Make An Affordable DIY Shelf With A Zen Japanese Aesthetic

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It's always nice to have some shelves to put up all of your favorite items, like books, trinkets, and general decorations. Unfortunately, store-bought shelves can be expensive to buy and frustrating to build, especially if you don't already have a lot of tools hanging around and you want something that looks fun and practical.

Thankfully, if you are looking for a fun and easy-to-build shelf that looks nice and holds plenty of items, there is a solution. On Instagram, @my_modern_oasis shows how, with just a few garden stones and pieces of wood, you can make a functional bookshelf. In their video, the creator uses roughly 30 stones and four wooden boards to make a tall shelf that offers plenty of space and decorative interest.

The project requires no tools and can be completed on a relatively small budget. You can use any boards that are the length you need and moderately sturdy, including repurposed pieces of old furniture and the stones, which you can get for under three dollars a piece from a garden center. However, you can potentially find people in your area getting rid of stones for an even cheaper cost. Or, if you have your own, instead of finding unique ways to repurpose old pavers in your garden, you can bring them inside. Together, the stones and rustic wood create a calm, Japanese-inspired aesthetic that serves as a subtle focal point.

This is such an easy DIY, especially if you don't have a lot of time, money, or tools. All you really need is a series of pavers and smooth wood planks. The amount and size you get are based on how tall and how far apart you want each shelf. You can also buy paint and stain to add your own little burst of color if you want to have a slightly more polished look.

This design works best when placed against a wall for added stability. Stack up a series of pavers. Stack the pavers to the desired height, then place a wood plank on top to form a shelf. Get it set evenly and repeat until it's the desired height. Not only is this a beautiful and simple design, but stones and natural home decor are coming back around, and this piece fits perfectly.

According to the creator, the shelf is not ideal for large or bulky items. It may be able to hold the weight, but if it's too big, it can unbalance the shelf and cause things to break or fall. However, if you use recycled pavers, you can do this DIY for cheap, which can be useful if you want to see how it looks before you fully commit to open shelving. Even without spending some time sourcing discounted materials, you can make a very similar shelf to the video for around $100.

The main drawback with this type of shelf is stability, which can be a concern in homes with uneven floors, pets, children, or areas that are prone to earthquakes. The creator of the original video mentions that if you want a little more stability, larger stones are the better option. A lot of movement or heavy objects can lead it to potentially fall or shift. Thankfully, there are a few ways you can add a little more structure. For one, use heavy-duty glue to hold the stones in place.

However, that only adds a little more stability. If you want fully supported shelves while still getting this look, it would be best to mount them exactly where you want them. If you go with thicker wood than is shown in the video, roughly 1¾ inch boards, you can use something like the Floating Shelf Bracket from the Neevlve Store on Amazon. This gives you sturdiness and allows you to attach it to a wall, but without as much of a worry about whether or not it will topple over and take all of your precious items with it. The stones can then be adhered to the wood to maintain the look while improving overall stability.