How to create airing cupboard shelving
TOOLS
MATERIALS
- Wood screws (4 X 30mm)
- 4 X self drill metal fixers
- 2 X double ball catches
- Mitre adhesive
- 5 X light dowel moulding (25 X 25 X 2400mm)
- 1 X whitewood PSE timber (18 X 144 X 1800mm)
- Whitewood PSE timber (44 X 44 X 1800mm) of an offcut spacer
SAFETY
Planning & preparation
- We are going to show you how to construct airing cupboard shelving step by step.
- Primarily used to house hot water tanks and even combi boilers, airing cupboards are often an underutilised storage space. If you’re short on storage or without a utility room, an airing cupboard with fully flexible and custom shelving is ideal. Air duvets, store boxes and hang your linen, washing and towels to warm through, out of sight.
- Our step by step instructions have been designed as a guideline to make one large airing cupboard shelf. This bracket system is designed to hold wooden dowels that you can easily reconfigure if you need to hang a bulky duvet or support a heavy storage box.
- We used Whitewood PSE and light hardwood dowel for this build, but you can experiment with other structural materials and finishes for different looks.
- The materials for this project will cost £75 and take a DIYer with moderate skill approximately 3 hours to complete.
Doing it right
- We made our shelving to hold ten dowel rails, but this project is entirely custom to your spaces and can easily be adjusted for your requirements. Use the same principles to create deeper or half-depth slatted shelving.
- If your airing cupboard still has a hot water tank or combi boiler in, it’s vital that your shelving doesn’t prevent access for servicing. Safe ventilation and good airflow between your hot water tank or boiler and storage area is also vital. You should allow for good clearance to ensure air circulation is efficient. We recommend seeking professional advice to ensure that your spaces meet UK regulations.
- We used a custom spacer in this project for fast and accurate spacing, however, you can also use a tape measure to mark out measurements in the same way.
- Consider the tolerance, runout and alignment of your power saw blades when making cuts. Depending on the tolerance of your tools, you may find that dimensions are adjusted by approximately 3mm. We recommend marking the brackets after cutting them in half, to indicate which is slightly larger and will comfortably hold the dowel.
- As we worked on one long length of timber making multiple markings, we recommend using a pencil to mark through zones as a visual guide. Crosshatching an area that you shouldn’t work in, or circling drilling holes where lines intersect can be especially helpful.
- A chop saw or circular saw will ensure that your timber is cut accurately with precision speed. If you don’t have access to power tools, this project can also be completed with a universal saw. Ensure your timber is securely clamped, then slowly cut along your scored line with a clean and sharp saw blade.
- Watch our top tip videos for our Wickes DIY skills, tips and advice.
Staying safe
- As you will be securing the brackets to the walls of your airing cupboard, it’s vitally important that you check the walls for wires, cables and pipes. Use a digital detector to track and mark placements before you make any holes or attempt fixings.
- Inspect the cables and blades of your power tools before they are plugged in to ensure they are in good condition. If any of the elements need to be replaced, make sure this is done before construction begins.
- For safety, we recommend wearing protective goggles, a dust mask and heavy-duty gloves when using a chop saw or drill.
- Always ensure that your construction area is well lit and ventilated.