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  3. Design your own bathroom: Build a minimalist shelf for the bathroom

Design your own bathroom: Build a minimalist shelf for the bathroom

Building furniture
Project
A black wooden shelf with magazines hangs on a white wall in a bathroom
Saves lots of space and gives you more storage options.
  • Difficulty
    medium
  • Cost
    < 25 £
  • Duration
    6 h

Introduction

Hand towels, magazines, or whatever else needs to be put out of the way – you cannot go wrong if you have more storage space in the bathroom. And it’s even better when the new shelf matches your minimalist personal style. We’ll show you how you can make this practical urban industrial inspired bathroom shelf.

It should go without saying that your safety is paramount throughout every step of the project, so make sure you take the necessary precautions to protect yourself. You can find an overview of the correct protective clothing you need when using each type of tool here:

You need

Let's go - step by step

Step17

Build wire bending tool

The markings for a special wire bending tool are drawn on a piece of wood.

: You can determine the size and shape of the wire hangers by the placement of the screws.

You need: Plywood board (150 x 300 x 16 mm), 3 screws (M8 x 16 mm)

You will need a wire bending tool for the wire hangers. Use a piece of plywood or any other sturdy board and screw three screws into it. You can position the screws based on the image above. Take a pencil and mark the lines, as well.

Important: The distance between the inside edge of screw A and the outside edge of screw C equals the width of the hanger. You can freely choose a width, but it will play an important role later when drilling the corresponding holes (step 4).

You will also determine the length and size of the wire hangers using the wire bending tool. Base your decision on the width of the board for the shelf (200 mm), which will be above the wire hangers.

Step27

Bend and saw wire to size

The ends of a wire hanger are sawed to size using a handsaw.
A wire is wrapped around several screws on a special bending tool.
A bent wire is marked for sawing.
The ends of a wire hanger are sawed to size using a handsaw.
A wire is wrapped around several screws on a special bending tool.

You need:
Reciprocating saw blades
, a little muscle power, 5 pcs. welding wire (1 m/each)

You need the wire bending tool to shape the wires to the right size.

Place the wire between screw A and B and bend it around screw C (image 1).

Then mark both ends of the wire where it needs to be shortened (image 2).

Proceed to bend the four other wires and carefully saw them to the same length (image 3).

Step37

Transfer measurement

The correct distance is marked on a board based on a wire hanger.
A pencil is used to draw four lines on a board.
The correct distance is marked on a board based on a wire hanger.
A pencil is used to draw four lines on a board.

You need: wooden slat, pocket rule, pencil, Plywood board (600 x 500 x 16 mm), A piece of bent wire from step 2

Draw the four lines and markings for the drill holes on the board (image 1). 

Draw line 1 well above the edge (see image 1). Now distribute the markings for the drill holes, evenly spaced, along this line. Place the marking for the first hole approximately 30–50 mm from the edge of the board.

Draw line 2 just above it. Along this line you mark two more drill holes (they can correspond to the outer two drill holes on line 1).

Do the same for lines 3 and 4. Watch out: The distance between these two lines equals the width of the wire hangers. So you will need to use a wire hanger to determine the distance between line 3 and line 4 (image 2).

Distribute along these two lines the markings for a total of ten drill holes, evenly spaced, which will eventually be used for the wire hangers. Make sure that there are five in a row, one directly beneath the other.

Step47

Step 4: Drill and countersink the holes

A hole is countersunk in a wooden board using a countersink drill bit.
A cordless drill is used to drill holes in a board.
A hole is countersunk in a wooden board using a countersink drill bit.
A cordless drill is used to drill holes in a board.

You need:
YOUseries Drill
,
YOUseries Bit and Drill Set
,
Countersink
, g-clamps, Plywood board (600 x 500 x 16 mm), Piece of scrap wood

Have you managed to mark all the holes? If you’re ready, then place the board for drilling on top of a piece of scrap wood. This extra board will protect the surface of your workbench.

The markings for the drill holes will be used for different purposes and have different sizes:

The holes along line 1 will be used to attach the actual shelf board. Use the 5 mm drill bit for these holes (image 1).

The holes along line 2 will be used to attach the entire shelf to the wall. Use the 5 mm drill bit for these holes, as well.

The holes along lines 3 and 4 are for the wire hangers. A 3 mm drill bit will suffice for them.

The larger holes (5 mm) need to be countersunk (image 2). Place the countersink drill bit in your cordless drill.

Watch out: The holes along line 1 used to attach the actual shelf board need to be countersunk from behind (the rear of the board). The two holes along line 2 used to attach the shelf to the wall need to be countersunk from the front.

Step57

Sand and apply wood stain

A light brown wooden board is stained using a black stain.
Sand the wooden board using a cordless hand sander.
A light brown wooden board is stained using a black stain.
Sand the wooden board using a cordless hand sander.

You need:
YOUseries Sander
,
YOUseries Sanding Paper
, cloth, Plywood board (600 x 200 x 16 mm), Plywood board (600 x 500 x 16 mm), Wood stain

Now you will need the actual board for the shelf before you can go any further. You can have it cut to size at your local DIY store.

Sand both boards on all sides until they are smooth enough (image 1).

Now you can apply wood stain to the boards to give them a more refined look. Use an old cloth for this (image 2).

Step67

Screw the shelf board in place

Several G-clamps secure a shelving unit to a workbench.

The screws disappear completely into the wood thanks to the countersunk drill holes from step 4.

You need:
YOUseries Drill
, g-clamps, Plywood board (600 x 200 x 16 mm), Plywood board (600 x 500 x 16 mm), Torx screws (4 x 40 mm)

Are both boards dry now? If so, then match up the drill holes and secure the shelf board at a right angle to the rear shelf wall using G-clamps.

Take two additional G-clamps and secure this unit to your workbench. Make sure the shelf board points to the floor, which makes it convenient to screw the two boards together.

Use the predrilled and countersunk holes to connect the boards using four screws.

Step77

Insert and secure the wire hangers

The screws are attached to a black stained board using a cordless screwdriver.
Wire hangers are inserted into wooden shelving unit.
The screws are attached to a black stained board using a cordless screwdriver.
Wire hangers are inserted into wooden shelving unit.

You need:
YOUseries Drill
, Screws, for example, Torx screws (3.5 x 15 mm), 5 wire hangers from step 2

Now you will need the wires you bent in step 2. You can insert the wires into the predrilled holes (image 1).

Turn the entire unit upside down, clamping it to your workbench with the wire hangers and shelf pointing down the floor.

Screw small screws into the holes where the wire hangers are situated already. These will secure the wire hangers nicely as they are slightly offset to the wire, but in the same hole.

Finished! You can use the two larger holes just below the shelf board to secure the entire unit to your wall in the bathroom. Or wherever else you fancy!

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