Someone should probably take the hammer from me. I can’t stop building things to complete every nook and cranny of our home. My latest obsession? This easy DIY industrial shelving tutorial. They free up some counter and cabinet space by allowing me to display some of my favorite dishes, plants, and pieces of art! The best part is probably that these can be completed in a weekend using some common board and plumbing supplies. Truth! So let’s do this!
Supplies (for the pipes):
- 10 floor flanges (½”)
- 10 caps (½”)
- 10 nipples (10″ long, ½” round)
- Rust-Oleum Textured Spray
- Rust-Oleum Gray Spray Paint
- drywall anchors (50 lbs.) and screws
Instructions:
Step 1: Assemble the pipes by connecting the nipple to the flange and topping with the cap. You should have ten pipes (two per shelf).
Step 2: Spray each pipe with the textured spray paint, being sure to coat it well. After an hour of drying time, spray the gray paint on top. Allow twenty-four hours to dry completely. Set aside and prep the shelves.
Supplies (for the shelves):
- 5 pieces common board (cedar, pine, etc.) measuring 1″ x 10″ x 5′
- orbital sander with 80 grit sandpaper and 150 grit sandpaper
- Minwax wood stain
- rag
- level
Instructions:
Step 1: Start by sanding the shelves so they’re smooth and ready for staining. Start with the 80 grit and then go over them again with the 150 grit. Wipe the dust off with a damp cloth and wait for the wood to dry completely.
Step 2: Apply the stain! I wanted a light layer so the wood wasn’t too dark. Keep in mind that the longer you leave the stain on before wiping away, the darker it will be. Allow the stain twenty-four to forty-eight hours to dry before handling.
Time to hang!
We used painter’s tape as a generic mock-up for where to place the shelves on the wall. We had five shelves measuring five feet across. The shelves are spaced 12¼” apart vertically with the inside edges of the flanges measuring 33″ apart.
Instructions:
Step 1: Start by placing your middle shelf first. Holding a flange against the wall, use a pen or pencil to mark the drill holes. Pre-drill the holes and hammer the anchors in. Hold the flange over the holes and drill the screws in, securing the flange to the wall.
Step 2: Measure 33″ to the side of the flange and mark the holes for the second flange. Repeat the above steps until the flange is in place. Screw the nipples in so that you now have two pipes protruding from the wall.
Step 3: Place a piece of wood on top of the shelves to check that everything is level.
Step 4: From the top of the left flange, measure up 12¼” and mark. This will be where the bottom of a new flange is. Place the new flange on the wall with the bottom meeting up with where you marked. Use the the level to check the sides and make sure it meets up with the flange directly below. Screw it in place and repeat with a flange on the other side.
Step 5: Repeat steps 1–4 until all the pipes are placed on the wall. You should have ten pipes on the wall total with five pieces of wood laying over the top.
Step 6: Use pipe fasteners to keep the wooden shelves attached to the pipes.
Step 7: Place all your knickknacks on the shelves, step back, and admire your work!
We really loved how these turned out and can’t wait to play around with the look during the holidays. They’re the perfect way to display all of my props and dishes that we use for work!
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