You'd Never Realize This Luxe-Looking Open Shelf DIY Was Made From Plumbing Materials

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Using unconventional materials to get an industrial look with a luxe feel is a great way to elevate your space beyond basic and boring while on a budget. So, if you need extra storage shelves, grab your stud finder and drill and get ready to build shelves out of common plumbing supplies for a great addition to industrial or rustic rooms. 

This is an especially good DIY project for people without many carpentry skills, as there's no cutting involved. If you can install a curtain rod, you can install this shelf. All you need are ½-inch by 6-inch steel pipes that are threaded on both ends, ½-inch pipe flanges, and ½-inch iron cap fittings combined with a pair of floating 6-inch deep shelves to create a loft-chic storage solution. 

When undertaking these projects, consider that metal pipes typically come in fixed sizes and you won't be able to cut the nipples unless you can also rethread them. In other words, you need to get the right length parts for your project. If you're planning on building these shelves in the bathroom, there's another thing to keep in mind: iron does rust. You could paint the plumbing to protect it from moisture or use similar PVC plumbing fittings and spray paint them to look like metal. (You can also reuse PVC pipe pieces to create storage for kitchen tools, so anything leftover won't go to waste.) If that won't work for you, consider this alternative DIY floating shelf project instead.

Once you have the supplies, the process is straightforward. Mark the wall with a pencil where you want to install the shelves, then anchor the flanges into a stud (or use the appropriate type of drywall wall anchor), stopping to ensure they're level. Next, screw the pipes into those flanges. Add the caps to the threaded pipe ends and place the shelves on top.

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There are easy ways to substitute materials to make this project even more affordable. For instance, instead of prefab shelves, buy unfinished boards from the lumber department and ask an employee to cut them to size. Then, finish them however you want. For example, with paint or a stain you already have around the house. If cost isn't a concern, you could use a different metal (like brass or copper) to bring a bit more shine to the industrial-luxe look.

One of the great things about this DIY project is it's easy to scale up or modify. Whether you want to create more shelves in different sizes or you simply have a different problem to solve, plumbing supplies are versatile. For instance, you could use a combination of similar parts to create a towel bar or curtain rod — though you'll need elbow fittings to curve your pipe back toward the wall. If, on the other hand, you want to build long shelves for books, you can simply buy a longer shelf and add a third support in the middle.