Are you looking for a fun project to add extra storage to your home?
And you’re searching for a right material that is not only cost-effective but also durable and long-lasting? Because you want to create something as unique and innovative as your home is?
If the answer to the questions above is ‘yes’, then plexiglass shelves are a fantastic choice!
Join us as we look at why this material is so great to use, as well as some ideas that will help you get creative around your home!
Why Use Plexiglass for Your DIY Shelves?
Despite having the word ‘glass’ in it, did you know that plexiglass is actually made of acrylic?
Plexiglass is excellent for DIY projects as it is:
- Shatter-resistant: It will not break, making it a great choice for any rooms of the house, particularly children’s rooms, and bathrooms
- Lightweight: You can fix it to a range of different surfaces without worrying about it pulling your wall down!
- Thermoplastic: It becomes soft when heated and hard when cooled, meaning you can bend it into a range of shapes (see below for more information about how to do this)
- Transparent: As this material is transparent, it will blend perfectly with any room colour or décor in your home
- Visually pleasing: It will not yellow in sunlight and has a brilliant shine to it. It’s perfect if you want a minimalist, contemporary look, and feel to your home!
You can also use acrylic-based paint or ink on it as well, meaning that you can let your creativity truly shine through!
How to Make Your Own Shelves
Making your own DIY shelves bespoke to you and your home is a lot easier than you may think.
All you need to do is buy a large sheet of plexiglass. You can then cut it down to size and shape it in line with your specific project of choice.
You can cut plexiglass with a power saw, hand saw, jigsaw, or scoring knife. Just have some sandpaper ready to smooth down the rough edges.
If you want to bend it into shapes, you can use a heat gun, hairdryer, or convection oven. There is a range of different glues you can use to bond this type of sheeting together, including acrylic cement and E-6000. Don’t feel confident cutting and shaping your plexiglass yourself? That’s not a problem! Why not hire a handyperson to help you, or ask a friend or family member to give you a hand?
Great Ideas For DIY Wall Shelves
Looking for some inspiration for your DIY shelf? You’ve come to the right place! Here are some great ideas to suit any room in your home.
Window shelves:
Looking to maximize the space in your kitchen or bathroom? Why not use acrylic to create a small shelf to run across the length of your window? As it is made of transparent material, it won’t stop the natural light from coming in through your window. These window shelves are perfect for plants, pots of herbs, and little trinkets!
Floating shelves:
A floating shelf is one where you can’t see the supporting brackets. They’re simple, clean, and minimalist! If you’re looking to make them out of plexiglass, make a bend in them and attach your fixings to the bend. Floating shelves are perfect for photo frames, plant pots, and family mementos!
Bookshelf:
Need to clear up some space in the kid’s bedroom or playroom? An acrylic bookshelf is the perfect choice! Just create a ‘u’ shaped shelf, and you can showcase your little one’s favorite books with easy access.
Corner shelf:
When space is at a premium, corner shelves are a fantastic way of utilizing as much space as possible. They’re an excellent choice for bathrooms, kitchens, and bedrooms. Why not have a corner shelf by your bed to hold your glasses, phone charger, and your bedtime book?
Wire suspended shelving:
This type of shelving looks absolutely stunning! Just pair plexiglass shelves with a sturdy cable to create an interior display that will be a talking point amongst your friends and family.
Display cubes:
Showcase your trinkets and souvenirs and with a quirky display cube. All you need to do is glue identically sized squares of acrylic together, and you will have a unique shelf to show off your favorite tchotchkes!
We hope that this blog post has inspired you to get creative and create some awesome shelving ideas that will be the envy of your neighbors. Remember that the only limit is your imagination! At Fab Glass and Mirror, we offer a wide range of plexiglass sheets in various thicknesses to suit lots of different DIY projects. All of our sheets come with free delivery direct to your door, meaning that you can transform your home for less!
