Store And Display Your Favorite Vinyl Records With One Stylish And Affordable DIY

A curated collection of vinyl records is a must for any music lover, but finding a good place to store them can be tricky. Since they're significantly larger than books, they'll only fit in specific cabinets. And once you've got them put away in a cabinet, they're out of sight and often out of mind. To get the most out of your vinyl collection, you'll want a storage solution that both keeps your records safe and displays them. One especially budget-friendly option is to DIY a set of small floating shelves with grooves along the base that are specifically designed for holding up vinyls. With these sorts of shelves, your favorite album covers will become a key component of your decor. Your record shelves can also complement other retro design trends that are making a comeback and serve as conversation starters whenever you have guests over.

Making a few elegant-looking record shelves might sound like a tricky process at first, but it's actually surprisingly straightforward. To get started, you'll need two 1-inch-by-3-inch boards, some wood stain, and a can of polyurethane topcoat. You'll also need wood screws, finish nails, a level, a stud finder, a table saw, and a palm sander. The end result of this project should effectively resemble a picture ledge, but without the extra lip on the outside edge. Your new shelves can suit all sorts of modern and traditional interior design aesthetics. However, they might be especially useful when styling a home with mid-century modern decor.

First, stack together the two 1-by-3 boards, and use your table saw to shorten their widths to 2 ½ inches. Once that's done, take one of the boards off, and drop the depth of your saw down to ¼ inch. On the remaining board, cut a groove for the records. The groove should be nearer to one edge of the board rather than in the middle. Next, stack your boards together once more, and cut your shelves to length. Each shelf will have two pieces: one with a groove in it, and one without. The one without the groove will be the back panel and sit flush with the wall, holding up the horizontal part of the shelf. Note that the shelves can be as short or as long as you'd like; they don't necessarily have to be the full length of your 12-inch vinyl cases.

After making all the necessary cuts, sand down the shelf components with your palm sander. Then, stain the wood. Once everything is dry, apply a couple layers of your topcoat. If you don't want to change the color of the wood, try using a wax finish on it to give it a nice sheen. Next, nail or screw together your shelf in an L-shaped structure. Finally, use your stud finder to locate your wall studs. Drill the back panels of your shelves directly into these studs, and use a level to make sure they're straight while doing so.

Part of what makes these record shelves so special is how versatile they are. You can put them in your living room, bedroom, hallway, or office. Hang up a bunch of them to create a music wall or hang just a few of them to create unique decor accent pieces. You can arrange them in rows, columns, or space them out to create a more artistic display that utilizes lots of vertical space. 

When selecting where to put your shelf, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, your vinyls shouldn't be in a location that gets lots of direct sunlight, since heat and UV light can cause the record to warp. Second, your shelves should be away from high-traffic areas in your house so that no one accidentally knocks down your vinyls when moving through your space. Finally, don't forget to dust your records regularly so that nothing builds up inside their sleeves.

To make your record shelves even more eye-catching, consider painting them different colors instead of staining them. A couple of bold acrylics should do the trick. However, make sure to apply a layer of primer to the wood before you do this. If you'd like to display your records on a larger shelf, alongside other decor pieces, steer clear of picture-ledge-style DIYs and choose the best style of floating shelf for your space instead. Although these fixtures will take up more wall space, you should still be able to cut grooves into them for holding your vinyl records.