Make the Most of Your Corners: Simple DIY Shelves with Basic Tools

ATC DESIGN
Jul 2, 2017
2 min read

For this project, I’m building a new desk for my son, and I wanted to make the most of the corners. I decided to add a simple DIY corner shelf design that not only saves space but also gives my son a perfect spot for books, electronics, or decorations.

Materials & Tools

For this project, I’m using materials I found in the trash container—reclaimed plywood, 1.8 cm thick.

You can make the cuts with any saw you have: a jigsaw, table saw, or even a circular saw.

Step 1: Cutting the Pieces

All the pieces are simple rectangles of the same dimensions. The only twist is that I added a gentle curve on half of the pieces to give the shelves a unique look.

To create the curve:

Mark the center of each rectangle.
Use a beam compass to trace a smooth curve on the corners.

For cutting, I used a jigsaw, but you can also use a bandsaw for more precise cuts.

Step 2: Sanding

After cutting, sand all the edges to smooth them down. This not only makes the shelves look better but also safer for little hands.

Step 3: Assembly

I added some wood glue and used corner clamps to hold everything at a perfect 90-degree angle. These clamps are inexpensive and extremely handy for projects like this.

If you want to get some, here’s a link: [link]

Having the free plan on hand is very helpful at this stage, so you can see exactly how everything fits together.