Storage & Shelving

Drop-Zone Shelf

Corral the clutter the moment you walk in the door with this drop-zone shelf.

Difficulty: Easy
Time: 2–3.8 hours
Cost: $$

About this build

Corral the clutter the moment you walk in the door with this drop-zone shelf. It’s the perfect place to hang your keys, set your mail, and maybe even place your pocket change. You can build one in no time using just two boards, some pocket-hole screws, cup hooks, and paint.

Tools

Essential

Circular Saw
Drill / Driver
Jigsaw
Pocket Hole Jig
Random Orbit Sander

Optional / nice to have

Bar / Pipe Clamps

Materials

Item	Qty
Board, 1x10 24"	1 board
Board, 1x6 24"	1 board
1 1/4" coarse-thread pocket-hole screws	4 each
7/8" nickel-plated cup hooks	4 each
Sawtooth picture hangers	2 each
Spray primer	1 each
Gold spray paint	1 each
White spray paint	1 each

Overall cost: $$. Lumber prices vary by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure we would only be pretending to know.

Cut list

Part	Qty	T × W × L
Back	1	1" × 10" × 23"
Shelf	1	1" × 6" × 23"

What to buy

Buy 2 boards at 8 ft.

1" × 10"

1 board

1" × 6"

1 board

Assumes 8 ft stock, a 1/8" saw kerf, and buying each part at its own width. Change the board size or kerf on the full board plan →

Start building →

Instructions

1Cut the Parts
Cut one Back to length from a 1x10 and one shelf to length from 1x6, as shown in the cutting diagram.
2Shape the Back
Using a compass, lay out a 2 1/2" radius on two corners of the Back, and cut arcs using a jigsaw.
Tip: Sand to Perfect the Shape When cutting with a jigsaw, don’t try to cut exactly on the line. Cut just outside the line—on the “waste” side—and then sand to get the exact shape. You’ll get better, smoother results.
3Wrap Up the Shelf
Lay out a 2 1/2" radius on one corner of the Shelf, and cut the arc using a jigsaw. Then, with your pocket-hole jig, set up for 3/4" material and drill four pocket holes along the back edge of the shelf.
4Attach the Shelf
Mark the location on the Shelf on the Back and secure it with four 1 1/4" coarse-thread pocket-hole screws.
5Paint on a Pattern
After a final sanding, paint or finish the shelf. To create the pattern shown here, first paint the entire shelf assembly white. Once that coat dries, measure over from the square end of the Back, and then draw a line (at approximately a 55° angle). Mask along the line, and then paint on the gold color.
6Hang the Hooks
- Add 1" cup hooks below the shelf for hanging keys, etc.
- Measure to get the spacing even.
- Then drill pilot holes to fit the threaded ends of your hooks, and screw in the hooks.