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Step Up Your #Shelfie Game With This DIY Wooden Shelf Organizer

by on May 18, 2017

Photo: Faith Towers

Don’t you hate it when your kitchen cabinets don’t have a shelf inside, so you end up using only the bottom half? All that wasted space could be used, if only you had an extra level…. so today we’re sharing an easy DIY that will help you take advantage of it – in style of course. No boring store-bought shelf risers here!   

Colorful DIY Wooden Shelf Organizer
Photo: Faith Towers

The final product is a lovely improvement over those boring metal organizers… and it will surely make you smile every time you grab a glass from the cabinet. So let’s get started!

Colorful DIY Wooden Shelf Organizer
Photo: Faith Towers

Here’s what you’ll need for your shelf organizer:

 

  • 10×20 inch piece of wood
  • 3/8 inch wide dowel rod, cut into 8 inch pieces
  • Electric drill with 7/16 drill bit
  • Wood glue
  • Paint brushes
  • Acrylic craft paint
  • Gold Liquid Leaf
  • Fine grit sandpaper
  • Blue painter’s tape
Colorful DIY Wooden Shelf Organizer
Photo: Faith Towers

Begin by marking your drill holes in each corner of your wood. Measure an inch from each side.

Colorful DIY Wooden Shelf Organizer
Photo: Faith Towers

Place a piece of scrap wood underneath and drill holes at each of your four pencil marks. Make sure to drill squarely so the dowels will be at a perfect 90 degree angle. 

Colorful DIY Wooden Shelf Organizer
Photo: Faith Towers

Sand the holes, and any rough edges around the perimeter of the wood. If you are sanding the flat surface of the wood, be sure to go with the grain.

Colorful DIY Wooden Shelf Organizer
Photo: Faith Towers

Cut your dowel rod into four 8 inch pieces if you haven’t already. Place a paper towel underneath the corner of the wood and squeeze a small dab of wood glue into the hole. Insert one dowel rod into the hole. If you have trouble getting it in, use a hammer to gently knock it into place. Do the same for the rest of the holes, working quickly. Then knock them through an extra half inch to get the look that I have. (This is optional, I just thought it would look cool!). 

Colorful DIY Wooden Shelf Organizer
Photo: Faith Towers

Let the glue dry for 20 minutes or so, and then set it upright. Use painter’s tape to mask off the areas that you would like to paint.

Colorful DIY Wooden Shelf Organizer
Photo: Faith Towers

Use the acrylic craft paint to fill half of the piece with color. Don’t forget to do the underside too, because odds are it will be visible if you will be placing this on a higher shelf. 

Colorful DIY Wooden Shelf Organizer
Photo: Faith Towers

Peel the painter’s tape off right after you’ve finished painting. Let it dry for a bit, and then use an old paintbrush to apply gold Liquid Leaf in small streaks.

Colorful DIY Wooden Shelf Organizer
Photo: Faith Towers

Let the gold leaf dry, then go fill your new shelf with glassware! The measurements can all easily be adjusted to fit your cabinets, so don’t feel like you have to match mine exactly. As long as all the dowels are the same length then you should be all set.

Colorful DIY Wooden Shelf Organizer
Photo: Faith Towers

This organizer could also be handy for the pantry, especially if you have tall shelves and need some extra storage.

Colorful DIY Wooden Shelf Organizer
Photo: Faith Towers

Feel free to get creative with the design too, using different colors and patterns. The sky’s the limit!

Colorful DIY Wooden Shelf Organizer
Did you like this project? Share it on Pinterest! [Photo: Faith Towers]

 

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