Many people ask where to find wood shelves to use with our metal shelf brackets. There are many options available and we’ve outlined some of the most common wood shelf sources along with some of the pros and cons for each. 

Sources for Wood Shelves:

Dimensional Lumber:

This is the most common option our home owning customers use. Dimensional lumber, also called common lumber, is found at the hardware store, such as Home Depot or Lowe’s. 

Pros: 

• Relatively inexpensive option
• Hardware stores will cut the board to the desired length for free
• Standard sizing and dimensions  (use our dimension guide)
• Additional wood species in addition to common pine
• Easy to obtain

Cons: 

• Boards require sanding & finishing
• Typically not a wide selection of wood species available
• Sizing can be confusing at first (be sure to use our common lumber sizing guide!) 

Finished Shelves:

Many sites and hardware stores offer pre-made shelves that are ready to install. These include both laminated wood, or real wood shelves or butcher block.

Pros: 

• Completely finished with no sanding or staining needed
• Available in different species and stains
• Fairly easy to obtain

Cons: 

• Often sold in irregular sizes (which can limit bracket options)
• Relatively expensive
• Limited sizes typically available

Some examples:

Rejuvenation White Oak Shelving

Live Edge Wood Shelves

Butcher Block Shelf

Salvaged, Live Edge, or Reclaimed Wood:

A more unique shelving option includes salvaged or reclaimed wood. These can be found at local salvage lumber yards, mills, or architectural salvage stores. 

Pros: 

• May be less expensive
• Creates unique and one of a kind shelving 
• Beautiful pieces of wood not found in stores

Cons: 

• Typically found in irregular sizes (which can limit bracket options)
• Some options may be especially expensive
• May require additional prep work and finishing

Custom Shelves: 

Wood shelves created to specific dimensions and design are another option for creating open shelving. This requires hiring a woodworker or carpenter to make the shelves to your specifications. 

Pros: 

• Shelves are created exactly as desired
• Provides a solution for difficult spaces
• Most carpenters can work with our brackets and may install shelves

Cons: 

• Typically very expensive
• Can be difficult to locate or hire knowledgeable woodworker
• May be long delays in shelf making process

 

Questions?

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