Quirky Shelving

Skill Level: Intermediate

Shelving that stands as a centre piece. Add some personality into your living room, with these quirky shelves.

Two people assemble colorful wall shelves with tools and decor, in a bright living room.

Follow the step by step guide, on how you can create the centre piece shelving.

Products You Will Need

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Step by Step Instructions

Step 1. Cut the Shelf Parts

Firstly you need to cut your top, bottom and side panels to width. We are using 12mm Birch Ply. Separately on 4 pieces of Birch Ply: Make a few marks at 15cm, draw a straight line between these marks to cut along.

Step 2. Sawing Shelf

Using a BLACK+DECKER® Jigsaw (or BLACK+DECKER circular saw if you have one) cut along the straight line. This will give a piece of panel that is 15cm wide.

Step 3. Cut it to length

Make a mark at the desired length for the panel that you are cutting. This is a side panel for one of the square boxes.

Hands marking measurements on wood with a yellow measuring tape and pencil.
BLACK+DECKER jigsaw cutting a piece of wood on a work surface.
Hands measure and mark a piece of wood with a tape measure and pencil on a work surface.

Step 4. Ensure shelf is cut square

Using a carpenters square draw a line all the way across at the mark you just made.
Cut along the line with your Jigsaw

Step 5. Mark Up Remaining Panels 1 and Panels 2

Measure up for the remaining side panels, tops and bottoms then back panels.
Use jigsaw to cut along marked up lines.

Step 6. Mark up remaining panels 3

After marking the remaining Panels, Cut and Saw the shelfs

Hands using a metal ruler and pencil to mark a straight line on a piece of wood.
BLACK+DECKER jigsaw cutting wood on a work surface. The tool is handheld and used for precise woodwork.
Person using a BLACK+DECKER jigsaw to cut wood on a table in a home workshop.

Step 7. Pilot Hole Panel 2

Drill pilot holes for the screws. Use a 3-4mm wood or multi-use drill bit. As we are using 12mm ply, drill the hole 6mm in from the edge. Drill all the way through to the other panel. This will prevent the wood from splitting when you screw them together.

Step 8. Screwing Shelf 1 and 2

Using a 3.5 x 30mm screw, join the pieces together. Start by joining the side pieces to the back panel.

Step 9. Pilot Hole Panel 1

Drill pilot holes ready to join the sides pieces together.

BLACK+DECKER drill making a hole in wood held by a hand, in a workshop setting.
BLACK+DECKER drill being used to drive a screw into a wooden plank for a DIY project.
A BLACK+DECKER drill is used to drive a screw into a piece of wood on a flat surface.

Step 10. Making Shelf

Attaching the final side panel. Consider where you are putting the screws. As some of these will be visible when completed you may want to put them at the same place on each panel. 5cm in from the front and back edges for instance.

Screw them together.

Step 11. Sanding

Sand all joins and edges to even up and remove any saw and scorch marks. Gently sand all exposed corners to avoid potential splinters.

Step 12. Joining all the boxes together

When all your boxes are sanded join them all together. Lay them down on a flat surface, drill pilot holes, screw them all together ensuring each box as screwed to every adjoining box.

Hands assembling a wooden box by placing the lid on top.
BLACK+DECKER electric sander being used to smooth the edge of a wooden board.
A BLACK+DECKER drill making a hole in a piece of wood on a work surface.

Step 13. Drill through the back of a few of the boxes

Drill holes (4mm) through the back of 2 or 3 of the upper boxes. Get someone to help you hold the whole unit in position. Use a spirit level to ensure the unit is straight. Mark the position of these holes on the wall behind. You can do this by gently drilling through the holes in the boxes until you just touch the wall behind leaving a mark.

Step 14. Drill Wall

Using a 6mm masonry drill bit, drill holes in the positions that you have just marked. Insert a red/6mm wall plug. Tap into place with a hammer. If attaching to plasterboard be sure to use the appropriate hollow wall fixings.

Person using a BLACK+DECKER cordless drill on a white wall in a home setting.
Photo of BLACKDECKER power tools B_D displayed on decorative wall shelves in a living room with two people.

Step 15. Attach box unit to wall

Lift the unit back into position lining up the holes in the unit with the holes in the wall. Using 4 x 50mm screws, attach unit to the wall.

Step 16. Decorate shelves

You can decorate the back panels to some of the boxes to add colourful highlights. Use waterbased paint and wall paper or wrapping paper.