Make a wall unit for your favourite bits ’n bobs

Photographs Henrique Wilding and Francois Oberholster | Styling Misi Overturf

You will need

Shopping list

• 18mm plywood, cut to:

two 1 480 x 100mm pieces (base frame)

four 220 x 100mm pieces (base struts)

ten 2 400 x 300mm pieces (sides)

twenty-eight 334 x 300mm pieces (shelves)

four 379 x 334mm pieces (backing boards)

• two packets 6mm x 50mm chipboard screws

• one packet 8mm x 30mm screws

• four 6mm x 55mm nail-in anchors

• pine wood filler

• 220-grit sandpaper

Tools

• cordless drill and 3mm drill bit

• pencil

• tape measure

• try square

• masonry drill with 6mm drill bit

Get started

1. The base: Glue and screw two of the 220 x 100mm pieces between each end of the two 1 480 x 100mm planks. Space the remaining two 220 x 100mm pieces evenly in-between and screw them in place.

2. Vertical units Measure and mark on eight of the side pieces where the shelves will be positioned (see sketch) and drill pilot holes for the screws. Glue and screw seven 334 x 300mm shelves between two of the 2 400 x 300mm side pieces (use the 6mm x 50mm screws). Repeat to make three similar units. Glue and screw the four 379 x 334mm backing boards at the back of the two outer units – the finished display shelf will be attached to the wall by means of those backing boards.

3. Using the 8mm x 30mm screws, attach one of the remaining 2 400 x 300mm sides to the ‘outside’ of one of the outer units. Position this unit on the base; place the other three units adjacent to each other and screw together, making sure the front edges are flush. Screw the final 2 400 x 300mm side to the ‘outside’ of the last unit.

4. Place the display shelf and the base against the wall. Using the masonry drill, drill a hole into the wall through the backing boards and attach the display shelf to the wall with the nail-in anchors. Screw each of the three units to the base. Fill all screw holes with wood filler and allow to dry thoroughly before sanding the entire wall unit.