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.
Boards were cut accurately and protected well for shipping. Despite this, one of the boards suffered slight damage.
Mr Sutherland,
11 hours ago
Verified
All xut to correct size but order was…
All xut to correct size but order was late
Will use again
Mr David Cassels,
23 hours ago
Verified
Arrived as described
Arrived as described, on time and ggod quality, thanks!
Fabian Chifor,
1 day ago
Verified
Nice ply / packed well but 2 of 4 undersized!
Nice ply / packed well.
Not sent that quickly & two of the 4 panel's (all supposed to be the same size) were slightly under sized so couldn't be used for the job intended!
Nigel Hall,
1 day ago
Verified
Profecional manner & a very good…
Profecional manner & a very good haircut, get what you ask for not what barber thinks would look best
Lee Finlayson,
1 day ago
Verified
Good service
Good service
D Armitage,
1 day ago
Verified
Excellent!
Excellent!
Dave,
1 day ago
Verified
trouble-free
trouble-free, fast delivery, well-packaged goods
GRZEGORZ STANUCH,
1 day ago
Verified
Ease of ordering
Ease of ordering
Communication
Product arriving well packaged
Sarah Mead,
1 day ago
Verified
Needed new Perspex windows for my shed…
Needed new Perspex windows for my shed and Cut My did a fine job with accurate cutting and smooth edges which fitted perfectly - having tried to cut Perspex myself at first I would recommend them strongly !
Oliver
Oliver ,
1 day ago
Verified
Very well packaged- very happy
Very well packaged, easy to use and a really good price. Really changed the room. The measurements on the site telling you exactly how much to measure between columns (when you order) is very helpful. It’s in a picture above the order section.
Anita,
1 day ago
Verified
Accurate cutting and well packaged
Accurate cutting and well packaged. Arrived at time expected. I have used this company before and will do again.
Robert Hall,
1 day ago
Verified
Perfect cut
Perfect cut , and great quality .
Katarzyna Zarska,
1 day ago
Verified
Very impressed with the finished…
Very impressed with the finished product. Fit perfectly on top of low level bookcase.
Mr Martin,
1 day ago
Verified
Excellent service.
The stuff I ordered was as I expected which should not be difficult as the ordering process was not a challenge. The thing that impressed me was that I picked it up myself. They have a few units on the industrial estate so I went to the wrong one. The person I spoke to was extremely helpful as were the other people I dealt with at the correct unit. The members of staff I spoke to are a tribute to their company. A big 5 stars from me
CHRIS PULLEN,
2 days ago
Verified
cut to perfect size as ordered
cut to perfect size as ordered
Endaff Bowen,
2 days ago
Verified
Very good service
Very good service, great workmanship top
Product
Michael Dennis,
2 days ago
Verified
Excellent service
Excellent service from website to delivery, can’t fault.
Jason Lilley,
2 days ago
Verified
It took sometime for the plexiglass…
It took sometime for the plexiglass glass the phone system is not working and emails are slow to respond...Saying that I am happy with my order the glass was heavy protected around the edges the size is perfect and the glass has UV filter I will use them again
P Irvine,
2 days ago
Verified
Very pleased with both the product and…
Very pleased with both the product and service, thank you.
Angie Bayley,
2 days ago
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