8 Shelves You Can Make From Upcycled Materials
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Upcycled Materials Make Great Shelves
Upcycled materials have dozens of uses around the house, and creating inexpensive and practical shelving is one very common use for second-hand items. Not only do such shelves create turn ordinary walls into useful storage spaces for very little cost, but they can make an interesting design statement in the hands of a creative DIYer.
Here are seven decor hacks to inspire you.
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Make a Hanging Belt Shelf
Want to show off a couple of small prized possessions? This belt shelf from Ronja, the dexterous blogger behind Nur-Noch, is a smart idea that’s cheap and easy to create. All you need to get started is a wood board and an old suede or leather belt. In this instance, Ronja used an IVAR shelf that she picked up at IKEA for less than $5.
Tip: Get creative. You can use a skateboard deck or rectangular platter instead of a traditional wood shelf for this project.
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Turn a Cheese Box into a Stunning Shelf
Carrie, the frugalista who pens Curb to Refurb, has a knack for recycling found objects into stunning home furnishings. She created this stylish round shelf using a discarded cheese box.
Tip: Where can you find a box like this for free? Ask your local gourmet store for one—they generally discard them after unpacking the cheeses.
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Turn Wood Slices Into Shelving
Becky, the resourceful homeowner who pens Humboldt Art Department, created this rustic shelf using wedge slices from a tree trunk she found in the park. The keyhole brackets used to hang it cost her only $0.99.
Tip: This kind of wedge slice is cut out of the trunk whenever a tree trimmer is cutting down a tree. Be on the lookout for city tree crews or pro tree services working in the neighborhood; you may find such wedges free for the asking.
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Re-purpose Dresser Drawers
If you have a dresser you no longer need, you can follow this blogger’s crafty lead. Emily, from Namely Original, created these adorable box shelves using dresser drawers that she purchased from a resale shop.
Tip: Locate wall studs using a stud finder, then attach the repurposed drawers by driving fasteners through the bottoms of the drawers and into the wall studs.
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Transform a Narrow Wood Box into a Shelf
Miss Lotte, from Nur-Noch, transformed a narrow wooden box into a smart shelf. The project began by sawing the box in half lengthwise, using a circular saw. Then one end was cut off each box half. Finally, the cut ends were joined together to form a long, narrow shelf. The newly created shelf was then attached to the wall with fasteners driven through the back edge of the shelf and into wall studs.
Tip: The wood box used to create this project was a roadside treasure. To find a few gems of your own, keep your eyes peeled for bulk trash days in your area.
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Create Display Shelves Using Craft Boxes
Carrie, the self-professed dreamer and over thinker behind Making Lemonade, created this stunning shelving display using customizable paper-mâché boxes. This project is insanely easy to make.
Tip: You may have leftover craft boxes around the house from previous projects. They are also available on online retailers or craft stores.
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Build Floor-to-Ceiling Storage Shelves With Apple Crates
You don’t need an extra closet when you have a dozen apple crates. Ronja, from Nur-Noch, created a floor to ceiling shelving unit using old containers that she painted and then bolted to a wall.
Tip: A similar shelving style can be created from peach crates or any other wooden produce container.
Now try some bookshelves!