Need more garage workshop storage? Utilize the walls by building reclaimed wood garage shelving for tools that are easy to customize and free to build!

I doubt I will ever hear, “I have too much garage shelving!”

Personally, even if floor space is sparse, I get rather excited when more garage storage shelves are needed, because it gives me an opportunity to haul out the reclaimed wood and custom-build exactly what I’d like to have once again!

I’m no stranger to building free, custom DIY shelves. You can find 34+ shelving ideas HERE to scroll and find the best garage shelving (or for anything!) for your space, including a floor to ceiling installation.

THESE adjustable shelves are one of my favs!

So thanks to a new workshop revamp shared in Part 1 HERE, I’m at it once again!

This new miter saw bench area required a more condensed version of a shelving system to store power tools.

No problem! In fact, I’m looking forward to the new challenge!

So let’s build some cool new garage shelves that are unique, customizable to any size desired, and best of all, free!

And by golly, this kinda storage system will look cute too!

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Parking in a Garage Workshop Series

1 – The Plan and the Clean Up

2 – Easy and Free DIY Garage Shelving for tools (you are here)

3 – Painting aluminum ladders with storage wall

4 – The finished garage workshop tour

Read all installments HERE

Visit these pallet-styled garage shelves HERE

The shelf I wished to copy

In the original workshop, these pallet-styled tool workshop garage shelves were built for tool storage. In this case, the shelves sat on top of the work table, which was a great additional weight capacity support!

But as luck would have it, this shelving plan mounts easily to the wall, which was needed this round.

So this shelf was reinstalled higher up to create a car care station! (shown at the end of this post)

Since this shelf would be used again, I desired to make a more compact version to match, to store power tools. And of course, I added a few unique twists as well!

So no expensive shelf brackets nor heavy metal shelving required this round.

All you’ll need to build some handy shelves is some free reclaimed wood and a little bit of your time, to make some pretty and productive free garage shelving in any size you wish!

Easy and free DIY garage shelving

Supplies you’ll need:

reclaimed wood lumber for the frame and shelves

orbital sander

miter saw (LOVE my Bosch)

cordless drill and screws (no brackets required unless you change the shelf plans)

measuring tape

pencil

a small box crate (or build it yourself)

clear screw storage bins of some sort

Prepping the support posts

1. Cut and lightly sand four somewhat heavy duty durable support planks to the desired height of your workshop shelves.

These boards measure: 4″ wide / 42.5″ high / .75″ thick

Make sign boards with these stencils

Preparing the shelves

2. Cut reclaimed wood planks to be used for the shelves to the desired width of your workshop shelves, then lightly sand.

These boards measure: 6″ deep / 32″ long / 1″ thick.

When choosing boards for shelves, the planks should be all the same depth (front to back) for a good fitting shelving unit.

For a unique scrappy look, I chose random planks that I had previously built previous projects out of, including a Christmas tree crate skirt!

Assembling the shelving structure

3. Stand the top and bottom shelves on their thin ends, then attach the left and right side support boards to the shelf boards with screws.

Because reclaimed wood can be very dry, I like to pre-drill pilot holes before inserting screws to avoid wood splitting.

My fav cordless drill is THIS ONE!

4. Dry-fit the rest of the desired shelves into place, then attach the shelf ends to the left and side support boards.

Note: the picture above is from THIS shelving unit’s tutorial, which involves all the same steps

5. Flip the unit over, then attach the last two side supports, ensuring the shelves are sitting perfectly straight.

I used a carpenter’s square for guidance.

Creating small storage bins

6. Gather or build a small crate to fit whatever screw bins you plan to use.

7. Attach the crate to the bottom of one shelf, then insert screw organizers inside the crate.

These clear storage bins provide smaller sized storage space for screws or smaller items such as hooks, nails, clutter, rust junk, etc.

The assembled garage shelving

These garage shelving instructions could be classified as a freestanding unit shelf, if safely attached to a wall.

However this shelving will be attached to the wall completely this round, with complete ease thanks to the wider side supports.

Overall size of shelf: 42.5″ high / 8.5″ deep / 33″ wide

Shelf details

When mounting the shelves, if your boards have random signs on them like mine, keep in mind what graphics you’d like to show where once the unit is installed.

For example, for a fun customized look, the top shelf board was flipped facing down so the sign could be seen.

The shelf is basic in design, very durable because of the thickness of the wood, and is easy to install to a wall thanks to the wider side supports.

So let’s get it up and stocked! With one other custom change…

Installing the shelf

Since the miter saw table is designed to pull forward to saw longer pieces of wood, the wall shelf needed to be installed completely on the wall, rather than sitting on the table.

How to install:

Place the shelf on the work table, then a thick board underneath, to indicate the space desired between the shelf and table.
Mark where wall studs are. If they don’t work with your hanging location, use wall anchors or attach a horizontal board to the wall attached two two studs. Paint it the same as the wall so it disappears.
Screw the shelf side supports to the wall, using studs, wall anchors or onto the horizontal board. Use a level before attaching in case your garage has uneven flooring.

Tip: If I know a certain shelf is lightweight enough, I sometimes install it direct to the wall without any added support. Just know, there is risk the shelf could fall.

Adding decorative black board trim:

After the shelf was built, I decided to have this shelf mimic the original larger shelf since both would be hung in the garage.

So the black planks were simply cut to length, then screwed to the white side support boards. Done! All new look!

In hindsight, I could have just used black boards only from the get go. But I thought at the time I wanted the shelves white. Then I changed my mind. And now they can be white anytime I wish… so there’s that!

Adding hooks:

Random screws were added to act as hooks to hang various workshop supplies such as masking tape, a tin of pencils, scissors, and two antique drain covers that house sanding paper and rags.

What a perfect fit!

Build a car care station shelf

And here’s the larger garage shelving mounted on the wall, higher up! (because there’s a folding table collapsed under it…. great space saver idea!)

It’s now a perfect little car care station with an easy way to grab car soap, car wax or vehicle oil, thanks to it being located near the garage doors!

Along with a few car related antiques like a red vintage gas can, and antique oil funnels to decorate the higher shelves not as easily accessed. But avail when needed!

By the way, my smart brother recommends THIS car cleaner wax as it cleans as well as waxes if you don’t keep up with the waxing. I think I should do a post on car care products sometime too!

View how the random wall pieces were put together HERE

And to the right of the garage shelving are random boards attached to the wall with hooks, to hang all kinds of brushes, bungee cords, and a big antique oil funnel for garbage bags or outdoor gloves.

But goodness, it’s hard not to show both entire walls! However more will be shared in Part 3, where I revamp and hang something most everyone has… but I’d bet you never thought of doing this to it to make it really sing!