Create your own pantry shelves with our do-it-yourself guide
In the quest for organising your pantry, building custom shelves can be a cost-effective and rewarding solution. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to create sturdy and attractive pantry shelves using various wood types.
First and foremost, gather your materials. A 38mm x 63mm CLS batten, with two uprights, a batten for the top, bottom, and each shelf, is an ideal choice for the frame. For a more decorative finish, consider adding a trim to the front of the shelf.
When it comes to choosing the wood for your shelves, there are several options. Birch plywood, poplar, solid hardwoods like oak or maple, and melamine-coated boards each have their pros and cons.
Birch plywood, with its strength, stability, and resistance to warping, is widely recommended for pantry shelves. Poplar, lightweight and easy to work with, is perfect for shelf borders and trim to protect edges. Solid hardwoods provide a premium, strong, and beautiful finished look but are more expensive and sensitive to humidity. Melamine-coated shelves offer a clean look and easy maintenance, but they can be less structurally robust and require careful edge finishing.
To build your shelves, first, measure your pantry carefully, accounting for any uneven walls. Decide on the gap between each shelf, and add all measurements together to work out the upright lengths. If your shelving is more than six feet wide and loaded with heavy items such as canned goods, added support should be put in place at 450mm spacing.
A double set of tools including a combi drill, impact driver, batteries, charger, and TSTAK Kit box can be useful for building pantry shelves. If you intend to put a lot of weight on the shelves, a standing floor frame is a good choice for building pantry shelves.
To finish, cut the shelves to fit your frame and add 1 x 2 timber to the front for a finished look. If you're going for a floating shelf design, consider attaching to studs if you have a stud wall and using the best plasterboard fixings for between the studs. Use Rawl plugs if drilling into masonry.
One sheet of 18mm thick plywood (2440mm x 1220mm) is sufficient for building pantry shelves. MDF is another option, particularly if a painted finish is desired. However, it may not be suitable for heavier items.
With these tips in mind, you're now ready to embark on your pantry organisation journey. Happy building!
- A project for organizing your home and garden, specifically your pantry, could involve building custom shelves using a 38mm x 63mm CLS batten for a sturdy frame.
- For the shelves, consider various wood types such as birch plywood, poplar, solid hardwoods like oak or maple, and melamine-coated boards, each with their unique advantages and drawbacks.
- Birch plywood, known for its strength, stability, and resistance to warping, is widely recommended for pantry shelves due to its structural robustness.
- To create a more decorative finish, add a trim to the front of the shelves, or go for a floating shelf design for a minimalist, interior-design lifestyle.
- Before starting the build, measure your pantry carefully, decide on the gap between each shelf, and ensure added support for heavy items if necessary.
- To construct your shelves, a set of tools including a combi drill, impact driver, batteries, charger, and TSTAK Kit box can be useful, while a standing floor frame is advantageous for heavy loads.
- To complete the project, cut the shelves to fit your frame, add a 1 x 2 timber to the front for a finished look, and consider using appropriate fixings for different wall types, such as Rawl plugs for masonry. With these steps, you can guide your home-improvement efforts towards a well-organized, more functional kitchen and lifestyle.
