How To Build A Pipe Shelf — DIY

Last Updated on September 20, 2023

When we embarked on the adventure of refinishing the basement, I was pregnant with little Maus. Since my home office was soon to become her nursery, I knew I had to move downstairs…which meant downsizing a bit. Being a graphic designer and a hoarder collector of vintage loveliness, I needed a lot of storage space, but I also wanted a pretty sumthin’ sumthin’ to display such loveliness. Shelving was on my mind.

Getting The Industrial Look With A Pipe Shelf

I first saw this pipe shelf in the Bash Please headquarters featured in Rue Magazine. I was like, “I could totally build that!” however, I must admit, the boy did a lot all of the work…and woo baby, it looks fabby! It was surprisingly easy to make (and under $175!), so I decided to share my directions on how to make a pipe shelf with you today so you can build your own.

Supplies Needed To Build A Pipe Shelf

3/4″ gas piping and fittings

Pipe:
6 – 12″
2 – 27″ (custom cut and threaded at Home Depot)

Fittings:
8 Elbows
6 Three Way Tees
4 Base Flanges

Wood:
3 – 1-3/4″ high X 13-1/2″ deep X 32″ long boards (I called ahead to a lumber yard and asked them what was the thickest board I could get and had it custom cut…all we had to do was pay for it and pick it up)

Sandpaper:
220 Grit
320 Grit (just to make sure it is smooth)

Stain:
Minwax Dark Walnut

Tools:
Tack cloth
Drill
1″ Hole Saw
Degreaser
8 Drywall Anchors (4 per side)
8 Screws
Measuring Tape

Instructions On How To Build A Pipe Shelf

Use a drill with a 1″ round drill bit to drill the holes in the wood planks. The boy built himself a corner template to ensure everything was aligned…he’s sooooooo smart. (Hint…be sure to compliment whoever is helping you…it solidifies help in your next big project.) Clean all the grease off the pipes with degreaser. If you don’t like the rawness of the pipes, you can spray paint them. I chose not to.

Sand the wood with 220 grit and then 320 grit until it’s smooth as a baby’s butt. Take the tack cloth over the wood to remove dust. Now you are ready to stain.

Unless you are Scotty Pippen, you’ll probably need a ladder at this point or at least a chair. Assemble all the pieces, and you are ready to hang. As a side note, I did not screw this puppy into the floor, and I’ve never had a slipping issue.

The most difficult part of this project was figuring out the math. You need to know how tall you want it but don’t forget to add in the height of the top piping. Once you know the height, determine how many shelves you want and the spacing. Good luck, and let me know how your pipe shelf turned out!

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