There are nearly as many ideas and ways to make shelving from wood as there are leaves on a tree. A simple shelving idea can often be easily modified to fit a particular decor style or functional need. Depending on the the installation and need, wood shelving can be made from something as simple as bricks and wood.
Bricks & Boards
The most basic form of wood shelving uses nothing more than gravity as a fastener. Bricks, cinder blocks, glass blocks, or any other heavy solid square objects can be used as the vertical supports for shelves. Making this type of wood shelving is as simple as placing two glass blocks on the floor with a shelf on top. Two more glass blocks above the first two and another shelf, and you are on your way to a simple book case. The boards of the shelves can be painted using an oil based lacquer or other hard surface paint or stain, or can even be left natural and unfinished for a more rustic look. Because it is held together by the forces of gravity, this type of shelving is not good in places that have earthquakes and needs to be put in a place where it won't be knocked over by children or pets.
Simple Fastened Shelves
Some very interesting shelves have been made by using a similar technique to bricks and boards. In this technique, the supports are glued to the shelf bottom. Interesting shelving units can be made using glass soft drink bottles and boards or even using canning jars and boards. Another variation on this idea involves using a 1 inch dowel. Drill holes in four corners of the shelves, passing the dowel through the shelf surface. Glue and screw or nail the shelf to the dowel, placing a larger undrilled shelf across the top.
Wall Mounts and Book Cases
Many interesting wood shelves can be made using butt joints and glue. If you use butt joints, it is a good idea to reinforce the joints with a piece of molding below the shelf. Simple wall-mount shelves can be made by gluing two boards together in to a sort of 1/2 box and hanging the 1/2 box from the wall with eye hooks or cup hooks.
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