Shelves for the kitchen with her own hands

For an economical and hardworking master there is nothing more pleasant than doing useful things for the house with your own hands. And if the construction of large-sized furniture like beds and cabinets requires special locksmithing skills, then even the amateurs can make a shelf in the kitchen. In this article, you will learn all about how to build a beautiful and functional kitchen shelf.

General Specifications

Kitchen is the heart and soul of every home, because it is here that all the family gather to enjoy delicious food, talk and relax. Therefore, it is very important that in the kitchen there is a favorable quiet atmosphere, and the guarantee of comfort is always order. If everything lies in its place, you do not need to waste time and nerves on the quest - it's enough to reach out. That's why every kitchen needs to be equipped with all sorts of shelves and lockers.

The basic requirement for any shelves is compliance with the general interior design, and this applies not only to color, but also to the shape and dimensions of the structure.

The most common errors in the selection and installation of kitchen shelves:

1. Shelf does not fit the texture or color of the main furniture. For example, if the kitchen is dominated by light pastel shades, then a massive shelf with a metal edging will be clearly inappropriate, and vice versa.
2. The dimensions and characteristics of the shelf must correspond to its functional purpose. So, if you need a shelf-drying for dishes, then do not use massive narrow boards, because the water will very quickly spoil the tree - it will swell and "blossom."In this case, stainless steel products with drain holes are suitable. Metal shelves in the kitchen will withstand the weight of the dishes, and the water on them will not stagnate.
3. Brackets and brackets should be as much as possible in harmony with the color of the shelf and wall. If you do not comply with this condition, the regiment will be knocked out of the general interior and be struck in the face with an unpleasant stain.

Choosing the design of

The choice of design of future shelves should be approached as carefully as possible. Under the design should be understood not only the appearance( decor), but also functionality.

The following recommendations will help you find the shelves for kitchens made in different styles:

1. For the kitchen in the style of hi-tech the minimalism in everything is suitable - choose neat shelves of strict shapes, with a small thickness. It is acceptable to use LED backlight. Optimal materials for building shelves: metal, glass, plastic.
   
2. Kitchens in Scandinavian style can decorate shelves made from massive natural wood, light chipboard, pallets and boxes for vegetables. The interior allows you to "sweep" and plenty of fantasy, using the most unconventional materials, for example, logs or wood, turned over by the sea.
   
3. If your kitchen is made in the style of country, Provence or classics, install lightweight decorative shelves on thin metal legs. Elegant forging will give lightness and charm. It will also be interesting to look artificially aged parts with carvings.
   
4. For kitchens in the Art Nouveau style, glass structures with metal inserts are suitable.
   
5. Modern interior design accepts the use of shelves-lattices or wine racks.
6. Corner shelf in the kitchen will save space, using the allocated area to the maximum.
   

The easiest way is to make a rectangular shelf made of wood or wood chipboard, so if you are not sure of your strength, it's better to start with elementary constructions. The main thing is to remember that the dimensions and thickness of the shelf must correspond to the dimensions of the things placed on them. So, for storing spices a narrow plastic shelf is enough, and for cereals and preservations, something much more powerful will be needed.

The shelves should be placed in such a way that all members of the family can reach them, or vice versa, if they are small children.

If you want to use space along the entire wall, you can make hanging shelves in the kitchen in several rows.

Shelf support methods

The ways of fixing the kitchen shelves depend on many factors: the materials from which they are made, the load, the design, etc. However, the determining criterion is still the material. Below we will tell you in detail how and how to build a shelf for the kitchen. Before dividing the shelves by type, it should be noted that the construction of the construction are hinged, floor and retractable. And if the first two are all the less clear, then the sliding shelves in the kitchen should be considered in more detail.

Natural wood and chipboard

The most common kind. Wooden shelves in the kitchen with their own hands can make even a teenager, which certainly will please his mother.

To make a shelf from a tree you will need the following tools and materials:

• actually the material itself - chipboard, boards or wooden boxes;
• perforator( drill a concrete wall to install fasteners);
• electric jigsaw( cut wood);
• screwdriver or screwdriver;
• hammer;
• sandpaper of various granularity( to grind the surface of a tree);
• compasses( if there are rounded elements);
• pencil;
• ruler;
• brackets or assembled consoles for hanging shelves;
• wood stain( if you will tint);
• brush;
• alkyd varnish( it is better to take an alkyd varnish, because it is more resistant to moisture).

The shape of the wooden shelves can be any, but it is better to make them traditionally rectangular or triangular, if placed in a corner. Round or oval shelves will suit not every kitchen and are mostly suitable for spacious rooms.

To ensure that the wooden cover has lasted for as long as possible, pay attention to its finish and protection - use lacquers, ribbons for edging, do not expose the tree to excessive moisture.

Helpful tip: for a small kitchen do not make thick bulky shelves. This will not look good and cozy, but very cumbersome.

Drywall for shelves

Kitchen shelves from plasterboard are suitable only for storage of dry and light objects. They should be positioned as far as possible from the sink, stove, steamer or multivariate. Since gypsum is very sensitive to moisture and unable to withstand heavy loads, gypsum board shelves are best placed closer to the windows and rather for decorative purposes.

To increase the strength of the gypsum board, it is necessary to reinforce it with metal profiles on the back side. What can I put on such a shelf? Place on it small musical columns, figurines, vases with dry plants or spices.

Plasterboard shelves look very relaxed and neat, especially when it comes to interiors in a romantic style.

For work you will need:

• drywall;
• metal profile;
• mounting tape for overlapping joints;
• self-tapping screws "gyprok-tree" or "metal";
• fasteners "corners";
• putty;
• decoration materials( paint, fabric, wallpaper, mosaic, etc.).

Decorative shelves

Quite often decorative shelves in the kitchen are made in one style to organize a small complex where you can store beautiful collectible dishes, original figurines or saltcellars bought during travel.

Useful tip: small decorative shelves can be fixed with the help of ready-made fasteners, creating effective contrast combinations with the help of color or texture. For example, colored consoles for a shelf of pastel blue hue or black brackets for a shelf of rough wood.

Shelves - bottles

This is a separate "elite breed" of shelves, which will get accustomed to the kitchen of true connoisseurs of a noble drink. Bottles are specially created for storing wine in proper conditions. Every sommelier knows that wine requires careful and respectful attitude, otherwise it will quickly lose its flavor qualities.

Unique properties of the bouquet are preserved only when the bottle is correctly stored - in a strictly horizontal position. What happens to the wine that just stands in the closet or refrigerator? Through the cork slowly, but surely penetrates oxygen, destructive for blending. It reacts with the wine bacteria and changes the taste of the drink.

Bottles can store bottles in an inverted tilted position, completely blocking access to oxygen. Besides, to be sure, such shelves look very exquisite.

Of course, for one kitchen there are enough shelves for 3-5 bottles, otherwise it will turn into a wine cellar.

Retractable shelves

Gradually we came to the most interesting and most popular kind of kitchen shelves. Retractable shelves are becoming more and more popular every day. Minimalism has been in fashion for more than 3 years, and this trend continues to hold, diluted only by new trends like eco-style. The retractable mechanism allows to save a maximum of free space, to relieve the hosts of unnecessary movements and to use every useful centimeter of the area.

There are several types of drawers: shelves, lid storage panels, food baskets, bottle bottles, breadboxes, etc.

Advantages of sliding shelves are obvious, especially when it comes to small kitchens. So, from the most usual close "Khrushchev" you can easily make a functional and pleasant kitchen using this technology. In addition to sliding shelves, retractable tables, seats, beds, etc. are also popular. Minimalism combined with ergonomics is an ideal solution for a modern hostess.

For a small kitchen the best option is a drawer shelf-basket. They can store vegetables, cereals, bread or other products that need regular airing.

Corner shelf in the kitchen with your own hands

Any furniture can be made with your own hands, and if you show a little bit of fantasy, ordinary items can become exclusive decorations of the interior. This rule applies to kitchen shelves. The instruction described below will help you make an original and comfortable corner shelf for dishes, pickles or loose products.

The material used in the construction was the chips of the chipboard that remained after the construction of the kitchen set. Such trimming can be bought in any furniture workshop for a low price. With the construction of such a shelf will cope with anyone who knows how to hold a drill, and the work will take a maximum of 7 hours.

What tools will be needed:

• electric jig saw;
• screwdriver or screwdriver;
• grinder or sandpaper;
• iron;
• drills for wood of various diameters;
• hexagon for 4 mm;
• knife-cutter( can be an ordinary durable clerical knife);
• pencil;
• grit;
• compass;
• measuring tape.

Fittings( available in any building or furniture store):

• Confirmat - 16 pcs;
• edge band, suitable for tone to chipboard - 10 m( better than 12 m);
• hinged loop - 4 pcs;Screw - 8 pcs;
• cover plate - 16 pcs.

Creating a sketch

Before you start building anything, you must create a sketch on paper or, as in our case, on a computer.

Future product detailing:

1. Two shelves with a radius of 19x90 cm
2. Two more shelves with a radius of 19x110 cm
3. Two racks 60х26,5 cm
4. Two racks 44х26,5 cm

Shelving

Customize the sketch for the dimensions of your kitchen, prepare the necessary materials and proceedbuilding shelves.

Procedure:

1. The first step is to cut out the sidewalls. Make the markings on the sheets of the chipboard starting from a flat area of ​​3-10 cm. If there are clamps, you can attach two sheets to them and cut two identical side walls in one fell swoop.
   
2. There is no upper lip on the inner stand, and its dimensions are slightly smaller than the outer one. Note that even if you use a new saw in a jigsaw, chipped edges may form. You can fix this with a grinder or by hand grinding.
   
3. Paste the parts with thermal tape. To do this, attach the tape to the side cut, cover with a cotton cloth and heat with an iron. Advance as the tape is glued to the chipboard. While processing internal bends, apply the iron only with a spout. The tape is always slightly wider than the butt, so the non-glued part should be cut with a stationery knife.
   
4. When the surplus is cut, treat the corners with fine sandpaper to remove the contrasting adhesive strip. As a result, you will get two neat racks.
   
5. Now you can build a structure. As crossbeams, use rectangular segments of the same chipboard, equal in length. Carefully choose the width so that the shelf does not protrude beyond the vertical stand.
   
6. To the shelf looked original, trim the inner stand in two places. The length of the slot must correspond to the width of the shelf.
   
7. Fix the lower and upper posts with a confirmation plate using a square or corner clamp.
   
8. In 8 mm from the edge of the drill, suitable for the confirmation, make a hole, by deepening the second step of the cutter no more than 2 mm.
   
9. When the hole is ready, secure the parts with a confirmation. Tighten all the way to the stop so that the joint between the parts completely disappears. The main indicator is a slight crackling when tightened.
   
10. Attach the inner vertical stand at any suitable distance from the outside.
    
11. Install the top shelf by attaching it first to the outer post.
    
12. Drill it and fix it with confirmations. During drilling, keep the drill clearly perpendicular to the shelf so that after curling the confirmation there is no bulge.
    
13. In the same way, attach the shelf to the inner rack.
14. It remains only to paste decorative stubs to hide the places of fasteners and hang the shelf on its rightful place. In this case, there is no need to use any additional fasteners on the corner, since the chipboard is quite strong and it is almost impossible to bend it( in any case, the weight of jars and dishes will not suffice for this).
    

Creative ideas

Finally we offer you material for inspiration - a photo of a selection of interesting kitchen shelf options that you can easily make by yourself:

Original shelf in the kitchen( photo) from a regular pallet: