How I Turned a Thrifted Piece of Wood into a Vinyl Record Display Shelf
There’s something so satisfying about giving old, forgotten things a new purpose—especially when you only spend a few bucks doing it. The other day I thrifted a slim, 1.4-inch piece of wood without any specific plan for it (classic me), but as soon as I got home, I realized it was the perfect size for a little vinyl record display shelf.
I don’t know about you, but I hate when beautiful album art ends up hidden in a crate. Some of these covers are literal works of art, and I wanted a simple way to spotlight them. Here’s how I made that happen with a thrift find and a little patience.
Step 1: Thrifted the Wood
I found this narrow, reddish-toned piece of wood at my local thrift store for next to nothing. It was probably part of a picture frame or some decorative molding in its past life, but it had a nice ledge on one side and was the perfect length to sit above my turntable setup.
Step 2: Picked the Perfect Spot
I knew I wanted the shelf to live above my record player, partly for aesthetic reasons and partly because I’m always changing out my “album of the week.” I held the wood up in a few different places until it felt right—and of course, made sure it was centered and level (eyeballing with vibes counts, right?).
Step 3: Mounted It Up
I used a couple of small corner brackets I already had in my stash to secure it to the wall. It didn’t need to hold a lot of weight, just a record at a time, so I kept the install pretty minimal. I could’ve painted the brackets to blend in more, but I kind of like the utilitarian look—adds a little charm.
Step 4: Instant Gratification
Once it was up, I popped on one of my favorite records to test it out, and… chef’s kiss. It brought the whole corner together in such a simple, clean way. Now my records can rotate on display like little art installations.
Final Thoughts
Honestly, this tiny project brought me more joy than I expected. It’s easy to overlook the potential in those odds and ends at the thrift store, but this reminded me how much I love reimagining things. Plus, it makes my space feel even more me.
If you’ve got a blank wall, a lonely record, and a piece of wood just waiting to be something—go for it. You never know what kind of magic you can make with what you already have.