In-Wall Shelving
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Your home has more storage space than you know. Hint: It's in your walls. -
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Posted by ReadyMade
Project by Cheryl Simione; photo by Jeffery Cross
This simple shelving idea makes use of a residence's most underutilized area: hollow walls. Inspired by the existing telephone cubby in our home, we knocked out a few of our own to find a place for various items in our bathroom, including another phone—no place is sacred in our house. Add a door with concealed hinges to your built-in for an uninterrupted look (and more clutter concealment), or keep it simple and put your wares on display.
Skill Level
Moderate
Active Time
Weekend
Cost
$$
- 2" x 4" board, cut into several identical lengths
- 3" wood screws
- 3/4" finished plywood (1 sheet or remnants)
- Liquid Nails woodworker’s glue
- 1/4" drywall (1 sheet or remnants from your
- local hardware store)
- 1 5/8" drywall screws
- Corner bead (1 8' piece)
- All-purpose joint compound
- Primer (less than 1 quart)
- Paint (less than 1 quart)
- No-mortise concealed hinges
- 1 knob or cabinet pull
- Shelf pins
Materials
- 3-in-1 stud finder
- Measuring tape
- Pencil
- T-square
- Drywall saw
- Hacksaw
- Small level
- Drill with 1/8" bit
- Screwdriver
- Utility knife
- Tin snips
- Sanding block
- Paintbrushes
- Small scrap of wood
Tools
SHELVES:
Because drywall often hides wiring, insulation, studs, pipes, or even the rare time capsule, use a 3-in-1 stud finder to scan the area first. If you get a read, choose another spot for your built-in! Once you settle on a place, use the stud finder to mark two vertical lines of the desired length on the inside edge of two consecutive studs. Then, using the T-square, connect the lines to form a rectangle.
Using the drywall saw, cut out the entire shape (save the drywall as a color sample for matching your paint).
Measure the distance between your studs, and, with the hacksaw, cut two pieces of 2" x 4" to match.
Affix the 2" x 4"s horizontally level
between the wall's vertical studs flush to the top and bottom edges of
the existing drywall. Use the 3" wood screws at an angle (pre-drill the
holes with the 1/8" bit, and use a partially drilled screw to help you
hold the pieces in place). These are the base and top of your frame.
Measure the back inside wall and cut a piece of finished plywood to fit it snugly. Glue the plywood against the back wall.
Using the utility knife, measure and cut out pieces of drywall for the top, bottom, left, and right sides of the frame. Leave the plywood backing uncovered.
Use the drywall screws to attach the drywall to each 2" x 4", and to the studs on either side.
Use tin snips to cut the corner bead to fit the sides, top, and bottom. Screw the corner bead sections to each outside corner.
Apply joint compound to the corner beads and any open spaces in your drywall.
Allow to dry completely, then sand and paint.
Cut as many plywood pieces as shelves desired.
Using the level, pre-drill two holes per side for each shelf, and insert shelf pins.
Lay the shelves on pins.
DOOR:
Measure the space inside the opening, and cut a matching piece of
plywood.
Paint the wood the color of the wall, and attach the knob.
Before installing the concealed hinges, mark the hinge placement by using a small scrap of wood the width of the door. You want the wall and the door to be flush.
Screw the hinges in, fasten the door, and admire.
Tip: Landlords may be none too keen on having you rip out a chunk of the wall. Don't come waving your eviction notice at us. If you're not an owner, do us a favor and ask permission to do this project first.
Safety First: This project might shock you! Switch off the electrical power in the room before slicing into the drywall, and work slowly to avoid cutting through any live wires.
