We built these DIY pantry shelves for our beach house, and they’ve quickly become one of our favorite projects. The approach is straightforward, budget-friendly, and easy to scale to any pantry size. You can adapt the same method to create custom shelving or storage in bedrooms, living rooms, playrooms, and more. The entire build uses just two main materials—MDF sheets and pine boards—plus screws, nails, and paint. Our total cost was under $200, so this is an achievable weekend project even for beginners.

If you want more shelving inspiration, you can explore guides that cover a wide range of projects—from heavy-duty garage shelves to decorative display shelving. The construction technique used here is one we’ve used before for built-ins in a child’s room and in our living room, and it consistently delivers a clean, finished look.

Tools & Materials Needed

• 3/4″ thick MDF panels (number depends on your plan)
• 1×2″ pine boards for face trim
• 3/4″ x 3/4″ wood boards for shelf supports (or rip 1×2s in half)
• Circular saw
• Miter saw (optional)
• Finish nail gun
• Power drill
• Tape measure
• Levels (large and small)
• Stud finder
• Crowbar or hammer
• Clamps (optional)
• Wood screws and wood glue
• Pen/pencil

MDF is economical and sands to a smooth finish, but it requires paint. Choose plywood if you prefer a stained wood appearance.

Overview: Steps to Build Pantry Shelves

Here’s a quick roadmap of the build. A more detailed explanation follows each item.

1. Plan your shelving layout and measure the space
2. Buy materials and have large cuts made at the store if helpful
3. Remove existing baseboards where shelves will sit flush to the wall
4. Attach vertical panels to walls and around any appliances
5. Add long top panels to connect vertical pieces
6. Cut and install individual shelves with support pieces
7. Finish shelf fronts with 1×2 trim
8. Caulk, spackle, prime, and paint
9. Fill and organize shelves

If you want help styling open shelves, there are guides and videos that walk through organizing and decorating shelving so it looks neat and functional.

Step 1: Plan Your Pantry Shelves

Start by measuring the room and sketching your layout. Take note of constraints like door moldings, appliances, and any outlets. For our pantry, we determined 20″ deep shelves worked well without interfering with the door trim and still allowed for the face trim we planned to attach.

Label each piece on your plan and calculate how many 4′ x 8′ MDF sheets you’ll need. Planning cuts in advance helps minimize material waste and gets you in and out of the store faster when buying supplies.

Step 2: Purchase Materials

Order the MDF and have the store’s cutting service rip panels into manageable strips if they offer that service. It’s usually quicker, more accurate, and often free. Pick up enough 1×2 pine for front trim and additional pieces you’ll rip into supports. With careful planning, our materials—including MDF, trim, screws, and glue—stayed under $200.

Step 3: Remove Baseboards

Pry off any baseboard or molding where the shelves will sit so the panels can be flush to the wall. Preserve the trim if you want to reinstall it later; try to avoid damage by easing pieces off with a pry bar or hammer and a protection board.

Step 4: Attach the Vertical Panels

Cut and position the vertical panels that define the shelving bays. Fasten the panels that align with studs directly to the wall with screws. For panels that sit next to appliances like a refrigerator, create narrow support cleats attached to studs and the floor to maintain a ventilation gap; then attach the panel to those supports.

Rip 1×2s in half for narrow cleats, or use pre-cut lumber or MDF as supports. Place the raw cut edge of pieces against the wall so visible faces stay smooth.

Step 5: Add the Top Pieces

Install the long horizontal top panels that span the vertical sections. These tie the structure together and create the top shelving surface. Use a long level to keep everything square, temporarily tack supports with a nail gun if desired, then secure with screws into studs. Pre-drill pilot holes where needed to avoid splitting the wood.

Step 6: Cut & Add the Shelves

Cut all shelf pieces and support cleats. When cutting multiple identical pieces, clamp boards together and cut them at once for consistency. Determine shelf heights by bringing in the items you plan to store—canned goods, cereal boxes, baskets—so you get practical spacing. Attach the cleat supports 3/4″ below the desired top of each shelf so the MDF shelves rest on top of them. Slide each shelf into place and fasten with short screws, nails, or adhesive.

Step 7: Finish the Shelf Fronts

Attach 1×2 face trim to the front edge of each shelf to conceal rough MDF edges, hide the cleats beneath, and visually thicken the shelf. Glue the trim and set it with a couple of finish nails so screw heads aren’t visible. Fill nail holes with spackle before painting.

Tip: If an outlet lies behind an appliance, route cords by drilling an access hole in a nearby shelf area so plugs can reach an outlet without pinching the cord.

Step 8: Caulk, Spackle, Prime & Paint

Caulk seams where shelves meet the wall, fill nail holes and gaps with spackle, then prime and paint. We had our primer tinted close to the final paint color to reduce the number of topcoats required. Alternatively, you can prime and paint pieces flat before assembly for easier coverage, though some touch-ups are usually needed after installation.

Step 9: Fill & Organize Your Shelves

Open shelving looks best when organized. Use baskets, clear containers, or jars to keep small items tidy. If you plan your shelf heights around the storage containers you already own, everything will fit neatly from day one. We added shallow cabinets and a small counter opposite the shelves for additional storage and a landing spot for items taken from the fridge.

These custom shelves allowed us to maximize storage in a small footprint—everything from pantry staples and cleaning supplies to small appliances and a beach cooler fit comfortably. If you like cookbooks, they’d work well here too.

More Resources

We used the same construction method for other built-ins in our home, including shelving in a child’s room and bookcases around a doorway. Those projects show close-up details of certain steps and how to include closed storage like drawers or cabinets within a built-in layout. If you prefer a less hands-on route, adding ready-to-assemble pantry cabinets is another way to increase storage without a full DIY build.

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Originally published January 2018. Updated 2022.