DIY Hanging Storage Shelves With Sliding Doors - Overhead Garage Storage

These overhead hanging storage shelves hide the mess with sliding doors! These are easy to make, require minimal tools, and are made with material that you can get from any big box store.

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Supplies

Materials:

10 - 2 x 4 x 8 boards
2 - 2 x 6 x 8 boards
1 - 4 x 8 sheet of 3/4" plywood
1 - 4 x 8 sheet of 1/4" plywood

List of tools used in this build:

Makita Track Saw: https://amzn.to/35pw8o4

Bosch Drill and Driver: https://amzn.to/3d5tBSs

Delta Table Saw: https://amzn.to/3fagBNz

Bessey Clamps: https://amzn.to/2Ysm0cQ

Forstner Bit Set: https://amzn.to/2tQ0WzL

Dewalt Planer: https://amzn.to/2s0DkYm

Delta Miter Saw: https://amzn.to/2N24Psw

Canon T6i DSLR: https://amzn.to/2EgiiHx

Rode VideoMic Microphone: https://amzn.to/2ZY0hve

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3 Zoom Lens: https://amzn.to/2H1HaWw

Step 1: Cut Boards to Width on Table Saw

First, over at the table saw, I cut 1/2" off the width of two 2x4's

Step 2: Cut Dados on Two Boards for Sliding Doors

Next, I lowered my blade to 1/2" and set my table saw fence to 1/4" from the blade. I cut a dado down one edge of two 2x4's then placed the opposite face against the fence and cut a second dado. Before moving the fence, I cut dados in a scrap 2x4 to use as a test piece. Then I made slight adjustments with my fence until I was cutting a dado on the scrap piece that was wide enough to loosely fit the 1/4" plywood that for the doors. With the fence set, I then widened the dados on both 2x4's in one pass. You may have to clean up the dados with a chisel or flat head screw driver.

Step 3: Measure and Mark for Shelf - Attach First Board to Wall

Next I measured and marked where I wanted the bottom of my self to be. This measurement should be from the ceiling and could vary depending on the area that you are putting the shelf. My shelves were 29" from ceiling to bottom of the shelf to allow for my garage door to clear as it opened. I made marks on the walls and attached one of the boards that I previously narrowed by 1/2" at the table saw. I used 3" screws and insured that I was screwing into either studs or the header above the door.

Step 4: Measure, Mark and Attach Board to the Ceiling

Next, I measured the distance from the end of the 2x4 attached to the wall and the adjacent wall. I then made a mark on the ceiling at this same distance from the same adjacent wall. I then made marks at 3' from the wall and marks all studs. I then aligned and attached a 2x4 to the ceiling using 3" screws.

Step 5: Cut Vertical Stretchers and Attach to Ends

Next, I cut four 2x4's 29" for vertical supports. If your are making these shelves for yourself, the length of these supports will be the same measurement as you decided your selves should be from the ceiling to the bottom of the shelf. I secured a support with 3" screws to each end of the board that is attached to the ceiling.

Step 6: Attach Top and Bottom Boards With Dados

Then, I attached one of the boards with the dados flush with the bottom of these to supports and with the dados facing upward. Next, I attached the second board with dados to the top of the stretchers with the dados pointing downward. After securing one side I measured the distance from dado board to dado board and insured that the opposite end was equally spaced before attaching it. This will ensure that the sliding doors will slide equally and easily across the entire shelf.

Step 7: Attach Middle Stretchers

I then attached two equally spaced vertical supports, making sure that they were square to the boards with the dados.

Step 8: Attach Inside Cleat for Floor

Next, I attached the second board, that was previously narrowed by 1/2" at the table saw, to the bottom dado board. I attached the board so that the 1/2" difference was at the top and the two boards were flush at the bottom. Once installed, the 1/2" plywood floor will rest on this board and be flush with the dado board.

Step 9: Measure, Cut and Attach Floor Supports

I then measured the distance between the two inside boards and over at the miter saw I cut four 2x4's at this measurement. I cut 1/2" off the width of two of these boards and drilled pocket holes in both ends of all four. I attached the two narrower boards flush with the ends and the other two I attached equally spaced and flat with the pocket holes on the top side so that the floor will cover the holes once its installed.

Step 10: Cut and Attach Floor

Using my miter say I cut the 1/2" plywood to width for the floor, slide it into place, and secured it with screws. The floor should rest up against the wall on one side and flush with the dado board on the other.

Step 11: Cut and Install Sliding Doors

I then measured from dado board to dado board and added 3/4" for the width of my doors. For the length I measured the area between the vertical supports and added a few inches to each one to overlap behind the supports. Using the miter saw I cut the doors to width and length from 1/4" plywood. After all three doors were cut, I stacked them together and drill finger holes on each end. The holes were approximately 3" from the end and center of the door. I chose to drill one on each end of the door so that they would look uniform and could be slide in either direction when opening or closing.

Now you can slide your doors in place with the two outside doors in the outside dados and the middle door in the inside dados.

Step 12: Frame Ends

I measured and cut a 2x4 to fit between the ceiling board and the wall. This will be using to attach the framing to and can be attached with either pocket hole screws or screwed directly to the ceiling depending on where the studs are. I then cut and nailed 2x4's to the sides and top for framing. For the bottom board I used a 2x6 cut down to stand proud of the floor about 1/2" so that the 1/4" plywood panel will have a lip to sit against. Once these were in place I measured and cut the 1/4" panel and attached it from the inside with nails. I did this for both ends.

Step 13: Attach Trim and Finish

Lastly, I cut 2x6's for the top and 2x4's for the bottom to add between the vertical supports from trim. With these in place the shelves were done and ready to be filled up!

For more details you can watch the full build video here: