it back, new.

It may seem like a complicated build on the surface, but it’s easier than one might think. Today, we’re breaking it down in our how to build pantry shelves tutorial.

That, and there’s always the added benefit of demo day- making up for years of suppressed resentment over wire shelves, lost items, and that fabulous grease magnet known as matte builder’s beige.

Tearing things apart is kind of fun.

The supplies

• 3/4 inch thick melamine board • 2 x 2 x 8 pine boards • 1 x 3 x 8 pine boards (primed) • 1 x 2 x 8 pine boards (primed) • wood glue • #6 2 1/2 inch wood screws • finish nails • L brackets • caulk • quart of paint to match melamine board

helpful hint: how much of each of these supplies will depend on the size of your pantry or shelving space.

What we used:
• (10) 3/4(thick) x 15 3/4(w) x 96 inch (l) melamine board • (3) 2 x2 x 8 pine boards •(10) 1 x 3 x 6 pine boards (primed) •(14) 1 x 2 x 8 pine boards (primed) • box of 100 count #6 2 1/2 inch wood screws • large bottle of wood glue • RYOBI 16 gauge nailer • RYOBI drill • RYOBI impact driver • scroll saw • L brackets • caulk • quart of paint to match melamine board – minimal painting!

how to build pantry shelves – getting started

First things first: We patched the holes and painted the the pantry, then began installing our wall braces. To install the wall braces, you’ll need to find the studs in your wall(s) and mark their location. Then decide on the height and number of shelves you will use and mark their placements on your wall(s). I suggest marking where you want the bottom of the shelf to hit.

Next, measure the length of your wall(s) and cut your 1 x 2’s to that length. If you are installing on two walls that will meet, remember that you will need to compensate for the width of the 1 x 2 butting up against the other 1 x 2 from the second wall.

You’ll want a brace on any wall that touches the shelf.

Once you have your measurements, cut the braces to the correct length. Then spread some wood glue on the side touching the wall, and line up the top edge with the markings you made earlier. Level the brace and shoot or hammer a couple of nails into it to hold it in place.

Next, pre-drill two holes into the brace where the studs are, and screw in your 2 1/2 inch screws. (Repeat this for all your braces. )

how to add shelves in your pantry

Once your braces are up, measure and cut your melamine board to size. We ran one shelf the length of the shorter wall, and then butted the longer wall’s shelf board to it.

You can brace the front side of the shelf in several ways. We used a combination of a center support between the two shelves, and then on the long wall, a dividing shelf.

Center support

To make a center support between the two shelves, notch out a 2 x 2 x 8 so that each shelf will rest on the notch. We notched it so that 3/4 of it’s thickness was uncut because we planned to finish off the shelves with a 1 x 3 on the front. This would give us the finished look we were after.

We took a melamine board, and laid it on each brace. We held the 2 x 2 up to it, made everything level, and marked where we needed to notch.

Using a scroll saw, we notched out a place for each shelf to rest. (You’ll need to notch out two sides.) We also cut our 2 x 2 to 3 1/2 inches above the bottom of the last notch, so that when we ran our 1 x 3 it would be flush.

We painted the 2 x 2, and when it was dry we ran a bead of glue on the top of the wall braces, and placed all the melamine boards in place.

Helpful Hint: We found a mallet helpful for hammering some of the shelves in.

Then we put some glue on the notches, and slid the 2 x 2 into place.

adding the cubbies

Once it’s dry, you can begin adding cubbies and a half wall. We added a half wall to provide a great place to store our trash can and vacuum. It also added a little extra support to that side.

cutting the melamine

When cutting your melamine board for the cubbie dividers, remember to notch out the back top where it will hit the support. Then simply attach it with some plastic “L” brackets you can buy in the same area as the melamine board. (If your cut is precise, you can get away with hot gluing them in place and then caulking it.)

 

how to build pantry shelves – trim

We really loved the whole “vintage cubbie” look, and the polished finish the front ledge gave our pantry, so we decided to add this final step. You’ll want to measure a the 1 x 3 to finish off the front. Cut it to size, then glue and nail it.

We finished off the edges close to the walls with some primed pine 1 x 2’s cut to size, and simply glued and nailed them into place.

finishing touches in building pantry shelves

Finally, caulk all the holes and edges or any gaps. Paint the caulk as well as any exposed edges to match the melamine board.

Pat yourself on the back, because you are now the proud owner of a new pantry!

You can read all about our sources here, but we polished off the front with these simple labels from DLawless

And crowned it off with this fun flee market find…

It’s kind of amazing what it did for us to pull down that ‘boob light’ {as we so affectionately refer to them}.

We are loving the new feel and functionality of the space, and as always we’d love to see if you try it! Let us know if you have any questions. It’s amazing what a little elbow grease can do for the functionality {and sanity} in your home.

Have an inspired day! And for some more DIY Kitchen ideas from around the web check out this post.

 

How to make racks and shelves for the pantry with your own hands

Current developers, unlike their colleagues of the past generation, do not seek to equip the living area with storage rooms. This increases the living space, but does not allow you to optimize the space and have the storage area that is sometimes necessary.

The presence of a pantry in the apartment becomes a gift for the hostess and sometimes a luxury inaccessible to others.

Unfortunately, the pantry is not always equipped with shelves and racks for placing and storing things, so you have to install the shelves in the pantry yourself. nine0003

Do-it-yourself shelving in the closet is a simple task.

Contents

Design, construction and fastening methods

wall. nine0003

There are only two options for how to make a rack, namely to make a free-standing shelf, or simply fix the boards directly to the wall.

The first thing to do is to draw the idea on paper. This will allow you to visualize the desired rack, take measurements and most successfully place it, taking into account the wishes and intended storage items.

In order for a closet to be equipped with shelving, there must be enough space in it.

Keep in mind that the shelves should be arranged in width from bottom to top, that is, the bottom shelf will be the widest, and the top one, respectively, the narrowest. This is due to the fact that the most dimensional items that are inconvenient and impractical to lift up will be stored on the lower shelves. nine0003

You need to think carefully about the distance between the shelves and correlate it with the items that you plan to store.

Depending on the desire of the owners, the racks can have any shape that will allow the realization of the place chosen for fastening the structure.

You need to take into account the amount of free space - if the racks take up too much space, then it will be inconvenient for you to walk in the pantry.

U-shaped and L-shaped are more often chosen, this type of shelves is the most practical. For installation, it is better to prefer metal brackets and fasteners, they are the most durable, they can withstand any weight on the shelves. nine0003

Choose whichever option suits you.

Materials needed

When deciding how to make shelves in the pantry, you need to decide on the material from which the construction will be made. There are several options.

  1. Budget option allows you to make shelves from the material that is part of the furniture. If there is an old wall-slide or an unnecessary chest of drawers available, then they can be disassembled and you can get a fairly durable and, at the same time, free canvas for making boards. nine0056

    This will be enough to have good and reliable shelves in the pantry, on which you can store anything.

  2. The second option involves the purchase of material for shelves in the pantry. The choice should correspond to the list of intended items for storage, their dimensions, weight.

    It is advisable to make the rack directly in the closet, because if it is large, then it will be difficult for you to bring it inside.

    If the shelving is expected to be loaded with conservation, then a solid board with a width of about 30 mm is the best choice. nine0056

    Boards are suitable for any - the main thing is that they have sufficient length and withstand the expected load.

In addition to wooden materials, you can choose others, the main thing is strength and the possibility of self-assembly. In addition to the shelves, you should stock up on fasteners on which the shelves will be installed, consumables necessary for work.

In order to make wooden storage shelving, you will need few materials and serious tools. nine0003

Tools for the job

To understand what tool is needed for the job, you need to clarify what exactly needs to be done. If the material for the shelves is not prepared and needs to be cut and sharpened to the desired dimensions, then it is imperative to have a jigsaw or a hacksaw for wood and a planer. They will help to make the shelves the right size. And you will also need sandpaper to process the edges of the cuts and give the shelves a finished look.

Tools needed for the job. nine0003

Requires a puncher to create holes in the wall for dowel-nails to attach brackets, a screwdriver to connect parts to each other, if necessary.

This is enough to have good and reliable shelves in the pantry, on which you can store anything.

Without fail you will need:

Choosing a place for a shelf

When thinking about how to make shelves in a pantry, it is important to decide on a place. The place where the shelves will be attached should be chosen taking into account many factors. nine0003

The wall to be fastened to must be load-bearing.

This is a guarantee of strength and durability of the structure. A thin interior partition may not withstand the load and shelves filled with heavy objects will collapse.

In addition to boards, chipboard, plywood and other suitable materials can be used.

If the fixing is not carried out directly to the wall, you can use your imagination according to the desired arrangement. nine0003

Consider the dimensions of the items to be stored.

It is important to prepare the storage room itself, align and tidy up the walls in advance so that the shelves stand up straight and there is no need to adjust them to the wall relief.

Lighting needs to be taken care of before shelving is installed.

The process of manufacturing and installation

So, the place for the rack has been chosen, all the tools and materials have been prepared, the layout of the shelves on paper has been made, and all dimensions have been verified and calculated? You can proceed to the main process of manufacturing shelves and assembling the structure. nine0003

  1. The first thing to do is to use a tape measure and a building level to mark the wall, which will serve as the basis for fastening.

    Use a tape measure to mark the height of the shelves in the center of the room and draw horizontal lines with a laser level.

    Use a hammer drill to make holes in the wall where the brackets will be attached.

    Guide profiles are attached to the walls with dowel-nails. nine0003

    Fasten the bases for the brackets and install them.

    Their number depends on the desired number of shelves, and the distance between them determines the height of the shelves.

  2. The next stage is the manufacture of shelves. You need to use a jigsaw or a saw to cut shelves from wood to the required size.

    It is better to check the dimensions again and cut out the template from cardboard for greater accuracy.

    After checking them with installed brackets, you can start trimming. After the shelves of the desired size are cut, it is worth processing the cuts with sandpaper to remove the roughness. nine0056

    This will give the shelves a decent look.

  3. After fixing the brackets and cutting out the required dimensions of the shelves, you need to install the latter in the place of the planned location and secure with fasteners and a screwdriver.

It is better to place higher shelves at the bottom.

Shelving in the pantry is ready! You can safely use it to store things and optimize the surrounding space.

As you can see, this is not particularly difficult, and after installing racks and shelves, you will be able to store items in the pantry in the most rational and convenient way. nine0003

VIDEO: Do-it-yourself pantry rack. Home

How to make shelves in the pantry with your own hands? 40+ photos and videos

Features of planning storage systems

The most important thing when arranging a pantry in an apartment or a private house is to decide what things it will be intended for and correlate the load with the dimensions of the room. nine0003

Preparation

Before installing storage systems, the pantry must be repaired: clean the space, carry out dry and wet cleaning, remove old wallpaper and flooring. If necessary, the walls of the pantry or attic are leveled and also put in order: painted or pasted over.

It is recommended to use a primer containing antifungal impregnations.

Laminate, parquet or linoleum is laid on the floor. It is also worth equipping the pantry with ventilation and lighting, which will greatly facilitate the use of the room. nine0003

What material can be used?

One of the most affordable and durable materials for creating shelves in the pantry is wood. Boards made of natural wood (pine, larch), as well as chipboard, are fixed to metal fasteners. The heavier the items that will be stored in the pantry, the thicker the boards should be. For conservation, large equipment, construction tools and other heavy things, it is worth providing an additional stiffener.

If you make shelves in the pantry with your own hands, you can use what is at hand - wooden pallets, old unnecessary furniture, plastic fruit boxes. Plywood is considered a budget option, but thin sheets are not suitable for heavy items. Lightweight but durable plastic is suitable for storing books, clothes and bulk products. It is easy to care for it, besides, the material is not afraid of moisture. nine0003

Shelves made of metal are considered the most durable and do not require additional reinforcement. Modern products have a collapsible design, they are easy to rearrange and transport, in addition, the material easily withstands temperature changes. When buying, you should pay attention to the coating - it must be protected from corrosion with a special composition.

Shown are shelving, drawers and wall shelves for a spacious pantry.

What is the best way to arrange the shelves in the pantry?

The size of the utility room primarily affects the placement of shelves.

On the photo there is a pantry in which the racks are functionally arranged in the shape of the letter "P".

Deciding on the dimensions

The most popular and practical shelf shape is straight. The length of the shelf is usually equal to the length of the wall. If the distance between opposite walls is 2 meters or less, then the shelf does not need additional support. Otherwise, the structure should be strengthened, especially if it is planned to store rolls and tools. nine0003

The thicker the wooden shelf, the more fasteners it requires. Also, its strength is determined by the distance between the support posts: the more massive the structure, the smaller the gaps.

In order to use the shelves comfortably and safely, the heaviest items must be stowed down. The width of the protrusions should decrease from bottom to top. The standard shelf width for cans with preservation is 30 cm. The height depends on the dimensions of things.

Pictured is a pantry with a wide aisle between wooden shelving.

DIY shelf options: step-by-step instructions

You can save your family budget with the help of home-made shelves in the pantry and detailed master classes, which are given below.

How to make a wooden shelving unit for a pantry?

Before starting work, it is necessary to measure the walls of the pantry and create a drawing of the desired structure. Next, prepare in advance the consumables necessary for the manufacture of functional shelves. nine0003

The photo shows a linear self-made shelving made of wood, occupying the entire wall of the pantry.

Tools and materials

For work you will need:

Step-by-step instructions
  1. First you need to prepare the material. Using a hacksaw or electric jigsaw, we cut the bars and lining in accordance with the dimensions of the future pantry rack. nine0002

  2. We apply impregnation, carefully processing every detail. You need to dry for as long as indicated in the instructions on the bank.

  3. We fix the corners with screws at the level where the shelves will be located:

  4. We fix the horizontal bars as follows (4 such structures should be obtained):

  5. Install the lining horizontally, nail it with thin nails:

    nine0002

  6. We make the second shelf in the same way: we fasten the corners, fix the horizontal bars, attach the lining.

  7. We lay the upper horizontal bars, fasten them.

  8. The shelves in the pantry are ready. In this way, you can make a rack of any height, depth and shape.

You can learn more about how to make shelves in the pantry from this video:

DIY wall shelves

The following is the easiest and most economical way to make hanging shelves in a small pantry. The amount of material for the shelves depends on the size of the room and the number of floors.

In the photo there are pantries in small-sized apartments such as Khrushchev or Leningradka, equipped with shelves that are simple in execution.

Tools and materials

To make shelves in the pantry with your own hands, you will need:

Step-by-step instructions
  1. Sawing timber and plywood according to the size of the pantry. If desired, they can be painted or varnished. For the frame of one shelf, you will need 1 long and 2 short bars, for the base - a plywood sheet or boards of the required size and thickness. We make markings on the walls and securely fasten the bars. nine0002

  2. Making markings for the next shelf.

  3. We mount the shelf in the pantry.

  4. We fix it with nails.

And this video describes how to install a wall shelf in a pantry in two ways: on brackets for chipboard and on standard brackets.

Shelves in the pantry from the profile

Solid U-shaped shelving for a spacious pantry is obtained from metal profiles. Having understood the principle of operation, you can make shelves of any configuration, replace plywood with wood, cover the metal profile with paint and create a loft-style rack. nine0003

In the photo there are two types of shelves for the pantry, made by hand from metal profiles and wood.

Tools and materials

Step-by-step instructions
  1. We make a drawing and calculate the amount of materials. We cut the profile into components in accordance with the dimensions.

  2. Marking out horizontal lines. We fasten guide profiles 50x40 to the walls using dowel-nails.

  3. We make the frame of the first shelf, put it on temporary supports from the profile.

    Learn more