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James Bryant is the Founder of Cut My, an online retailer providing quality materials for home improvement and DIY projects. An avid DIY enthusiast himself, James started Cut My to share his passion for building and making things.
Decorating that awkward bit of space in a room is often a tricky task, especially if it is otherwise used for storage. Often the solution is a lot easier than you would expect. Shelving. Specifically, plywood shelving.
You may have seen them already in artisan coffee shops, or on social media as an aesthetic way of adding storage options, or decorative depth to a wall. However, plywood shelving is an achievable DIY task regardless of previous experience, so you can recreate that bougie look at home yourself!
With a little know-how and planning, throwing up some plywood shelving is doable in the afternoon, day or weekend, and once installed, can either be left unfinished or customised to suit your design aesthetic.
This guide will walk you through the process of installing plywood shelving by yourself (or with a friend) without the need for a builder or overwhelming power tools.
Preparation
Measure the wall and create a scale to translate this onto paper (ie. 10cm on the wall becomes 1cm when drawn on paper).
Sketch a layout of your shelving design onto paper - don’t forget to include vertical shelving, while this may not be practical for storage, it aids the eye and helps draw attention to key elements of focus points in your design.
Use masking tape to mark it out on the wall, measuring the tape equal to the scaled-up dimensions.
Once happy, write down the dimensions of all lengths of wood you require.
Ordering
Choose your plywood from our selection: Birch; Marine; Hardwood; or Softwood - if you’re unsure what works best for you, read the Applications section at the bottom of the page
Select your required thickness of plywood - we recommend anything above 9mm to provide strength
Customise the height and width of your sheet using your measurements - height is the length of your shelf, and width is the depth away from the wall
Drill bit with a similar diameter to the screw cylinder
Spirit level
Measuring tape
Sandpaper
Wood primer (Optional)
Choice of paint colour (Optional)
Steps For Installation
Sand the edges of the plywood sheet. Begin with a rough grain, and slowly work down to a fine grit until the edges are smooth and splinter-free.
(Optional) Prime your plywood, then paint. You may need a couple of coats of primer and paint before they are ready to install.
Layout the plywood panels on the floor and mark where the brackets need to be positioned on the panels with a pencil - if you wish not to use brackets, check out our guide for alternative fixing options
Drill pilot holes into the panels on the bracket marks, using the drill bit appropriately sized for the screw
Screw brackets into place on the wood
Following the instructions on the wall plug packaging, install wall plugs into the wall where the screws will go
Screw screws into your wall plug, aligning the screws with the holes of the brackets to secure the shelving into place
Things To Note
Remember, when it comes to decorating less can be more! Once installed, your made-to-measure shelves will be covered with your decorations, so remember not to pack them too close together
Plywood can easily be varnished or painted to suit your aesthetic
Please be aware that once any alterations have been made to your plywood after it has been delivered to you, we are not liable for any returns. Please see our Terms and Conditions for more details.
Applications of Woods
Birch - Often chosen for their aesthetic properties, birch plywood is the common option for furniture indoors. Typically used by a specific Swedish furniture manufacturer it is a good option for those with a set plan on their room design
Marine - While marine plywood may lack in the aesthetic department, it is versatile for use in areas where moisture may exist more than normal, such as under the stairs or in a bathroom cupboard. Marine plywood is designed to withstand environments without losing structural integrity.
Hardwood - If you intend on your shelves being heavy bearing, we recommend using hardwood ply as it is greatly resistant to warping, bending or wearing. Ideal for use in sheds, garages, or as a bookshelf option.
Softwood - A rougher grade, our softwood plywood is not suitable for use where aesthetics matter as it is often quite rough to work with and is susceptible to warp or goes wavy. This makes an ideal option for using in sheds or garages where you do not intend to finish the wood.
Plywood Sheets
Browse our range of plywood sheets, custom cut to fit any bracket, wall space or alcove.
First time using this company. Excellent service and product. Highly recommend them… thanks
Amanda,
2 hours ago
Verified
Brilliant service and perfect fit
Brilliant service and perfect fit on cut plex glass
Vanessa BowmAN,
5 hours ago
Verified
On time,precise,well packaged.
On time,precise,well packaged.
Sean Flannigan,
5 hours ago
Verified
cut to perfect size
cut to perfect size, quick delivery, excellent service thanks very much.
Mr Pilkington,
6 hours ago
Verified
Quick and accurate work
Quick and accurate work, well packed, nice job.
john og,
6 hours ago
Verified
Good service
A good product well packaged and prompt delivert
Alec Duthie,
7 hours ago
Verified
Nice looking shelf
Nice looking shelf, looks like solid oak and exactly what I ordered.
Mrs Bracewell ,
9 hours ago
Verified
No problems
No problems
Promt service
Tony,
10 hours ago
Verified
Great Service
Good product which was exactly what I was told it would be great secure packaging, and would recommend.
David,
16 hours ago
Verified
Very good costumer service.
Very good costumer service.
Perfect cut on my tailor made piece.
Paulo Chaves,
18 hours ago
Verified
Great service
Great service. Ordered two pieces for replacement boat windows. After a bit of shaping they fitted lovely! Could have got them exact but didn’t know how to upload the exact measurements in the format required ( am old! 😪) lol 🙄 So tweaked it at home !
salz,
19 hours ago
Good experience.
Well, please with my purchase, which was an integrated dishwasher door. Good price. Delivered within the time limit they set. Came well packaged. And the delivery company kept me informed.
Patrick Tidman,
20 hours ago
Verified
Brilliant would highly recommend
Brilliant. Cut my Perspex exactly how I asked for it. Delivery great. Reasonable cost. Certainly not the cheapest but you don’t get the best if you go for the cheapest. Get what you pay for. Very happy.
JP,
23 hours ago
Verified
Accurately cut & edged
Accurately cut & edged, quicker than quoted delivery. Arrived well protected.
Stuart Hamilton,
23 hours ago
Verified
End produce looks great ...
End produce looks great .... was really easy to order, and quick delivery. Really good value too
Sian+Morgan,
1 day ago
Verified
Fast
Fast, Correct, Easy to use
Adam,
1 day ago
Verified
Amazing service highly recommend
Amazing service highly recommend
Natalie Cooney,
1 day ago
Verified
Superb service
Super quick turnaround. Really top quality items and service. I’m sure I’ll be back for more.
Julio A R Gamboa,
1 day ago
Verified
100% recommended
Excellent easy to use site, not a huge expense, packaged well and delivered quickly and to top it off fabulous quality.
Julie Kittle-Brackenbury,
1 day ago
Verified
New boiler
I had a new boiler fitted and the box I had covering the pipes no longer fit. So in made some measurements to add a couple of pieces of wood. They arrived quickly and are a perfect fit.
John Dunn,
1 day ago
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