Deco inspiration

Super simple shelves

A few planks of wood, a hammer and nails, glue and some paint are all you need to build shelves and tables that will add practicality and style to your decor and give your home that special personal touch. Read our ideas for simple, easy-to-build units such as shelves to brighten up an empty corner or a customized table to perfectly match your decor. By using your imagination you can create unique pieces the whole family will love – and you’ll be proud to say: “I made that!”
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Smart and practical
Built-in contrast
Colour-full !
Retro-spective
Mini-bar
One picture, one shelf
Beautiful bamboo

Smart and practical

Even the simplest shelving is great for filling an empty corner and to provide additional storage space. In this room, shelves were put up near the TV to hold DVDs and videos as well as decorative items. First, we cut pieces of MDF to fit the dimensions of the space. Then we glued them together at right angles and painted them a rich red to contrast with the wall colour. Finally, we secured them firmly to the wall using screws and corner brackets. In just a few hours you can create a fabulous new corner like this, which you will surely use for many years. Easy to build and so practical!

Built-in contrast

In the family room, a see-through partition wall creates an attractive separation between the play and living areas. When building the wall, we deliberately left sections open in order to insert shelves, which allows family members to go about their own business while keeping in close contact with each other. To give the wall even more character, we also built shelves into the lower section on the playroom side to hold games and soft toys. These units are made of wood, which we painted a pale blue to match the room’s dominant colour. The attractive display units above give the adults a place to show off their treasures. An original feature that offers eye-catching contrasts!

Colour-full !

What better to inspire the kids in their playroom than to combine vibrant colours? Apple green, cyan blue, yellows and oranges brighten and enhance the space. This bench and storage unit gives the little ones a special place to tuck their teddies and toys away and there’s even room to sit. Painted apple green to match the room’s main colour scheme, it has four compartments and a wide seating area on top, decorated with flower-shaped plush cushions. This piece works a treat in the playroom, but a similar unit in a calmer colour with some stylish cushions would also look great in the mudroom.

The bulletin board above the bench was made from an MDF board onto which we fixed a three-section frame, also made from MDF. A sheet of cork was glued into the left and right sections and the central portion painted with blackboard paint to create a mini scribble board. Fun, cheery pieces that reflect our kids’ energy!

Retro-spective

Silver-grey patterned wallpaper serves as a backdrop for this creative mural decor. The chunky shelves not only provide support for an original work of art but also offer display space for ornaments, photos and other favourite items.

Made from pieces of MDF assembled in a “U” form using adhesive and finishing nails and firmly mounted onto the wall with screws, the shelves were painted a deep red for bold contrast with the white and silvery tones of the wallpaper, turning this otherwise empty alcove into a striking focal point. When assembling this type of shelving, remember to draw a plan beforehand and take the proper measurements to ensure you cut the pieces accurately.

Mini-bar

The owners of this wine refrigerator made full use of the space above it, just beneath the wall cabinets, by creating a small built-in shelf and wine-glass rack. This attractive, well-designed unit was made from a few pieces of wood painted the same rich brown as the cabinets. For the wine glass rack, we fastened several ½-in. x ½-in. wood battens under the shelf from front to back, to which wider pieces were attached so as to be able to slide the foot of the wine glass. Show off your prettiest wine glasses and china to make the most of this practical new storage space.

One picture, one shelf

Just about any small stretch of wall or alcove suits this type of arrangement: a decorative floating shelf installed just below a mirror or framed picture. We built this shelf from MDF planks assembled in a “U” form to give a thick, chunky appearance. We then painted it a deep chocolate brown for eye-catching contrast with the vivid turquoise wall. Attached solidly to the wall, this shelf can hold a vase and other decorative objects. It adds a classy finishing touch to the decor and creates a focal point for this otherwise plain corner.

Beautiful bamboo

Here’s a smart idea to give your bathroom a completely new allure. We used materials left over from another project to create these original towel bars. Two bamboo flooring planks were mounted vertically on the wall. To these, we attached small wood pieces with holes bored at the end to slide a dowel through. The wood was then stained and varnished. The perfect solution for a sleek, modern bathroom where every item has its place.
Are you looking for ideas to dress up a plain corner or alcove? Do you have any leftover materials you want to use? All you need is a little imagination to make shelves and tables that are both original and elegant. With tape measure and hammer at the ready, get set to start giving your decor a whole new look!
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