Well here we go again with another addition of DIY with Dan. If you have been following my blogs the whole idea is to show “Easy to Do" and "Rewarding" projects that you can build and then use around your home. Projects that don't take a lot of time and don't cost a lot are the most fun to do. So this week we will tackle building a simple doorway shelf.
Check out my video:
My home space is at a premium; we live in an old farmhouse and never seem to have enough shelf space for books or nick-knacks. So I wanted to find where I could “create” open space easily and cost efficiently and the thought came to me that the space above doors is underutilized.
Each door way will vary in size, so be careful to measure correctly. I measure the width of the doorway, add the width of the trim that surrounds it, then add an additional 8 inches to get my overall width. I played around with these measurements and that seems to give the best esthetic look to the overall size of the shelf.
You material list will be simple:
- A single piece of standard 3/4 inch thick pineboard (you will cut it to the measurement we just decided on).
- A single piece of 3/4 inch decorative trim approximately 6 feet in length
- (2) readily available shelf supports (I used wooden ones that were available at my local hard ware store)
- A few screws and finish nails
- Some sand paper, glue and little paint or stain.
This is the easiest of the projects we have finished so far in the blog series and you can make each shelf in under 30 minutes (minus the time it takes for the stain or paint to dry).I had them up over most doorways in my home and only change the paint or stain to match that rooms décor.
After cutting the board to the appropriate length, you then cut your decorative trim for each side of the shelf, I start by cutting the side pieces and miter them to an inside degree of 45 degrees. If your shelf is 6 inches wide cut them to a length of about 8 inches. (The reason for the 45 degree angle cut is to make the pieces come together at perfect 90 degrees on each corner).
Starting on just one side attach a piece of trim with a little wood glue and some fine finishing nails (they are thinner and leave less of a hole to cover over), being sure to get your mitered end to line up perfectly with the corner of the board.
At this point the opposite end of your trim piece from the miter can be cut flush with the board (this end will be against the wall). Take a long piece of trim and cut an opposite 45 degree angle on it and it should fit nicely against the cut you made on the first piece of installed trim. While holding this face piece of trim in place and mark the outside edge of the shelf board on the far end of your piece of trim.
I know that all sounds confusing but you might have noticed that other than cutting the original length to the shelf itself you have not needed a tape measure for anything else.......
Now cut that end of the face trim to another outside 45 and glue and nail it into place. The final piece of trim is cut with a 45 degree miter and glued and tacked into position on the one remaining side and then cut flush with the back of the shelf.
Were almost done. To install the shelf supports I once again take my measurement of the door width with trim and make a center point on the top of the shelf. Add an inch to each side and that will be where the inside edge of your shelf supports will be attached. Screw each support into place from the top of the shelf (you may wish to drill a hole partially through the board to "counter sink" the screw heads...and your done with the assembly.
Now just finish your new shelf as you so desire and you have some extra usable space.
Thanks for checking out the blog and enjoy the process.
Dan Hughes
P.S. the same construction techniques work for any type of shelf and can be used anywhere in your home...just change the measurements to suit your needs.
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