8 Ways to Use Plywood for Style-Savvy Storage
It’s versatile, sustainable and on trend – just some of the reasons to embrace plywood in your home
Amanda Pollard
21 December 2019
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors and architecture.
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors... More
If you’re thinking of having some bespoke storage designed, it’s worth considering plywood as your material of choice. Easy to work with, it can be used to create anything from simple shelving to a hidden work station. Take a look at these clever projects to find inspiration for using this layered engineered wood in your home.
1. Take a seat
This area combines a seating spot and a space for laundry and services – floor-to-ceiling cupboards house stacked appliances as well as solar and rainwater pipes. It was designed by James Davies at Paper House Project for a family with a toddler, and there’s plenty of room to store toys in the tall cabinets and under the bench seats.
“The circular handles were an idea the owners had seen elsewhere, so we incorporated them and left the bench-seat doors flush,” says Davies. “The bench seats aren’t on castors, but they can be moved if necessary.”
Davies says plywood is durable, easy to work with on-site, and doesn’t usually need to be fitted by a specialist carpenter. “It doesn’t fade as quickly as darker timbers with stronger grains, so it was well suited in this area,” he says. “Do remember, though, that a decent grade of plywood isn’t as cheap as you might think, and it’s important to check it’s from a sustainable source.”
This area combines a seating spot and a space for laundry and services – floor-to-ceiling cupboards house stacked appliances as well as solar and rainwater pipes. It was designed by James Davies at Paper House Project for a family with a toddler, and there’s plenty of room to store toys in the tall cabinets and under the bench seats.
“The circular handles were an idea the owners had seen elsewhere, so we incorporated them and left the bench-seat doors flush,” says Davies. “The bench seats aren’t on castors, but they can be moved if necessary.”
Davies says plywood is durable, easy to work with on-site, and doesn’t usually need to be fitted by a specialist carpenter. “It doesn’t fade as quickly as darker timbers with stronger grains, so it was well suited in this area,” he says. “Do remember, though, that a decent grade of plywood isn’t as cheap as you might think, and it’s important to check it’s from a sustainable source.”
2. Show and tell
The layered nature of plywood gives it an attractive look if you leave the edges on show. Just a simple shelving design like this one in a project by Kirkwood McLean Architects can become a feature when the thin lines are visible along each piece of timber.
Emphasise these layered edges by contrasting them with a smooth material, like the white door here. The cut-out handle allows the owner to open up the white surface…
The layered nature of plywood gives it an attractive look if you leave the edges on show. Just a simple shelving design like this one in a project by Kirkwood McLean Architects can become a feature when the thin lines are visible along each piece of timber.
Emphasise these layered edges by contrasting them with a smooth material, like the white door here. The cut-out handle allows the owner to open up the white surface…
…Which turns the cabinet into a nifty hidden desk.
Keen to welcome some on-trend materials into your home? Find an interior designer near you on Houzz for bespoke storage solutions
Keen to welcome some on-trend materials into your home? Find an interior designer near you on Houzz for bespoke storage solutions
3. Carve out a desk
The designers of this space have also contrasted the texture of plywood with smooth white surfaces. Plywood was the main storage material in this house, designed by Slightly Quirky, and here it’s been used to build a desk space with cabinets below and shelving above.
The team spray-painted the top of the cabinet and the underside of the shelf in white and used laminate for the doors. The sleek finish works in harmony with the soft, curved shapes of the shelf and desk.
The designers of this space have also contrasted the texture of plywood with smooth white surfaces. Plywood was the main storage material in this house, designed by Slightly Quirky, and here it’s been used to build a desk space with cabinets below and shelving above.
The team spray-painted the top of the cabinet and the underside of the shelf in white and used laminate for the doors. The sleek finish works in harmony with the soft, curved shapes of the shelf and desk.
4. Colour in
By adding colour to your plywood storage, you can make it a strong element in a room. Here, shelving has been used to make the most of a middle room that would otherwise have been used as a passageway.
The storage is for the owner’s extensive vinyl and CD collection. “The furniture is made from oak-veneered birch plywood with lacquered doors, and the sideboard has a Welsh slate top,” says James Hoy, designer at Uncommon Projects.
On the left is open shelving for the vinyl, with doors at the base to house CDs and integrated speakers. Opposite, a sideboard sits beneath wall-mounted shelving, providing a feature where the original chimney breast had been removed by the previous owner.
By adding colour to your plywood storage, you can make it a strong element in a room. Here, shelving has been used to make the most of a middle room that would otherwise have been used as a passageway.
The storage is for the owner’s extensive vinyl and CD collection. “The furniture is made from oak-veneered birch plywood with lacquered doors, and the sideboard has a Welsh slate top,” says James Hoy, designer at Uncommon Projects.
On the left is open shelving for the vinyl, with doors at the base to house CDs and integrated speakers. Opposite, a sideboard sits beneath wall-mounted shelving, providing a feature where the original chimney breast had been removed by the previous owner.
5. Build under the eaves
The simple finish of plywood lends itself to minimal open shelving, and it can easily be cut to fit an awkward area.
In this attic space, for example, Angus Eitel of fiftypointeight Architecture + Interiors designed an open wardrobe area in the alcoves. The shelves have been fitted to match measurements that Angus marked out on the wall. “The joiner helped by advising where we needed extra supports and framing,” he says.
The simple finish of plywood lends itself to minimal open shelving, and it can easily be cut to fit an awkward area.
In this attic space, for example, Angus Eitel of fiftypointeight Architecture + Interiors designed an open wardrobe area in the alcoves. The shelves have been fitted to match measurements that Angus marked out on the wall. “The joiner helped by advising where we needed extra supports and framing,” he says.
6. Maximise an alcove
This bathroom features plywood storage throughout, and one of the most interesting pieces is this alcove unit. Previously, there was an unused doorway in this spot, so designer Karen Knox of Making Spaces had it blocked up and used the 30-centimetre-deep recess to build this useful cabinet.
A combination of open shelves and cupboards form a grid above a pull-out laundry bin. Knox doubled the plywood around the unit to create an attractive frame.
As this storage is in a bathroom, she also sealed the birch ply with a waterproof matt varnish.
Time to Give That Nook Another Look?
This bathroom features plywood storage throughout, and one of the most interesting pieces is this alcove unit. Previously, there was an unused doorway in this spot, so designer Karen Knox of Making Spaces had it blocked up and used the 30-centimetre-deep recess to build this useful cabinet.
A combination of open shelves and cupboards form a grid above a pull-out laundry bin. Knox doubled the plywood around the unit to create an attractive frame.
As this storage is in a bathroom, she also sealed the birch ply with a waterproof matt varnish.
Time to Give That Nook Another Look?
7. Go wall-to-wall
If you’re planning an entire wall of storage, plywood is a good option, thanks to its versatility and cost-effectiveness.
This boy’s bedroom, also designed by Knox of Making Spaces, had two alcoves on either side of a chimney breast. The entire surface has been covered with plywood cupboards and open shelves to form a flat wall to put the bed against.
The shelves were built off-site by the joiners in their workshop, then disassembled and reassembled on-site. A wider surface on the left will be extended in years to come to form a homework desk.
If you’re planning an entire wall of storage, plywood is a good option, thanks to its versatility and cost-effectiveness.
This boy’s bedroom, also designed by Knox of Making Spaces, had two alcoves on either side of a chimney breast. The entire surface has been covered with plywood cupboards and open shelves to form a flat wall to put the bed against.
The shelves were built off-site by the joiners in their workshop, then disassembled and reassembled on-site. A wider surface on the left will be extended in years to come to form a homework desk.
8. Create divisions
There’s more to this storage than meets the eye, as the large birch plywood unit hides an office area raised behind the ply joinery. The bedroom is part of a converted biscuit factory, which was designed by architects Suprblk, who hired Matthew Smith and his team at Property DMR Services to carry out the internal building work.
“The base of the unit is cupboards, but the area above conceals the desk platform behind,” says Smith. “It has the same appearance as the cupboards to create a consistent look.”
There’s more to this storage than meets the eye, as the large birch plywood unit hides an office area raised behind the ply joinery. The bedroom is part of a converted biscuit factory, which was designed by architects Suprblk, who hired Matthew Smith and his team at Property DMR Services to carry out the internal building work.
“The base of the unit is cupboards, but the area above conceals the desk platform behind,” says Smith. “It has the same appearance as the cupboards to create a consistent look.”
On the other side of the office area is another set of units, again with cupboards at the bottom and a wall of plywood at the top.
“Birch plywood has good strength and its light appearance allows you to add your own colours,” says Smith. The external timber here is stained a natural shade and the internal areas are varnished.
Your turn
Would you consider using plywood in your home? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Need more interior design inspiration? Read 3 Reasons LED Lights Are Now Better Than Ever
“Birch plywood has good strength and its light appearance allows you to add your own colours,” says Smith. The external timber here is stained a natural shade and the internal areas are varnished.
Your turn
Would you consider using plywood in your home? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Need more interior design inspiration? Read 3 Reasons LED Lights Are Now Better Than Ever
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Plywood has some advantages and some disadvantages over other man made boards. It is generally accepted as very strong and stable material with good screwing, gluing and jointing properties. We also like using it to create a contrast between the exterior and interior of cabinets. In this photo the large storage cabinet is constructed using Finnish Birch Plywood and the inside is finished in white oil whilst the exterior has a hand brushed finish.
Love plywood. We have plywood stools and chairs in our home