storage — archives — Simply Mindy

I am a firm believer in taking advantage of vertical space for storage. I decided I wanted to add shelves to our small bathroom above the toilet, because no one has ever said "I have too much storage". Am I right? Lol. The bathroom layout made this space the perfect area to add shelves without it looking bulky. Adding shelves to a bare wall can open up storage possibilities in a space that doesn’t allow for multiple storage units on the floor.

Of course, I could’ve gone and bought one of those shelf stands that are made to fit over the toilet, but I wanted a clean look. And for the cost of one of those units (a good quality one) I didn’t want the hassle of having to replace it in a year due to rust from the bathroom humidity. There was also the option of purchasing shelving from the hardware store, but for the look I wanted, the selections available were priced at about $20 per shelf. My diy shelves only cost around $35 total!

I started with a 2x8 piece of wood that was in my basement. This was also left over from renovations. It was the perfect sized depth for my wall space.

Step 1:

used a circular saw to cut the shelves to size.

-my shelves measure 22 ¼ inches long

Step 2:

sanded the wood, first with a 60 grit (course) and then with 150 grit (fine) sandpaper

-Yes, I sanded these by hand…I don’t have an electric sander. Not yet, anyway!

Step 3:

stained the shelves on each side and all edges

-I used Minwax penetrating stain in Ebony. It is a very dark stain, almost black to match the vanity cabinet.

Step 4:

sealed the stain with polycrylic in a satin finish

-I used the sealant on all surfaces as well. I did 2 coats, sanding in between each coat.

Step 5:

attached the shelves to the wall using shelf brackets, using drywall anchors in the wall.

- I did not have a second person around to hold the shelf while I attached it to the wall. So, I attached the brackets to the shelf first, then held it up to the wall to level and measure for the wall screws.

The last step was the most tedious because I was doing this on my own. I would recommend having a second person to help when attaching the shelves to the wall.

And here is the finished product!

I love that these diy shelves are custom fit to my space! If you're in the mood for a weekend project, this is a good one to tackle. And if you don't have wood laying around the house you can easily get a long wood board in any size you want at the hardware store. Some stores will even cut it for you!

Let me know what you think and if you would do this on your own. What would you have done differently? Thanks, and God bless!

Living Simply,

Mindy✿

I have always had a love for crafting and creating. But in the recent months, since starting these home projects, I have accumulated considerably more craft supplies. And while it is necessary to have these supplies on hand to complete projects, I don’t really have a dedicated “craft space”. Therefore, I had to get creative about storage. And I found the prefect space in the stairway to our basement.

To say this is not a pretty space would be an understatement. This project was purely for the sake of getting supplies put away and having a set home for these items. But, although it isn’t attractive, I am still happy with the turnout. I love identifying spaces that are usable in our cozy home. Plus, I found a way to do it on a very small budget!

Here is what I did…

Step 1: attached these wire wall hooks with the included screws. I only got three, but I have space to add on if needed.

Step 2: hung a variety of different sized baskets. I moved them around until I was satisfied with the placement.

Step 3: placed the items I wanted to organize in each basket.

And I was done!

This project cost $11, and all items (except the small blue bin from Walmart) were from Dollar Tree. Now, I could have gone crazy and spray painted all the baskets to match, but the basement is primarily used for storage and is not accessed by anyone other than myself and my husband. I am a firm believer of doing what works for you!

Do you have an overflow of things that you just have no place for? Maybe you can identify some “negative” space in your home and get creative about storage. Let me know what you come up with! Thanks, and God bless!