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.
Got what I ordered delivery expensive but material fine
MR GRAHAM MOLLOY,
32 minutes ago
Verified
Easy to use website
Easy to use website, easy to navigate and choose style, dims, edge detail etc.
John Dare,
2 hours ago
Verified
Simple ordering process
Simple ordering process. Polite, professional, knowledgeable and helpful staff.
Fast service. Easy to deal with.
Lacy Paul,
2 hours ago
Verified
Really impressed by Cut My…
I'm honestly really impressed by Cut My. I was making a desk for my daughter's bedroom and had a specific shape and sizes in mind. From my sketch, the designer helped me to finesse the final product which was an improvement on what I'd done. The end product looks great.
Some thoughts - it turns out that the corners in my house are not square. I recommend that you check this before setting off on a bespoke project.
Also, delivery times were longer than I expected - I suspect this was partly due to ordering over the Christmas period, but was also informed that it had extra quality control due to being bespoke (it took a few weeks). This didn't really affect me, but worth knowing.
All in all, five stars and I'd use again.
Mr Willbond,
2 hours ago
Verified
overall very good
As usual ordering easy, delivery fast and prices acceptable. Have never experienced any problems with this company.
Richard Chapman,
4 hours ago
Verified
Already reviewed.
Have already reviewed not doing so again. 5*.
David Thomas,
5 hours ago
Verified
Easy to order and fit. Looks great.
It was easy to navigate the website and order the splash back we wanted. It arrived promptly in excellent condition. As it was mm accurate to our specifications, fitting with the purchased adhesive was straightforward. The final result is excellent.
Mark Juby,
5 hours ago
Verified
Fast and precise service
Fast and precise service. Will use again.
N Guerrini,
5 hours ago
Verified
Well packaged and timely delivery
Well packaged and timely delivery
Marc,
5 hours ago
Verified
good cut exact measurements
good cut exact measurements. this is the third time i have ordered i use them to built a case for small lighted house and shop kits that i build.
JANET SMITH,
5 hours ago
Verified
Prompt great selection and I will be…
Prompt great selection and I will be using your product
Rikki,
5 hours ago
Verified
All as should be.
All as should be.
Tom,
6 hours ago
Verified
Great service.
I was kept well informed at all times about the delivery status, they gave a time slot and delivered within that time frame. Great service. I would recommend.
Kerry,
17 hours ago
Verified
Good but expensive
I can't say anything negative about the quality of the wood, the way that it was cut to my specifications, or the speed of delivery. My only criticism is that it was very expensive- over £30 for a single piece of wood just over a metre in length.
Mark.,
15 hours ago
Verified
Excellent product and service
Excellent product and service
Dave,
16 hours ago
Verified
Everything cut to order correctly…
Everything cut to order correctly and packaged well. However dispatch was slow and the order arrived well after the estimated arrival.
Fes,
16 hours ago
Verified
Very professional
Very professional, nothing too much trouble. I would definitely use them again and have no hesitation in giving them 5 stars
Evelyn Hamilton,
17 hours ago
Verified
Fit first time
Fit first time
Mr Mitchell,
17 hours ago
Verified
Great company and great product
Great company and great product, such a huge time saver to have the option to purchase your wall cladding/panelling cut to measure and mm perfect. Fast delivery from ordering to doorstep. The only suggestion I would make is that I had the option of having it primed, ready for painting. This was only the face that’s primed not the sides, so painting these areas was a bit of a mission. Apart from that I will be using this company again.
Simon,
17 hours ago
Verified
First class service
First class service from start to finish from start to finish.
Ordered an acrylic splash back for a section of wall and it was so easy to install. Also bought a panel to behind our sink in the kitchen and it was even easier to fit.
Know where I’ll be going if I need anymore
Alison,
18 hours ago
Subscribe to our email newsletter
Sign up here for our occasional email newsletter with new products, design ideas and discounts across our huge and growing range of products. (You can unsubscribe at any time of course.)