Crafts & DIY
Easy DIY Industrial Pipe Shelf Tutorial
Have a Pottery Barn look in your bathroom for a fraction of the cost.
Ashley Fike
04.04.18

Popular shows like Fixer Upper, Flip or Flop, and Property Brothers are addictive. You put on an episode, and next thing you know, you’ve watched six of them in a row! It’s easy to get lost in all of the fun home remodeling and decor ideas because they’re so inspiring. But as it turns out – even the littlest home projects can make a huge difference.

These gorgeous yet simple industrial pipe shelves aren’t just pleasing to the eye, but they’re functional, and they’re easy to make.

House of Hawthornes
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House of Hawthornes

Stop browsing through the Pottery Barn catalog, head to the hardware store, and make your own rustic meets industrial decor instead. Thanks to House of Hawthornes for this stunning project.

The following supplies will be needed to create three shelves – depending on how many shelves you want, you may need to adjust the numbers:

  • (6) 3/4″ Floor Flanges
  • (6) 3/4″ Caps
  • (6) 3/4″ x 8″ Nipples
  • (1) 1/4″ x 8 – 3.18 cm Coarse thread drywall screws
  • (1) Wood board cut to the length you need (this is where you can have fun in picking out your favorite grain!)
  • Black spray paint (hammered paint is a beautiful look for this project)
  • Measuring tape
  • Phillips head screwdriver (handheld or electric)
  • Pencil
  • Level

For a visual reference, this is what the plumbing pipes would look like at The Home Depot.

House of Hawthornes
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House of Hawthornes

(A) Coarse thread drywall screws / (B) Floor Flange / (C) Nipple / (D) Cap

House of Hawthornes
Source:
House of Hawthornes

Before starting, make sure to remove any grease or price tag stickers from your plumbing hardware.

First, screw one floor flange and one cap into each one of the nipples. These will serve as your brackets.

House of Hawthornes
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House of Hawthornes

Next, spray paint your brackets and allow them to fully dry.

House of Hawthornes
Source:
House of Hawthornes

While your brackets dry – it’s time to decide where your shelves want to be and get the area prepared.

Let’s hang those brackets!

  • If possible, try to find wall studs to hang and attach your flanges. You can also use drywall anchors if you can’t find a stud while hanging the brackets.
  • Leaving about 2.5-inch – 3-inches between the outside of the bracket and the outside end of the board gives the shelf a beautiful look.
  • Position the first bracket on the stud (or drywall anchor) and screw into place.
  • Use a pencil to mark the floor flange holes onto the wall if you want to drill pilot holes first, although, this isn’t necessary.
  • Hold your second bracket in place, place the board on top of the bracket, then use a level to measure.
  • Once the board is showing in a level position, screw the 2nd bracket into place.
  • Repeat these steps for each bracket
  • Make sure that they are spaced equally apart, per shelf. You want the shelves to be identical.
House of Hawthornes
Source:
House of Hawthornes

If you want to secure the board to the pipes, you can attach pipe straps.

Wrap the pipe strap around the pipe and screw them into the bottom of the wood shelf for extra stability.

House of Hawthornes
Source:
House of Hawthornes

Once all of the brackets are in place, it’s time to place the wooden boards on top, grab some towels, and decorate.

You’re all done! Give yourself a pat on the back and admire all of your hard work (okay, it wasn’t that hard, but don’t tell anyone).

House of Hawthornes
Source:
House of Hawthornes

Want more inspiration from ideas similar to this? Head over the House of Hawthornes blog for their favorite DIY industrial pipe projects.

Please SHARE this with your friends and family.

House of Hawthornes
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House of Hawthornes
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