Kitchen Corner Shelf DIY
Call me practical but I will always choose function over pretty. Good thing these corner shelves are both! This small kitchen begged for more storage space. The home was built in 1920 and the layout doesn’t seem to have changed much. I remodeled the entire space from cabinets to backsplash and during the process looked for ways to add in some storage. One area that stood out was a wall corner next to the sink. Nothing seemed to work here and after much planning I ultimately decided on installing shelves. Here are I’m sharing my tips and process for this Kitchen Corner Shelf DIY.
Shelving Instead of Upper Cabinets
For this project, I chose to use brackets from my brother’s metal hardware site (Cascade Iron Co.). I should add that I also help him there, but I just love the look of the corner metal brackets. They give the look of floating brackets without the sagging shelf down the road. I used white oak square pieces that matched my larger, open shelving along the same wall.
I considered a few other options for this like corner metal shelving or some sort of free standing organization rack. While I didn’t consider it, upper cabinets would’ve been an option here too. I like the look of a more streamlined kitchen and had already replaced other uppers with shelving. Ultimately, I just love the warmth of wood shelves and I knew this would be a fairly easy weekend project.
Corner Shelf Supplies
- Wood Shelf (cut to size or pre-made): I used 11.25” x 11.25 white oak shelf boards
- Wall brackets – I used the Corner Shelf Brackets in Black
- Level, measuring tape, and painter’s
- Drill, screws, bolts hardware (ost come with the brackets)
Corner Shelf DIY Instructions
Time needed: 45 minutes
Step by step guide for making corner wood shelves
- Mark Shelf Placement
Using measuring tape, painter’s tape, and pencil mark where shelves will be installed. The painter’s tape helps visualize shelf placement and make adjustments to size if needed. A piece of cardboard can also be used to create a “mock shelf” to help plan project.
- Prep Wood Shelves
Cut to size if needed. Sand and seal wood shelves if desired. Paste wax is another good option for wood shelves to keep them protected but natural looking.
- Pre-drill Holes
Ensuring bracket placement is level, pre-drill holes using bracket hole placement. Because wall corners, by nature, have a wall stud, this makes it extra easy. No need to find stud, it can be tricky to pre-drill with the tight corner angle though. This makes it easier to install the bracket
- Install Brackets
Using mounting hardware for wall studs, attach brackets to the wall
- Attach Shelf to Bracket
Secure shelf in place to bracket with smaller screws or bolts. It’s also helpful to pre-drill holes here too, careful to not go through the board but it makes the final attaching easier
Styling Corner Shelves
Shelf styling is my jam and it’s no different for corner shelves! The only tricky thing is using a smaller space and keeping them functional – especially if it’s in the kitchen. I have a whole guide to shelf styling but here are some tips for a corner shelf:
- Group items in threes – a standard design rule but works especially well in small spaces
- Add height to the back of the shelf – all shelves need some decor with height, by layering it keeps things interesting. Put taller things in back to keep it functional and aesthetically pleasing. For me, I used cookbooks, vases, and bottles.
- Put commonly used items in very front – this makes things easy to grab. Over time, I put our salt bowl, and tea canister, and olive oil up front.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Just like with any shelf, there are some pretty common mistakes to avoid for a corner shelf DIY project. I’m outlining what I’ve learned from experience and what I also see with client:
- Shelves too high or too low on the wall to be functional
- Shelf boards are not level
- Skipping the pre-drilling steps which might cause bolts to break or screw in unevenly
- Not protecting the wood – this guide covers a lot of the options
Corner Shelf DIY FAQs
A depth of 8″–12″ is ideal for most kitchen shelves. This holds items like mugs, jars, or small plates. Too shallow won’t be functional but too deep will project beyond cabinets and will be hardware to support with a bracket.
Yes, it is possible to install shelves on backsplash tile. Just be sure to use a diamond drill bit which helps prevent tiles from cracking. Always drill slowly and carefully.
It depends on the shelf size. Smaller shelves, like a 12″ x 12″ square shelf may only need one bracket. Larger corner shelves or those that are part of an entire shelving unit will require additional brackets to support the entire shelf.
Final Thoughts on Kitchen Corner Shelves
Overall, this corner shelf DIY project goes down as one of my favorites. It was relatively easy and instantly added more functionality and design to this small kitchen by maximizing unused space. The wood shelves added warmth and the metal is a nice design element. They’ve stood up over time and are something that would also work in bathrooms, living rooms, and offices.
This project was part of my bigger Small Kitchen Remodel – click through to see the before, you won’t believe it! They compliment my larger, open shelving which is another satisfying project. A little more involved but definitely doable – check out my DIY Wood Shelves Guide for full instructions.
