25 Creative DIY Shelving and Cabinet Ideas

Boost your home’s storage space with these easy DIY shelving and cabinet projects for every room.

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February 03, 2021

By: Shannon Petrie

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Picture-Perfect Photo Ledge

Put your favorite family photos on display with a DIY picture ledge. These simple shelves are also great for showcasing favorite vinyl records or your child's most-read books.

Get the How-To: How to Make Your Own Picture-Perfect Photo Ledge

Repurposed Ladder

Transform an old ladder into a statement piece with a fresh coat of paint and wood planks for shelves. Style it with books, plants, knickknacks — or all three!

Get the How-To: Step-by-Step Shelving: DIY Ladder Shelf

Versatile Pegboard

Make an oversized pegboard using a sheet of plywood and wooden pegs. The shelves can be resized and rearranged to fit just about anything you want to store.

Get the How-To: How to Make a Clean, Classic Pegboard

Leather Strap Shelf

Use a pre-cut strap of leather to make this trendy hanging shelf, or you could even upcycle an old belt.

Get the How-To: Leather + Wood Mashup: DIY Leather Strap Shelf

Upcycled Wooden Crates

Give new life to old wooden crates by upcycling them into a one-of-a-kind storage unit. You can customize the configuration of the crates to best fit your space.

Get the How-To: Upcycle Wood Crates Into a Rustic Bookshelf

From: Marian Parsons

Wall-Mounted Crates

Alternatively, hang crates on the wall for super-easy DIY shelving. They're just the right size to store sponges, soaps, lotions and other toiletries in the bathroom.

Get the How-To: Fast and Easy Shelving

Reclaimed Barnwood

If you can get your hands on some reclaimed wood, add rustic style and extra storage to your home with these simple floating shelves. This black walnut species is great for a bathroom because of its durability and moisture resistance.

Get the How-To: How to Make Floating Shelves From Reclaimed Barnwood

Hanging Rope Shelf

Take a trip to your hardware store to get some basic supplies to make this coastal-chic hanging rope shelf. It’s perfect for displaying photos and knickknacks in a living room or bedroom, or bath and beauty supplies in a bathroom.

Get the How-To: Stash Your Stuff in Style With This Hanging Rope Shelf

Magazine Rack

Repurpose wooden shipping pallets as a magazine and towel rack for the bathroom.

Get the How-To: Turn Shipping Pallets Into Bathroom Storage Shelves

Leaning Ladder

Sneak a little extra storage into a small bathroom with a leaning shelf and towel rack. Designed to fit over the toilet, this sleek storage piece won’t damage the walls, so it’s perfect for renters.

Get the How-To: Boost Your Bathroom Storage With a DIY Ladder Shelf

Industrial Pipe Shelving

Industrial-look shelves are a staple of farmhouse-style spaces, like this pantry designed by Joanna Gaines. You can copy this look in your home using metal plumbing pipes and wooden planks.

Watch the Video: DIY Plumbing Pipe Shelves

From: Chip Gaines

Trash Can Cabinet

The trash bin can be a major eyesore in an otherwise well-organized kitchen. Build a custom cabinet to keep it concealed yet easily accessible.

Get the How-To: How to Build a Hidden Trash Can Cabinet

Pot Rack With Bonus Storage

Free up cabinet space by storing your pots, pans, cookbooks and other kitchen essentials on this wall-mounted pot rack with a shelf.

Get the How-To: DIY Kitchen Storage Shelf and Pot Rack

From: Sam Henderson

Kitty Litter Station

Cats make great companions, but the odor and mess of their litter box isn't always ideal. Turn a standard laminate cabinet into a kitty station complete with litter box containment, cleaning tool storage and a nap spot.

Get the How-To: How to Turn a Standard Cabinet into a Kitty Litter Station

Open Kitchen Shelving

Lighten up the look and feel of your kitchen by replacing bulky upper cabinets with bracketed wood shelves.

Chic Desk Storage

Boost storage in your small home office with these shelving towers designed to surround your computer equipment. The clear acrylic shelves are ideal for a small space since they don’t look too bulky.

Get the How-To: How to Construct DIY Acrylic Shelving

Boat-Inspired Bookshelf

Love the lakehouse look? Make this boat-inspired shelf to give your home a touch of rustic lakeside style.

Book Tower

If you don’t have enough space for a full-size bookshelf, store your book collection in a minimal footprint with this DIY book tower.

Happy Hexagons

Great for displaying small toys and treasures in a kid's bedroom, colorful hexagon-shaped shelves double as wall art when grouped together. If you're on a budget, you can DIY this look with simple supplies like wooden craft sticks and colorful paper.

Watch the Video: DIY Craft Stick Shelves

From: J&J Design Group

Fashion-Forward Display

Show off your shoe or handbag collection with these easy-to-build display shelves, perfect for a walk-in closet or bedroom wall.

Low-Cost Jewelry Cabinet

Corral your entire jewelry collection with this spacious cabinet you can make for less than $25. It has designated spots for earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings and pins.

Get the How-To: How to Make a Jewelry Cabinet for Under $25

Rolling Storage

Maximize storage space in your garage with these DIY shelves on wheels. You can easily slide them out when you need to access tools, paint or gardening supplies, then roll them out of the way when you're done.

Get the How-To: How to Build Rolling Garage Storage Shelves

Oversized Cabinets

These extra-large cabinets are another great solution to garage clutter. Inexpensive and easy to assemble, they add plenty of storage space to keep everything neatly tucked away.

Get the How-To: How to Build Oversized Garage Storage Cabinets

Fold-Out Cabinet

Stash your garden supplies or barbecue tools in this hanging outdoor cabinet. The fold-down door can also be used as a serving bar or buffet.

Get the How-To: How to Make a Fold-Down Outdoor Cabinet

Plant Stand

Perch your potted plants on this simple garden shelf. It’s small and lightweight enough to move indoors at the first hint of frost.

Get the How-To: An Easy, Inexpensive DIY Garden Shelf

Shop This Look

Photo By: Sarah Busby

Photo By: Jalynn Baker

Photo By: Kamron Sanders

Photo By: Marian Parsons, Mustard Seed Interiors

Photo By: Clara MacLellan

Photo By: Brian Patrick Flynn, FlynnsideOut.com

Photo By: Jen Woodhouse

Photo By: Rachel Whyte

Photo By: RTR Media

Photo By: John Woodcock Photography