How to Build a Shelf Around the Room

Use a stud finder to locate the studs in the walls because you will attach the cleats to the studs. Mark the location of the studs on the walls.

Measuring down from the ceiling, mark the studs at the height where you want to install the shelving. Connect the marks by holding a level against the wall and drawing a line on each wall.

Measure the length of each wall to determine how many shelves you need to install. You'll use 18-inch wide hollow-core doors for the shelving.

Saw the hollow-core doors in half lengthwise with a circular saw. Use a 40-tooth carbide blade in the saw. If you need to shorten any of the doors to fit on the wall, glue a filler block to the inner edge of the end that you cut off with carpenter's glue.

Finish the surface of the doors by coating them with primer and then painting or staining them. Allow the doors to dry.

Measure the length of the inside edges of the doors and cut 2-by-4 boards to fit inside the doors. The 2-by-4s will be used as the shelf cleats.

Place the cleat against the wall with an assistant's help. Position the top edge of the cleat against the line on the wall that you drew to indicate the height of the shelf.

Drill pilot holes through the cleat and into the studs with an eighth-inch drill bit.

Attach the cleat to the wall with lag screws, using a drill or adjustable wrench. Install the rest of the cleats onto the walls.

Scrape away the cardboard inside the doors with a wood chisel, removing about 1 1/2 inches of the cardboard.

Place the first shelf over the first cleat to check the fit. Sand down the back edge of the shelf if needed.

Run a bead of carpenter's glue on top of the cleat and on the bottom inside edge of the shelf.

Place the shelf onto the cleat and then place a framing square on top of the shelf. Lift the shelf up against the framing square and drive a 1-inch brad nail through the shelf and into the cleat, using one brad every 8 inches. The framing square allows you to install the shelf at a 90-degree angle.

Install the other shelves onto the cleats.

Nail molding to the front edge of the shelves to hide the seams between the different shelves with 2d finishing nails.