How to Make Corner Shelves

Corner shelves are a great way to add a bit of decorative storage space to your home. Here are simple directions to make your home corner shelves.

The first step is to measure how big of a shelf you want to have. Beginning at the corner, measure out in both directions. Make a mark on the wall at the point you want your shelve to end and measure the distance from that mark to the corner. You do this on both walls. It's not necessary for the two measurements to be the same.

Next you will screw up the support boards for your corner shelf using lumber (such as one-inch by two-inch boards or two-inch by four-inch boards). Cut a length of lumber for each of the two measurements that you just got.

Beginning on either side, screw your pieces of lumber against your two corner walls. You will need to use a level to make sure that you're screwing them up exactly parallel to the ground. As you screw them in, make every effort to put at least one screw on each side into a wall stud. Residential wall studs are typically eighteen inches apart. So once you find one you should be able to find the next one without too much trouble. It is important that you hit the wall studs, because they will hold your shelf more securely. If none of your screws go through a wall stud, there is a chance that your shelf will come down when you add the weight of objects to it.

Next you will measure the board for the surface of your shelf. The three dimensions for your triangle will be the two lengths of the support boards you just screwed up and the distance from the outside edge of each of those two boards. You will cut this triangle board out of plywood.

Lay your triangle support board in place so that it rests on the edges of the two boards that you just screwed to the walls. Use small screws or nails along the two edges of the triangle against the walls to secure it in place so that it won't slide.

Your corner shelf is secure and you can start stacking objects on it just as it is, or you can paint it to match the room it's in. If you like the look of wood, but want to protect the shelf, you can also paint it with clear polyurethane. If you choose to paint it (whether with color or sealant) make sure it dries completely before you place objects on it, so that your items don't stick to it as it dries.

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