Upcycling – create a stylish shelf using plate holders

- Difficultyeasy
- Cost70 €
- Duration1,5 h
Introduction
Do you have some old plate holders lying around and aren’t sure what to do with them? Or are you looking for inspiration for a creative and above all flexible shelf for your kitchen or dining room? Our step-by-step guide will show how to build your very own stylish shelf using old plate holders and wooden boards.
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:
- screwdriver
- safety glasses
- g-clamps
- pricker
- pencil
- concrete drill
- screws
- wall plugs
- 12x screws and wall plugs
- 3x wooden plate holders
- 3x wooden boards (80 x 12.5 cm=> have them cut to size at your local DIY store)
- Plate holder
- Shelves
- Wood drill 8 mm
Video instructions
Marking the drill holes
You need: Digital Laser Measure Zamo (Set), pencil, pricker, Plate holders
Let’s get started. First, attach the Zamo to the end of the plate holder and measure out intervals for the drill holes using the tape measure adapter (image 1). You’ll use these later to mount your shelf to the wall. We’ve chosen the mid-point between the second and third pegs from the top and the mid-point between the second and third pegs from bottom. We recommend measuring the dimensions of your specific plate holder as different models will vary in size. You should also think about where exactly you want to attach the shelf to the wall later while you’re doing this. To mark out the drill holes, turn the plate holder so the pegs are facing away from you and mark out the intervals with a pencil (image 2). Then, use a bradawl to prepare the drill holes at the points you’ve marked out (image 3). This will make sure you drill the holes exactly where you need to.
Assembling the plate holders and shelf boards

You need: Bosch Uneo Maxx cordless rotary hammer, g-clamps, Shelf boards, Plate holders
It’s now time to get ready to drill the holes. To do this, place the shelf boards parallel to each other, standing them on their long, narrow edges, so they are perpendicular to your workbench. Clamp them to your workbench using G-clamps so that they don’t move or slip when you’re drilling into them later. Next, slot the plate holders on to the shelf boards from above.
Drilling holes for mounting the shelves to the wall

You need: Bosch Uneo Maxx cordless rotary hammer, safety glasses, g-clamps, Brad point drill bit, 8 mm, Plate holders, Shelf boards
You now need to drill the holes so that the shelf can be mounted to the wall securely. Each plate holder will need four holes. To do this, drill the twelve holes into the backs of the plate holders at the points you marked earlier. Make sure you work accurately and that your drill bit is perfectly perpendicular to the marking!
Marking the wall
You need: Bosch Atino, pencil
You can now start positioning the shelf. First, work out where the upper drill hole for the left-hand plate holder needs to go. Attach an Atino line level to your wall at this point, and align it until the red laser line points horizontally to the right and the LED lights up green. The Atino line level is now perfectly aligned, and you can mark the first drill hole in the centre of the Atino (image 1). Then, pull out the measuring tape horizontally, and use a pencil to mark out the other drill holes for all three plate holders, alternating after 10.5 cm and 45 cm (10.5 cm/45 cm/10.5 cm/45 cm/10.5 cm) (image 2). Then, rotate the Atino 90 degrees clockwise until the LED lights up green again. Now, mark another cross on the wall that is 17.6 cm below the first one (image 3). This is the height at which you’re going to mark the lower drill holes for the plate holders. Next, release the two pins and place the Atino so that the cross you just drew is in the centre of the device. You can then reattach the device to the wall using the pins. Now, mark out the lower drill holes at the same intervals as the upper ones until you have marked out all of the drill holes for the brackets (image 4).
Mounting the shelf
You need: Bosch Uneo Maxx cordless rotary hammer, concrete drill, safety glasses, screws, wall plugs, screwdriver, Plate holders, Shelf boards
Now, drill holes in the wall at the marked spots using the cordless rotary hammer. Then, sink a wall plug into each hole. You can now use screws to attach the three plate holders to the wall.
Last but not least, insert the shelf boards and you’re done. The pegs let you put your shelves up in any way you like, so you have plenty of scope to get creative and add a real highlight to your kitchen!