James Bryant is the Founder of Cut My, an online retailer providing quality materials for home improvement and DIY projects. An avid DIY enthusiast himself, James started Cut My to share his passion for building and making things.
Decorating that awkward bit of space in a room is often a tricky task, especially if it is otherwise used for storage. Often the solution is a lot easier than you would expect. Shelving. Specifically, plywood shelving.
You may have seen them already in artisan coffee shops, or on social media as an aesthetic way of adding storage options, or decorative depth to a wall. However, plywood shelving is an achievable DIY task regardless of previous experience, so you can recreate that bougie look at home yourself!
With a little know-how and planning, throwing up some plywood shelving is doable in the afternoon, day or weekend, and once installed, can either be left unfinished or customised to suit your design aesthetic.
This guide will walk you through the process of installing plywood shelving by yourself (or with a friend) without the need for a builder or overwhelming power tools.
Preparation
Measure the wall and create a scale to translate this onto paper (ie. 10cm on the wall becomes 1cm when drawn on paper).
Sketch a layout of your shelving design onto paper - don’t forget to include vertical shelving, while this may not be practical for storage, it aids the eye and helps draw attention to key elements of focus points in your design.
Use masking tape to mark it out on the wall, measuring the tape equal to the scaled-up dimensions.
Once happy, write down the dimensions of all lengths of wood you require.
Ordering
Choose your plywood from our selection: Birch; Marine; Hardwood; or Softwood - if you’re unsure what works best for you, read the Applications section at the bottom of the page
Select your required thickness of plywood - we recommend anything above 9mm to provide strength
Customise the height and width of your sheet using your measurements - height is the length of your shelf, and width is the depth away from the wall
Drill bit with a similar diameter to the screw cylinder
Spirit level
Measuring tape
Sandpaper
Wood primer (Optional)
Choice of paint colour (Optional)
Steps For Installation
Sand the edges of the plywood sheet. Begin with a rough grain, and slowly work down to a fine grit until the edges are smooth and splinter-free.
(Optional) Prime your plywood, then paint. You may need a couple of coats of primer and paint before they are ready to install.
Layout the plywood panels on the floor and mark where the brackets need to be positioned on the panels with a pencil - if you wish not to use brackets, check out our guide for alternative fixing options
Drill pilot holes into the panels on the bracket marks, using the drill bit appropriately sized for the screw
Screw brackets into place on the wood
Following the instructions on the wall plug packaging, install wall plugs into the wall where the screws will go
Screw screws into your wall plug, aligning the screws with the holes of the brackets to secure the shelving into place
Things To Note
Remember, when it comes to decorating less can be more! Once installed, your made-to-measure shelves will be covered with your decorations, so remember not to pack them too close together
Plywood can easily be varnished or painted to suit your aesthetic
Please be aware that once any alterations have been made to your plywood after it has been delivered to you, we are not liable for any returns. Please see our Terms and Conditions for more details.
Applications of Woods
Birch - Often chosen for their aesthetic properties, birch plywood is the common option for furniture indoors. Typically used by a specific Swedish furniture manufacturer it is a good option for those with a set plan on their room design
Marine - While marine plywood may lack in the aesthetic department, it is versatile for use in areas where moisture may exist more than normal, such as under the stairs or in a bathroom cupboard. Marine plywood is designed to withstand environments without losing structural integrity.
Hardwood - If you intend on your shelves being heavy bearing, we recommend using hardwood ply as it is greatly resistant to warping, bending or wearing. Ideal for use in sheds, garages, or as a bookshelf option.
Softwood - A rougher grade, our softwood plywood is not suitable for use where aesthetics matter as it is often quite rough to work with and is susceptible to warp or goes wavy. This makes an ideal option for using in sheds or garages where you do not intend to finish the wood.
Plywood Sheets
Browse our range of plywood sheets, custom cut to fit any bracket, wall space or alcove.
Excellent product, but delays due to staff shortages.
David Walters,
3 hours ago
Verified
A great find
The panelling arrived in good time and was easy to install. It filled the wall completely in a few hours.
D Wake,
9 hours ago
Verified
My order was cut precisely
My order was cut precisely. It came wrapped in rigid, heavy card and was well protected.
Louis,
1 day ago
Verified
Delivered exactly to size and…
Delivered exactly to size and specifications.
Philip Braakenburg,
1 day ago
Verified
Great price and quality as always 👍
Great price and quality as always 👍
John Chadwick,
1 day ago
Verified
Excellent website and customer service
Excellent website and customer service. Exactly what I wanted
Gemma,
1 day ago
Verified
A very good service
A very good service
Richard,
2 days ago
Verified
Cut to order option.
Good product, price and delivery. The option to get bars cut to required lengths is very useful, saved me considerable time and effort.
Graham Almandras,
2 days ago
Verified
Amazing service
Amazing service, we had a problem with our order, but Molly soon sorted it out for us quickly. Certainly will use them from now on, once e get rid of this covid virse.
Jennifer Thake,
2 days ago
Verified
Steel
Spot on product and service
Gary,
2 days ago
Verified
Excellent service and product
Kept us informed of progress and let us know that there was a delay. The material ordered was excellent and there was know problem is cutting to our template. It was perfect fit and would not hesitate using this company again
Pat,
2 days ago
Verified
SPECIAL SERVICE SPEEDILY DELIVERED
Well, firstly I was kept well up-to-date with the progress of my small but very important order, and also because when it was ready, it fair sped down the motorway well wrapped and protected.
Thank you for a very professional experience with CutMy.
Regards David Bazell
David Bazell,
2 days ago
Verified
Brilliant products at very competitive…
Brilliant products at very competitive prices. Highly recommend.
Mr Johnson,
2 days ago
Verified
Perfect fit
Perfect fit. Fast delivery
Carole,
2 days ago
Verified
Definitely Recommend
Great service with a great price.
My item arrived when expected and was exactly what I needed to finish my project
Andrew Buckingham,
2 days ago
Verified
Great service and first class product I…
Great service and first class product I have used Cutmy before and will do so again.
David Clayton,
3 days ago
Verified
Good service
Slight delay to delivery, but otherwise good service
Perry Barrett,
3 days ago
Verified
Wonderful products and service..as long as you no customer service needed
The product is great and delivery times match the estimate given on ordering. If there's no need for customer service contact then the service is wonderful. However it is such a shame that customer service is so absent. Needed to add to an order - no ability for a phone conversation and email reply took weeks! So added additionally adding time and extra delivery cost. Please sort out your CS capabilities and processes.
Alex ,
3 days ago
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