Putting shelves up next to chimney breast myself- any tips?

[chosenone]

I have a victorian terrace style cottage and need more storage and want it to look cottagey rather than the shelving I've currently got from Ikea. S do we measure the space got and buy thick pieces of wood and varnish, then find a way to attach them?? Or do i need a joiner. I know it needs to be quite thick so it doesn't buckle (Ive been recommended scaffolding poles!) Anyone got any advice? Thanks

We've done the same. It's basically 4 bits of wood, 2 long 2 short measured to the dimensions of the alcove and screwed into the walls. These act as a frame for the shelf. The shelf is a piece of mdf which is screwed into the frame. There is a final length of wood running down the centre of the shelf under the mdf which gives support.

Ours our painted to match the walls and varnished for protection. There are 3 in each alcove. We also have shelves made from solid oak. These are attached (ie resting on) to 2 pieces of oak batten which are screwed to the walls.

IME (Victorian house owner here) it would be WAY beyond me, simply because no walls on my house are that straight. It took a lot of sawing and planeing and swearing for my handyman to fit shelves in a similar alcove, as each one had to be individually altered.

When I lived alone a joiner did it for me; he did a beautiful job, invisible supports, good strong wood etc. in our current house my DH has done it, and although I love him very much I have to be honest and say his look rather less good.
If your house is Victorian it's likely that the walls aren't even - you need to measure the gap for each individual shelf, also make sure that the shelf fits both the front and the back of the alcove.
Strongest wood to use is thick plywood.
If the gap is a very long one, try to keep a balance of books and ornaments on your shelves! (We have one shelf which bows in the middle as too many books).
Good luck!

the mdf is screwed onto the frame, resting on the top iyswim

yy to good measurements as the walls won't be even.

I did it in our old house using wood cut to size at the local builders merchants, then primed and painted in gloss paint. V. straightforward as long as your walls are sound. The only other equipment I needed was an electric drill, a spirit level, and a screwdriver. If you are screwing to the wall, you can buy screw caps that cover the head of the crew, which improves the look of things.

head of the screw

ok thanks guys! will have a good measure first, they look straight but possibly not