If your home features a deep closet or cabinet, you understand the challenge of accessing items stored at the back. Whether you’re aiming to declutter or enhance storage in a compact home, it’s crucial not to squander valuable space. Fortunately, rotating shelves or cabinets can significantly boost storage capacity. Even better, there’s a DIY solution that involves constructing a rotating shelf system, allowing you to easily store anything you need and tailor the internal organization system to suit any room in your home.
For this DIY project, you’ll need several items. Before starting, determine the size of the unit you intend to build. Larger units will require more wood for both the cabinet walls and the rotating dividing wall.
You will need enough ¾-inch thick plywood to create the cabinet itself and the rotating internal wall, as well as additional wood pieces for crafting small shelves to enhance organization within the unit. Additionally, you’ll need a drawer slide rated for the weight you plan to store, two aluminum swing arms, pins for a pivot point, wood glue, a nail gun, nails, and screws. You might also consider items like handles for easier shelf rotation and tools for customizing your organization system, such as boxes or labels.
How to build a DIY rotating shelf
Begin by assembling the outer walls of the unit. Measure your wood and use wood glue and screws to join the pieces together, forming the beginnings of a box with three walls and a base. The top will be added later. Next, construct a frame for the bottom drawer slide by connecting two smaller pieces of wood with aligned threaded inserts on either side of a slightly wider flat piece using wood glue and a nail gun.
Insert a pin in the center of the wider flat piece to serve as a pivot point, then attach the drawer slide on top of the pin. This process is nearly repeated for the top drawer slide, requiring a pivot pin and drawer slide, but without the need for two side-fastened pieces.
Attach a small wooden piece to the top of the box using two screws, leaving enough space between them for another threaded insert. Use this insert to connect an aluminum swing arm.
Then, attach your top drawer slide to the top piece of the box and connect the bottom drawer slide to the base. Carefully position your rotating wall piece on the pivot pin of the bottom drawer slide. Align the top piece pivot point and use screws to secure the top of the box to the three walls. Complete the connection of the swing arms and slides, and you’re done!
How to effectively use your rotating shelf
The interior of the rotating shelf system is crucial, and you’ll want to find an organization method that transforms the way you declutter. Ensuring each item has a designated storage spot is an effective strategy to keep your home organized.
Consider the items you’ll store and build shelves accordingly. In a closet, for instance, ensure slots accommodate your shoe size and provide enough space for accessories. Add hooks for belts, scarves, or jewelry. In a pantry, build to fit food boxes or bottles, and in the kitchen or bathroom, add a liner to protect shelves from spills or water damage.
Once completed, place the unit on the ground, another surface, or mount it on the wall. You can leave the project as is, but this rotating shelf system can be a stylish upgrade to any room if you incorporate paint and stain color combinations that complement your home. Adding a set of doors to the front enhances the look. Choose quality handles for an elegant appearance, or for a simpler solution, install a curtain rod and a curtain that complements your space.
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