DIY Industrial Shelves to Build

Industrial shelves fit in a variety of spaces from rustic farmhouses to modern studio lofts. They are usually built out of wood and pipes, but several building materials will work. By making them yourself, you're able to customize them to your space and get precisely the look you want.

These DIY industrial shelf ideas are suitable for multiple applications and will be durable enough to withstand heavy wear and tear. Sort through all the inspiration photos and pick a design that will work for your home.

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Use Plumbing Fixtures for Shelf Brackets

Cherished Bliss

Joanna Gaines made this style of industrial shelf popular on her hit show Fixer Upper. Now, there are various tutorials that will show you how to achieve these simple pipe shelves. This example from Cherished Bliss is easy to follow and provides ideal dimensions for bathroom shelving. One tip to remember is that once you have your measurements, most home improvement stores will cut and thread the pipe for you.

How to Build DIY Industrial Shelves from Cherished Bliss
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Hang Floating Rectangular Shelves

Ohoh Deco

Not all shelves need large metal accents to be considered industrial. These nearly-floating shelves from Ohoh Deco have very small metal braces on the inner corners of the rectangle that speak to the industrial trend. Also, your wood color matters here. Stain the wood a dark, rich tone for a more moody, rustic appearance.

Easy DIY Shelves from Ohoh Deco
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Put Industrial Shelves in a Corner

The Navage Patch

Homes that are short on space would benefit from some corner shelves like the ones you see here from The Navage Patch. The industrial shelves might not add much in the way of storage, but they will give you a spot to store your favorite decor pieces.

DIY Pipe Shelves from The Navage Patch
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Add Industrial Touches to Floating Shelves

Vintage Revivals

If you look closely, you'll see that these floating industrial shelves from Vintage Revivals have the smallest industrial touch on the corners. The overall look is seamless and doesn't look as bulky as some shelving units. Check out her tutorial to find out how to build something similar.

DIY Industrial Modern Floating Shelves from Vintage Revivals

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Make Shelves Completely Out of Metal

Simply Designing

These hanging shelves repurpose multiple metal building supplies to create a series of narrow shelves that are perfect for displaying knick-knacks. To soften the look, consider displaying more feminine items on the shelves like flowers and pastel-colored dishware.

How to Make Industrial Metal Shelves from Simply Designing
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Build an Industrial Shelving Unit

Love Create Celebrate

Freestanding industrial shelves are perfect if you have some heavier items you need to store, like books or lamps. These shelves can take the place of console tables or bookshelves while maintaining a narrower footprint. If you have extra floor space, consider building this shelving unit from Love Create Celebrate.

Rustic Industrial Shelves from Love Create Celebrate
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Pick Out Modern Black Brackets

White Picket Farmhouse

The right bracket selection is key when trying to achieve an industrial look. These brackets are modern in design, but the matte black finish makes them look more industrial. The choice of natural wood shelving also enhances the industrial feel.

Industrial Shelving in the Bathroom from White Picket Farmhouse
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Wrap the Plumbing Around the Shelves

Taryn Whiteaker

Some industrial shelves use plumbing fixtures as a bracket below the shelf. This tutorial opts to wrap the pipe around the shelf for added support. If you want to attempt this project, make sure you read the tutorial thoroughly to learn how to properly brace the unit to the wall. The final product will be heavy and could dislodge if it isn't installed correctly.

Industrial Piping Shelves from Taryn Whiteaker

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Feed the Pipe Through the Shelves

DIY Candy

These shelves look especially custom and well-built. For added interest, the plumbing fixtures are fed directly through the wood shelving instead of resting below the shelf or wrapping around it. To find out how to create a similar shelving plan, check out the tutorial on DIY Candy.

DIY Industrial Pipe Shelving from DIY Candy
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Take Out the Bulky Elements

Unoriginal Mom

To give this industrial shelving unit a lighter feel, Unoriginal Mom decided to use thinner wood shelves that were stained in a lighter color. If you want to make an area appear larger and the unit less heavy, use those tricks and space out the plumbing brackets as far apart as possible.

DIY Fixer Upper Pipe Shelving Tutorial from Unoriginal Mom
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Store Your Book Collection on a Wall Unit

Gray House Studio

If you want to add an industrial-inspired library to your home, follow this tutorial from Gray House Studio and dedicate an entire wall to pipe shelving. For the greatest impact, bring the shelving unit as close to the ceiling as possible and anchor the unit to the floor.

DIY Industrial Shelves from Gray House Studio
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Use the Entire Length of the Wall for Shelves

H20 Bungalow

Make use of that blank wall with some custom shelves. If you want your shelving unit to look built-in, span the shelves across the entire wall. Check out this tutorial from H2O Bungalow for more insight on how far apart the brackets should be placed and how many brackets you'll need per shelf.

DIY Industrial Shelving from H2O Bungalow

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Replace a Book Shelf with a Shelving Unit

Table and Hearth

Not every shelving unit needs to take up a ton of room. This example from Table and Hearth uses pipe shelving to replace a standalone bookshelf. Since this unit is anchored to the wall, it's safer for children and pets than a tall bookshelf that isn't braced to anything.

DIY Industrial Pipe Shelves from Table and Hearth
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Hide TV Cords Inside Pipes

Uncookie Cutter

This shelving unit is more for decoration than it is for storing items. Its main purpose is to conceal the television cables inside the pipe, which is ingenious considering how unsightly it is to have cords dangling everywhere. To make something similar, check out how Uncookie Cutter constructed her unit.

DIY Faux Industrial Shelves from Uncookie Cutter
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Build Graduated Industrial Shelves

My Repurposed Life

This standalone industrial shelving unit from My Repurposed Life looks like it came out of a designer showroom. Add a similar touch to your industrial shelves by decreasing the size of each shelf as you add a layer.

DIY Industrial Shelf from My Repurposed Life