DIY Farmhouse Peg Shelf

I knew I wanted to start a DIY peg shelf project for my laundry room for a while. What I had just wasn’t functional and I was totally prepared to start a full blown, from scratch, DIY Peg Shelf project.

*This post contains affiliate links. That means that if you make a purchase after clicking on a link, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Luckily, this lazy DIYer stumbled across this precious piece at Round Top so I only had to do half of the work. I love Round Top and easy DIY projects so it was a win/win for me!

*This post contains affiliate links. That means that if you make a purchase after clicking on a link, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Here is a list of the materials I used for this DIY peg shelf:

1. ½ inch dowel rod
2. Small level
3. Metal ruler and/or measuring tape (I used both but you could just use measuring tape if you didn’t have a ruler and be just fine)
4. Wood glue
5. Frog tape
6. Wood Screws
7. Wood filler
8. 120 grit sandpaper
9. Gator finishing micro tool (this is optional but it made the sanding those small, in between spaces super easy)
10. ½ inch forstner drill bit
11. Cordless drill
12. Rubber mallet
13. Tack cloth
14. Small angled brush
15. Latex primer & paint (I used Valspar Oyster Bar)
16. Stud finder ( I did not have one but I could have totally used it. We found the studs the old fashion way, by knocking on the wall 😜)

Step 1: Measure

The first thing I needed to do was determine the placement of the pegs. To do this I laid out the shelf, measured the full length and then marked the center point with a pencil. From there, you can either draw a line down the length of the rail or you could use tape to mark it, which is what I did. The spacing of your pegs is really up to you and what you’re using it for. You will need to make sure that they are spaced evenly and the length from the last peg and the edge are the same on both ends. For example, I spaced each of my pegs 4 ½ inches apart with the last pegs 3 inches from each end.  

Step 2: Drill & Cut

The measuring was probably the hardest part of this whole project. Once that was done, I used a cordless drill with the ½ inch Forstner drill bit to bore the holes for each peg. I drilled all the way through my rail but you could also use a backing to make sure they were the same depth. 

Next I used the miter saw to cut the individual pegs. I set up a jig to ensure that all the pegs were the same length and to speed up the process a little. They all measured 3 inches long. This length could be longer, if desired, depending on the depth of your shelf. My shelf only stuck out 3 inches so it would have looked odd if the pegs were sticking out further. 

Step 3: Paint & Glue

I lightly sanded the rail with 120 grit sandpaper to ensure the paint would go on smooth. Once I finished sanding, I wiped it down with my tack cloth to remove any dust and some of the wood chips from drilling. I painted the first coat before putting the pegs in. I really don’t know why. There is absolutely no logical reason for this but it all worked out so….let’s blame it on my mom brain and move on. 

Once the first coat dried, I added a little wood glue to the inside edges of each hole. Then I used a rubber mallet to hammer in each peg until it was flush with the back of my shelf. Make sure to wipe off any excess glue that comes up around the edges of the peg with a cloth and then let dry completely. If you notice any dried glue around the edges, you can quickly sand it using the gator micro tool and wipe away the dust before starting your second coat.

I painted a total of 3 coats of paint. I used Valspar’s Oyster bar and I love it. It looks great in my laundry room with my color scheme. My walls are Sherwin Williams’ Alabaster and I didn’t want the shelf to completely blend into the wall. Oyster bar is the perfect, subtle contrast I was looking for.

Step 4: Hanging the Peg Shelf

Start by measuring the wall and finding the center point and then match the center point of your shelf with the center point of the wall. Next, you will need to find the studs in the wall either using a stud finder or the knocking method (this works about 85% of the time and didn’t fail me this time! Woohoo!). Starting with the center stud, I screwed in the first wood screw through my shelf into the stud. I placed my level on top of the shelf to ensure that the shelf stayed in position while I was fixing it to the wall. I only used 3 wood screws and my shelf is very sturdy but you may want to use more or less depending on the size of your shelf. 

After I had the shelf in place, it was time to fill the screw holes and touch up the paint. I used Minwax wood filler. Let it dry completely, sand lightly and then touch up the paint. I have read many tutorials where people wait to paint their shelf after it is hung. This would mean you could skip the touch up but it really didn’t add that much time. I probably won’t be changing this step but you do you! 

Step 5: Decorate your Peg Shelf

Now that your DIY Peg Shelf is hung and looking flawless, stand back and admire your work! I love that it adds character and functionality to my farmhouse laundry room. Mine is styled with items that I shopped around the house. I added an antique frame for height, some greenery and plants for color and, of course, some old books (books are my favorite) and other vintage finds. I’m thinking of adding some colorful stems to my metal vase stand for spring too. The possibilities are endless!

I hope you enjoyed our DIY farmhouse peg shelf project. I’d love to hear all about your DIY projects! What’s next on your list of projects? Leave me a comment below. Don’t forget to subscribe and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest to keep up with our day to day. Thanks for stopping by!

Sources for DIY Peg Shelf Decor & Styling

Eucalyptus Wreath | Wooden Beads | Metal Vase | Black Mini Vase | Lambs Ear Stems | Wicker Baskets | White Ceramic Pot