5 DIY storage projects
A shadowbox feature is a sculptural way to make your storage more interesting. Build a series of different-sized rectangles using strips of plywood. Lay them out on the ground until you find an arrangement that you like and mark where the boxes on top meet those they’re sitting on. Cut slots in those on top so they all lock together. To mount, use small metal angles on the top of the unit fixed into the wall studs.
Even a narrow space can become a storage or display spot with a bit of DIY magic. Make each shelf by glueing and screwing the shelf down into the thinner piece of timber that will sit against the wall. Space out your shelves so they look even then screw them into the walls. Try to get at least one screw into a wall stud and use cavity fixings for the rest.
Increase your laundry hanging space with an industrial clothes hanger. It’s made using galvanised pipe fittings that just screw together, no cutting required! Clean the pipes then spray them with a metal primer and let it dry. Follow up with your final colour. Tie the colour in with a feature of the room, like the black window trim here, or you could make them a feature with something bold and bright. Fix them to the ceiling structure using metal flanges. Drill and screw through the flanges into the pipes to hold them in.
Corners are notoriously hard spots to find shelving that suit. Solve the problem by making your own. Metal pipes come to the rescue again, acting as supports for the thick plywood shelves sitting on top. Fix the metal flanges into the wall studs and cut your shelves to fit. Mitre the shelves in the corner for a neat finish and paint the edges for a bright splash of colour. Top it off with a clear timber finish to protect the shelves and highlight the grain of the timber.
