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Love Your Abode

Recipes, Do-it-yourself, Interior Design and Lifestyle

How to Build Wood Shelves over Ugly Wire Shelving

January 14, 2021

Here’s how to Build Wood Shelves over Ugly Wire Shelving

Chances are you probably have ugly wire shelving somewhere in your home. They are usually in closets, builder grade pantries, and linen closets. I have them in every closet in our home and I definitely do not love them. There’s a simple way to upgrade those closets! Here’s how to build wood shelves over ugly wire shelving. 

wire-shelving-makeover

Over a year ago, I gave the upstairs linen closet a small refresh. I installed some peel and stick wallpaper and got rid of a bunch of items we weren’t using. 

Here’s what it originally looked like. Not good!!

cover-ugly-wire-shelves

It definitely looked better with the wallpaper and baskets but I knew it could be even better. Plus, it was a good time to donate and get rid of items we didn’t use the last year. 

ugly-wire-shelves

My sweet friend, Marquita from Far From Cypress shared the simple tutorial on her Instagram. She did the same thing for her pantry and it looked sooo much better. I was inspired to do the same thing to this linen closet. 

How to Build Wood Shelves over Ugly Wire Shelving

Supplies:

  • Brad nailer
  • Circular saw or miter saw
  • 1×3 poplar wood 
  • 1/2 inch thick birch plywood
  • sanding paper
  • tack cloths

 

Instructions:

Measure the wire shelves and give yourself about 1-2 inches. You can always make more cuts if it’s too big but not the other way around! 

how-to-cover-ugly-wire-shelves

Jimmy and I went to Home Depot and I settled on the 1×3 poplar wood which would be the trim that goes on the front of the shelves. Have one of the workers cut the large plywood to save time and to avoid hauling a huge piece of wood home. 

how-to-hide-ugly-wire-shelves

Once we got home, I took my circular saw and cut them to the exact size I needed. I recommend going a little smaller than the wire shelves so that the plywood fits easily on top. My wire shelves lift up easily so that’s how we put these shelves in. If yours doesn’t lift, you may have to remove them. 

 

cover-wire-shelves

Place one on your wire shelves to make sure the size is just right!

how-to-cover-wire-shelves

When you’re happy with it, go ahead and cut the other pieces. Jules joined me for this project and she learned how to use the electric sander. A couple of months ago, I realized we only had 4.5 years left together at home before she leaves for college. I’m trying to be more intentional about the time we have left even if it’s just an afternoon learning how to use electrical tools! 

how-to-hide-wire-shelves

I really wish they had wood-working classes when I was in school! I would’ve been all over that. She did a fantastic job sanding down all the pieces of wood. This gives it a smooth finish and removes any splinters and debris. She also used some tack cloths to remove all the dust remaining on the wood. 

I needed Jimmy’s help with this part while Jules was busy sanding. I held the wood together while he used the brad nailer in three places. This took some trial and error because some of the nails would poke out and we would have to start over. I recommend buying 3/4 inch plywood for that same reason instead of the 1/2 inch we used. I saw Marquita actually nailed the front trim with the base already sitting on the wire shelf. 

how-to-build-wood-shelves

You can condition your wood and add a stain and fill in your nail holes. But I was too excited and needed to see them immediately. 

How good does this look!! We fit them right over the shelves and they look so custom! 

how-to-make-wood-shelves
trio of collapsible wicker baskets

The cost of the wood was about $70 with leftover pieces. Not bad right? I just used baskets I already had on hand. 

how-to-build-wooden-shelves

It looks so clean and I actually love the look of the raw wood.

linen-closet-makeover

 

This is a really tricky area to photograph but I think you get the idea. There’s so much space now after donating and getting rid of a bunch of unused items. 


linen-closet-transformation

I really wanted a photo with Jules but she’s been so busy with school and basketball. That will have to wait until the weekend when we have some daylight.

Hey! Girls can have fun building too! Here’s a final before and after.

linen-closet-before-and-after

easy-linen-closet-makeover

Thanks for reading! If you want to follow along with the video tutorial, follow me on Instagram stories. 

xoxo,

 

 

 

Let all that you do be done in Love. 1 Corinthians 16:14

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Hi I’m Yuni

Hi I’m Yuni

loveyourabode

Full time non profit @friendsofrefugees . Part time creator at LYA. I’m also a golf ⛳️ addict.
✉️:loveyourabode@gmail.com

Why do Koreans have the funniest names for all the Why do Koreans have the funniest names for all their stuff!? I bought Jimmy this cologne in Seoul and didn’t even look at the name until we got home. It’s not ordinary it’s ODDINARY 🤣☠️. #notsponsored #konglish
It doesn’t get more Korean than getting dressed It doesn’t get more Korean than getting dressed in hanboks walking around Gyeongbokgung Palace. This has been the trip of a lifetime with our kids and friends. 🇰🇷 Feeling so thankful! #koreatravels #koreatrip
All your hard work paid off, Jules!! We are so so All your hard work paid off, Jules!! We are so so proud of you. Congrats to my amazing nephew, Austin!! Love you both so very much. 

Feels like we celebrated all month long with her grad/18th bday party and finally with the actual graduation. Thanks to all our friends and family who celebrated this joyous milestone with our family. 

Korea 🇰🇷here we come! Send me all your Korea travel tips! 

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When your girl has been talking about chopping her When your girl has been talking about chopping her hair off for months and you decide to do it together. Jules is donating her long healthy hair to @locksofloveofficial. Here’s to the last month of high school for my soon to be college girly! 😩🥹
22 years on 2-22!! The years have truly flown by w 22 years on 2-22!! The years have truly flown by way too fast. Happy anniversary to the one who thinks I’m hilarious, gives me my daily morning/nightly back scratches, never makes me drive, and lets me take the last tasty bite of his food. If that’s not true love, Idk what is!Wahoooo ❤️ Thank you, Lord!

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