Upcycle An Old License Plate Into A Unique Storage Shelf That Makes A Statement

Vintage-inspired and antique home décor are always a great way to bring a sense of age into your home, as well as harness the spirit of eco-friendly recycling habits that create sustainable homes. Metal license plates that are outdated, unusable, or artifacts of the past, may seem to be something of interest only to collectors or destined for the trash, but you can actually use them for very decorative and useful purposes aplenty. This cute upcycled shelving idea turns ordinary metal license plates into cute small shelves that are perfect for holding small objects and décor pieces, like votive candles, on a wall. Even better, you can create these simple shelves with just a plate and a mallet to help bend them.

If you don't have your own plates around to turn into shelves, great secondhand sources for older plates include antique stores, salvage shops, and junk yards. This DIY is also a great use for novelty license plates with fun sayings you want to incorporate into your décor. or other kinds of metal or aluminum signage that can be bent similarly.

To create a license plate shelf, bend the plate with the help of a mallet, creating an L-shaped shelf. You can also create a small ledge on the front that will keep things from sliding off. Or bend license plates horizontally for a slender shelf. To hang, install hanging hardware or a wire on the back, or just fasten a screw or thick finishing nail directly through the plate and into the wall behind it.

While these mini shelves are the simplest design using old plates, you can also, with a little more hardware and supplies, create other variations, including horizontal shelves that require no bending. Just add small L-brackets underneath the plate, attaching it to the wall. For other cute DIY's that involve similar bending of old license plates, make rustic organizers for mail and file folders or use folded license plates as brackets for creating wooden shelves. These innovative upcycled pieces are perfect for a cozy man cave, boy's room, or any space in need of a little industrial and vintage charm.