DIY Pipe Shelves for Your Kitchen

You’ve probably seen people create makeshift shelves using a few industrial-style pipes; this can be a great way to instantly add storage to a small space, along with a bit of character. If you want to recreate this look when making new shelves, you’ll need the most important pieces, which are the metal pipes, as well as other tools. To help you create DIY pipe shelves for your home, we’ve provided a straightforward guide below. 

Making DIY Pipe Shelves on a Budget

One of the reasons why this option is the ideal choice for many homes is that it doesn’t involve spending tons of money. Moreover, this easy weekend project is simple enough for anyone to follow, although we’ve provided some tips and tricks below to ensure that your construction goes smoothly. First of all, you’ll need to get your industrial pipe shelves and other supplies from Home Depot or another hardware store to begin. 

Just to set your expectations, this DIY project isn’t dirt cheap, and all the materials will cost around $50, so this may not be the best solution if you don’t want to spend that much. 

DIY Pipe Shelf Supplies (Makes 2)

• 4 one-inch caps
• 4 one-inch diameter iron pipes
• 4 one-inch galvanized floor flanges 
• 2 wooden boards
• Stain
• Sandpaper
• 1 bottle of spray paint
• 4 one-inch, two-hole straps with 8 dark washers and 8 dark nuts
• 16 drywall anchors
• Dark screws
• Power drill

DIY Pipe Shelves Tutorial 

Here are the step-by-step instructions on how to make and install your DIY pipe shelves anywhere in your home. 

Preparing Your Supplies 

Before anything else, you need to make sure that your pipes are cut down to the right size. For your actual pipe, the only prep work needed is to determine the right pipe lengths. Luckily, your local hardware store can get this done and is usually a free service. Be sure to have your big pipe divided into 4 equal pieces. 

Sanding and Spraying Pipes 

It’s always a good idea to give your pipes a light sanding before proceeding to paint them with spray paint — this will provide better adhesion and will leave a long-lasting finish. If you want to add a more elegant touch, then black pipes are the way to go; to achieve this, add two coats of black paint. However, if you want to save on time and get black iron pipes without doing too much, you can always search for galvanized pipe for gas lines. 

Preparing and Staining Your Wooden Shelves 

Now it’s time to move on to your wood shelves; any kind of wood will work well in this step, but it’s best to look for thick options to help ensure stability and durability. When you’ve decided on the right wood for your walls, be sure to cut it to your desired size using a miter saw. Next, make sure to stain it to give it a nice finish — one coat per shelf should be enough. Once the spray paint and stain are completely dry, you’ll be ready to start hanging them.   

Hanging Your DIY Shelves 

You will need to begin by using a stud finder to ensure you don’t drill into any studs. To ensure that your shelves are secure, it’s important to use wall anchors — it will help to use 4 drywall anchors for every floor flange. Next, insert dark screws to help them blend in with your dark paint; start from the bottom shelf and finish with the top shelf. 

After securing each of the flanges to the wall, it’s time to screw in the pipe and then the caps afterward. Finally, you can place your shelves over the top of the pipes to complete this DIY project. 

Securing Your Shelves from the Bottom 

Before you start using your new shelves, there’s one more essential step for you to take. It’s imperative that you add straps to the bottom of your wooden shelves to secure the wood to the piping. Without these straps, your shelf can move around your pipes, which may lead to accidents. Thankfully, these straps are only $1 each and will tightly secure the wood to your pipes. 

To apply them, simply screw them in using a dark nut and a dark washer in the halfway mark of your pipe. This not only adds more safety to your DIY project, but it also makes your shelves look better. Plus, you’ll love the industrial look that these practical shelves have to offer, and it may be the best part of your kitchen. 

Other Kitchen Shelving Ideas 

Can’t get enough of these DIY solutions for the kitchen? Then you might want to consider these other projects designed to make your space more efficient and cost-effective! 

Pantry Shelves

Are you looking to create a sturdy storage space without the need to drill a lot of holes in your wall? Here’s a comprehensive guide to creating a freestanding shelf to provide you with the perfect solution. It starts by drilling holes at the two corners of the shelves for your vertical supports to get through. Next, you’ll work on making the shelves float over Three Socket Tee fittings before stabilizing them using a pipe and 90° Elbow fittings.  

Pantry Shelving

If you’re looking to create a more open pantry that has an angular design, here’s an idea you might want to consider. The construction of this option is lighter than the Kee Klamp line, which is known for its structural pipe fitting options. If you want a more streamlined look, you can also check out their other Kee Lite fittings, and if you want to replicate the X-shaped braces, you may also want to get a 30° to 45° Adjustable Cross fitting. 

DIY Pantry

Here’s an unusual design that features shelves suspended over the doors that can be helpful if you’re working around small spaces. The higher shelves also provide the ideal place to store items that you want to keep away from small children. This option will help you create a sleek aesthetic again using Kee Lite fittings that are painted gray with a powder coating. 

DIY Pantry Shelving

While this shelving solution was created to fit inside a family room, you can use the same design to start building your open concept pantry. Rather than using it for a TV, you can leave the wall as is and use the shelving for more counter space when prepping food. Furthermore, you can fit a microwave inside one of those shelves while keeping it at eye level.  

Pipe Shelving

Placing shelves over your stove can give you easy access to oils, spices, and utensils, but will still allow air to circulate throughout the whole space. To give it a more European feel, it’s best to build your pantry system using black shelves and brass-colored fittings. Here’s what this great shelving system can look like depending on your taste and preferences. 

Wall-Mounted Pipe Pantry

If you want to add more storage space but don’t want to see vertical pipes, you can create these great shelves that will create the storage you want without the need for additional support. This can also be a good DIY project for beginners and those who want to try their luck with a minimalist design. All you need to do is screw 2 Flange fittings inside a stud before attaching a pipe using a set screw, then finish it off with a Plug fitting. 

Wall-Mounted Pipe Rack

Using this solution, you never have to worry about looking for the right lid for your pot. This is a simple rack that only needs two Flange fittings, two 90° Elbow fittings, and a length of pipe. While your pots hang in place using S-hooks, the actual rack can double as lid storage.  

Wall-Mounted Pipe Shelving

Here’s a complete guide on how to turn a small closet or mudroom inside your kitchen into extra pantry space. Because the design will depend on how much space you have available, you can provide additional support for larger shelves using a Fixing Pad to prevent boards from sliding throughout the pipes. 

Mounted Pantry

If you’re in need of additional pantry space, the shelves built in this example can be a good idea for any small space. The only supplies you’ll need to complete this project are 4 Flange fittings, 4 lengths of pipe, and 2 90° Elbow fittings. 

Easy Pipe Pantry Ideas

While it serves as a bookcase in this example, these walnut-stained shelves can be just as useful inside your pantry, converting the entire wall into storage space without making your space look cluttered. It’s not cheap to make by any means; the pipes and Kee Klamp fittings needed will cost over $1,000. But compared to ready-made shelves that you can find in stores, this option can still give great value for money. 

Wall-Mounted Pantry Shelving

The wall-mounted solution explored here may help you get the most out of your laundry room simply by installing a few shelves on an otherwise bare wall. We suggest using a Collar fitting, a Malleable Plug, and a 90° Elbow fitting to create some space at the top for hangers or towels. All you need are a few pieces of reclaimed wood to use as shelves, which isn’t just eco-friendly but will also help to keep costs down. 

Conclusion

Now that you know how to create DIY pipe shelves for your kitchen, nothing is stopping you from following our guide or looking into other ideas that may be better suited to your available space. Just remember that each project will have different costs, so it’s best to pick one that’s most suitable for your budget, tastes, and preferences to ensure that it’s the perfect fit for your home.

Sources 

• simply2moms.com
• thediyplaybook.com
• simplifiedbuilding.com