Take control of your clutter in a garage or basement by adding basic utility shelves, and store all your stuff in orderly fashion. We like using Simpson Strong-Tie metal connectors with sheets of plywood to make sturdy utility shelves. They won’t win a beauty contest, but they’re a practical solution to getting organized.
Most of the work involves cutting 2-by-4 lumber into the legs and rails and then cutting the plywood for shelves. Then sand all the pieces. Lay out the shelf connectors, creating a rigid shelf so there’s no need for diagonal bracing. Make your cuts square and accurate. Assemble the pieces by attaching the legs, rails and shelves. For extra stability, fasten the unit to the wall. Go to http://www.strongtie.com/homeowners/projects for more details and instructions.
