As a small business pottery owner operating out of my home, I quickly realized that space was an issue. My kitchen and dining room tables were overflowing with pottery pieces, so I needed a better way to organize and store my work. I decided to renovate my guest closet into storage space with wooden shelving. In this blog, I’ll walk you through easy steps to create budget-friendly shelves with little experience, perfect for beginners like me.

Here are the materials that I used

Materials:

• Power drill

• Wood screws (2.5 inches)

• Measuring tape

• Pencil

• Furring strips (1.5 inches x 3 inches)

• ¾-inch particle board

• Stud finder (a cheap magnetic one works fine)

• Small level (mine was only $5)

• White paint – I used Benjamin Moore Paint 151

• Paintbrushes

• Spackle

Step 1: Measure and Plan

After clearing our my closet, I started measuring the dimensions and decided how far apart I wanted each shelf to be. I wanted to maximize storage, so I planned for four shelves that were 24 inches deep. Here’s the wood I used:

• 8 furring strips (1.5in x 3in x 24in each for side supports)

• 4 furring strips (1.5in x 3in x 60in each for back supports)

• 4 pieces of ¾ inch particle board (24in x 60in)

I was not comfortable using a saw to cut my own wood, so I went to my local Lowe's, where they helped me pick out the wood and cut it to the sizes I needed. The employees were very happy to help me out! I would suggest If you’re asking for several cuts, to go their when they are less busy.

Step 2: Mark the Shelving Positions

With materials ready, it was time to start! Using my measurements, I marked where each shelf would go along the closet walls, spacing them 16 inches apart. I double-checked that my marks aligned on both sides and used a stud finder to avoid accidentally drilling into studs.

Step 3: Install the Side and Back Supports

I began by attaching the furring strips to the left and right walls. First, I drilled one wood screw into each strip, and I used a level to make sure it was straight, and then secured it with additional screws. Once the side supports were up, I moved to the back wall and repeated the process. These supports are crucial, as they’ll hold the weight of your shelves.

Step 4: Add the Shelves

Next, I placed the first piece of particle board onto the supports to create the first shelf and repeated this for each of the remaining shelves. I ensured each shelf was level and securely fastened with enough screws.

Tip: Make sure your wood screws are at least one inch longer than the thickness of your furring strips.

Step 5: (Optional) Paint for a Finished Look

After installing all the shelves, I decided to paint them white to give the closet a nicer look. Two coats were enough to brighten up the space. Remember, it’s just a closet, so perfection isn’t necessary. I recommend letting the paint dry for at least two days before loading up your items.

And that’s it—a custom closet shelving unit! Now I have a dedicated space to store my pottery, and my kitchen and dining room are back to normal.