If you’d like some serious shelf space while keeping your floor plan open and easy to clean, this clever floating IKEA bookcase hack puts a designer spin on cheap bookcases. More »
Figuring out the smartest places to store your stuff is time well spent—mostly because it results in time you don’t spend cleaning. Here’s are 10 smart storage solutions for your excess cords, shoes, spices and all kinds of computer stuff. More »
If you’d like a lot of shelf space for less money than you’d spend on traditional bookcases and without all the damage to the wall that comes with wall-mounted shelving, these DIY compression shelves are a great alternative. More »
There are a lot of nice bookcases out there, but many of them don’t fit your exact walls, and most can’t be installed in an apartment. That can be worked around in crafty style with plumbing pipes and some weekend time. More »
If you have a window in need of some accompanying book-friendly furniture, this tutorial will show you how to turn an IKEA bookcase into a sturdy window seat with lots of book storage built in. More »
If you’re looking for some budget-friendly shelving, this DIY solution will definitely look more elegant in your living space than some shop shelves from the hardware store. Unlike a similar design we highlighted a few weeks ago, the Hungarian Shelves, this particular mortise style shelving unit requires less wedging but a finer use of a saw blade—assuming, of course, you want the really cool wave in your vertical braces. The entire project requires nothing more than a boards, long nails for screwing the braces into the studs, a drill, and a jigsaw. Paint or varnish is optional, depending on the cut and quality of wood you use a simple clear coat might suffice.
If you’re looking for sturdy wall-hugging shelving that doesn’t require fancy custom braces or brackets, check out the industrious design of these Hungarian shelves.What makes them “Hungarian”? Instructables user Juliofo ran across the design while visiting a friend in Budapest and was told they’d had been designed by a local professor—but if you know another name for this innovative style, by all means, share it in the comments.The design itself is simple but sturdy: one set of boards attached vertically against the studs of the walls, another set of boards serves as the shelves. The two segments are held together by series of mortise joints, shimmed with wooden wedges. Save for screwing the vertical support pieces into the wall studs, the entire affair is held together without any screws or glue—and this is all explained in a bit more detail at the Instructables post. While the example Juliofo uses for his tutorial is rather plain, another Instructables user mtemple was inspired by his design and created a more polished version, complete with detailing on the vertical supports as seen in the photos above right. If you have your own elegant DIY wall storage solution, we’ve love to hear about it in the comments below.
How to Make and Install Hungarian Shelves [Instructables]
