DIY Farmhouse Basket Shelves – Easy to install!

Step-by-step Guide to Installing Basket Shelves

I am constantly changing decor and improving storage in our “new” house. This week it was adding basket shelves to our guest bathroom (which is also my son’s bathroom) to store towels and wash cloths. 

There are a lot of tutorials out there on how to hang these basket shelves. Most methods will work but since my young son will be getting towels out of these baskets I wanted to ensure that he can not pull them out of the walls. 

I also wanted the ability to put heavy bathroom items in the basket shelves down the road like soaps and lotions. 

Ultimately I combined about 3 different methods I found on Pinterest. And it is solid. These shelves aren’t going anywhere!

ITEMS YOU WILL NEED TO MAKE BASKET SHELVES:

*Pictured above is exactly what I purchased from Home Depot*

• Wicker storage baskets – make sure you get baskets that have straight sides!  (these are perfect if you want to hide what is stored in the basket shelves! If you need a divided shelf for smaller items this is a very cute option.)  TIP:  I got mine at Hobby Lobby for super cheap at a 50% off sale on table top items. If they are not on sale at your Hobby Lobby right now just wait a week or 2 and they will be! 
• Plastic anchors (I used Everbilt #10-12 x 1-1/4 inch) 
• #10 1-1/2 inch screws (if you use 1-1/4 inch anchors) 
• #10 nuts and bolts 
• 2 inch L brackets
• #10 washers 
• hammer
• Philips screwdriver

HOW TO MAKE DIY BASKET SHELVES:

First thing is to obviously go to a hardware store and pick up supplies. I got everything in the size #10 and it worked beautifully.

Next step is to install the L brackets. You want to place them near the outer edge of the basket but not too close to the edge. Leave about 1.5-2″ of space (depending on how large your basket is). 

Push the screws (that will be attached to the nuts) through the L bracket holes and basket. Go ahead and attach the nuts (using washers as well – see picture below) to hold them in place. 

 Using your screwdriver,hold the nut and tighten the screws (very tight so the L bracket will not move). 

As you can see from this picture my bolts are WAY too long. But since they are on the bottom of the basket they will be easy to replace in the future. I’m not too worried about it right now since the towels will hide them. 

The baskets are now ready to hang! You will need to use your 1-1/4″ plastic anchors, washers and 1-1/2″ screws. 4 of each per basket. 2 of them will secure the top of the basket and the other 2 will secure the base through the end hole of the L bracket. 

I used a screw to poke holes in all 4 spots. Make sure you go through the end holes in the L brackets for the lower two anchors. 

Hold the basket up in the spot you want to hang it (using a level) and then firmly press a screw through each hole to mark the wall. There is no need to drill holes. Just hammer your screwdriver through the marks you made – it will make a perfect size hole. And then gently tap in your plastic anchors. 

Push your 4 screws (with washers on each one) through the holes (making sure you go through the holes in the L brackets) and install them in the anchors. Repeat for each basket. 

VOILA!! You now have a very strong and beautiful set of shelves!