Bathroom storage shelves

These wooden shelf units are ideal for a bathroom and you can make them using PAR pine that you will find at your local Builders Warehouse. Leave them natural or stain in your choice of wood tint and finish off with varnish. If you have all the pieces cut to size all that you have to do is assemble.

The size of the bathroom storage unit is 464mm square and 1800mm high, but you can easily modify the design if you want a lower shelf unit.

4 of 32 x 32 x 1800mm PAR pine – uprights

20 of 32 x 32 x 400mm PAR pine – cross pieces

35 of 10 x 44 x 464mm PAR pine – slats

Pattex No More Nails adhesive

Plastic screw caps (to hide screws)

5 x 50mm smooth shank cut screws

180-grit sandpaper

TOOLS:

Drill / Driver + assorted bits

Countersink bit

Hammer and panel pins OR pneumatic nail gun

1. Assembly the side frames

Working on a flat, level surface, measure and mark for placing the shelves. The first shelf is 200mm from the floor. Mark as follows for the remaining shelves: 592mm – 984mm – 1376mm – 1768mm.

2. To attach the cross pieces, use the mark for the shelves and add 16mm to drill and countersink a 4mm pilot hole. Place the individual cross pieces above the marked positions and drill through the pilot hole into the end of each cross piece.

GOOD TO KNOW

It’s important to drill a pilot hole in the uprights and cross pieces to prevent the wood from splitting when you join together.

3. Apply a bead of adhesive to the end of each cross piece before securing in place with 5 x 50mm smooth shank cut screws.

4. Attach the front and back cross pieces.

The cross pieces on the front and back are mounted 10mm lower than those on the front. This is the allow space for mounting the slats, which will then sit flush with the height of the side cross pieces. It also ensure that there is room for the screws.

5. Mount the shelf slats

There are 7 slats in total and these need to be spaced equally on top of the front and back cross pieces.

Attach with adhesive and then hammer in a panel pin (or use a pneumatic nail gun) to secure in place. The slats also provide additional stability to the unit.

Finishing

To cover up the countersunk holes you can use plastic screw caps. These are available in a selection of colours from white to dark brown, so choose a colour that will match the finish of your bathroom shelf unit.