illustration by Danielle Davis

Just like a modern farmhouse, this pegboard wall shelving unit is both utilitarian and attractive. And easy to make in a weekend. Use it in an office, a utility room, a pantry, a craft room or wherever you want adjustable shelving and display.

1 CUT THE BACKER BOARD TO SIZE

The pegboard can be cut to any size desired. For extra-large installations, hang two pieces of the backer board side-by-side. For the purposes of this tutorial, use backing plywood that is ¾-inch thick, and cut to a size of 6 feet by 3 feet. (The hardware store should be able to cut it for you.)

2 DRAW A GRID

Dowels will be pushed into holes in the backer board to create supports for shelving. Decide how close or far apart the holes should be, or the spacing of the overall grid pattern. This could be anywhere from 3 inches apart to upward of 5½ inches apart. Whether the spacing looks good will depend on the overall size of the backer board. Also, if the dowels are too far apart, they will not provide enough support for the shelf resting on top.

Using a straight edge and a pencil, measure and draw vertical and horizontal lines on the backside of the board (for this tutorial, 3 inches by 3 inches apart). The intersection of the lines will be the spot to drill the hole for the dowel.

3 DRILL HOLES

Still facing the backside of the board, elevate it so it’s no longer touching a surface below. Drill small pilot holes at every junction of the grid. Flip the board over, then drill into the pilot holes with a ⅝-inch drill bit, to create a bigger hole for the dowel. Test to make sure the dowel fits early on, before completing all of the holes. Go slow, and support the plywood so as to avoid cracking while drilling.

4 SAND

Wipe away the sawdust, and sand the surface of the board until smooth.

5 MOUNT SUPPORT

Use a stud finder to mark the location of the studs on the wall, and then mount a 2×4 (cut to the proper length to fit the size of the board) horizontally to the studs. Add additional supports along the wall, depending on the size and weight of the backer board, always using studs as the base of support.

6 HANG!

Grab a friend to help hold the backer board in place, and drill the board to attach it to the supports. Cover the screw heads with wood putty, and let it dry completely, before sanding excess puffy to blend in the holes.

7 ARRANGE PEGS AND BOARDS

Using a table saw, cut ⅝-inch dowels to 6½ inches long and shelving to 6 inches deep. (Lengths can vary.) Twist the dowels into the grid holes, about two per shelf, and rest the shelf on top. For variety, paint the ends of the dowels or the shelves for a splash of color, before adding collectibles for display. (Bonus: If you get bored at a later date, you can always change up the shelf arrangement!)