How to Make a Wall Mail Shelf

This article will walk you through everything you need to know about constructing your own wall mail organizer. From the materials list to instructions and customization ideas, this article will give you the help you need to create today!

Materials Needed for your Wall Mail Organizer:

• One 1" x 3" piece of walnut wood measuring 7' - once cut to size this will be the top and back of the wall mail organizer, as well as the bottom shelf (Step 1).
• One 1" x 2" piece of walnut wood measuring 4' - once cut to size this will be the left and right sides, as well as the middle divider of the wall mail organizer (Step 1).
• One 3" wide by 3' long piece of faux leather - this will be the front strap of the wall mail organizer.
• 1½" screws
• ½" leather tacks
• Five hooks

Fiskars DIY Precision Tools Needed for your Wall Mail Organizer:

• Fiskars^® PowerCut™ Shears - these shears feature innovative, patent-pending, strength-enhancing curved blades for up to 2X more cutting power. Premium, heavy-duty, stainless steel blades power through challenging materials like cardboard, cork, decorative metals, leather and more.
• Fiskars^® Precision Hand Saw - this tool features a thin, yet powerful, triple-ground blade that enables it to glide through materials like the wood needed for your wall mail organizer.
• Fiskars^® Precision Hand Drill - I love that this tool is cordless and quiet, so I don't have to deal with positioning my workstation next to an outlet or worry about waking up the neighbors when I want to start assembling!
• Fiskars^®Precision Screwdriver - this tool features a free-rotating handle that allows you to leverage your strength to drive in screws with maximum downward force.
• Fiskars^® Precision Hammer - this tool features a forged steel head for ultimate strength and durability, making it the ideal implement for DIY projects like this wall mail organizer.
• Fiskars^® Precision Nail Starter - this handy tool protects fingers by removing them from the striking zone which can be a huge help when constructing a project like this wall mail organizer that requires different steps of attaching materials with nails.
• Fiskars^® Tape Measure
• Fiskars^® Level

How to Build Your Wall Mail Organizer with Key Hooks

Step 1: Make your cuts. Using the hand saw, cut three pieces of the 1" x 3" measuring 26" and three pieces of the 1" x 2" measuring 12". The 1" x 3" will create the top and bottom of the back of your wall mail organizer, as well as the bottom of the shelf. The 1" x 2" will create the left, middle and right pieces of the wall mail organizer.

Step 2. Begin assembling your wall mail organizer. Place two 1" x 3"s perpendicular to each other. Pre-drill the holes to join the pieces together using the Fiskars^® Precision Hand Drill and then screw together using 1½" screws and the Fiskars® Precision Screwdriver.

Inset the left and right 1" x 2" pieces 1" from the edge and screw into the 1" x 3"s

Next, attach your top bracing piece for the back side of the mail holder by following the same steps of predrilling and screwing to attach.

Step 3. Divide your wall mail organizer into two halves. Use the tape measure to find the middle point of the rectangle. Mark that point and screw in the last 1" x 2" vertically so it divides the rectangle into two halves.

Step 4. Attach the faux leather. Measure 8" up from the bottom and make a mark on each side of the wall mail organizer and on the middle divider. Starting on one side at the back of the unit, tack the piece of faux leather using the Fiskars Precision Hammer and Nail Starter to secure.

Stretch it across to the front and tack. Repeat this action by stretching and tacking in the middle of the mail holder unit.

Lastly, bring it all the way across and tack to the right side, both in the front and back of the unit for extra security, and cut off the excess so you are left with a taut and precise faux leather strap.

Step 5. Attach the hooks. Screw in five black metal hooks to the bottom of your wall mail organizer. This provides a convenient place to leave your mail and hang your keys while not taking up too much space.

Step 6. Attach the wall mail organizer to the wall. Using the level, hammer and nail starter, attach the wall mail organizer to the wall, making sure it is level.

How Much Does It Cost to Build Your Own Wall Mail Organizer?

This wall mail organizer cost around $150 for all supplies needed. Since I couldn't find anything on the market that fit my space and my needs I think this spend is definitely worth it.

Other Ideas for Wall Mail Organizers

This is a project that is truly customizable. You can easily swap out the faux leather for other materials like canvas, burlap, metal sheeting, additional wood pieces, or anything you think would work within your design style. I like the softer, flexible materials like the strap I used because they allow for a new texture to be incorporated into the project, which gives a little more appeal.

Try changing up the wood type, too. If you are using walnut like me, I recommend using Tung oil to seal it and protect from the elements.

For the hooks, try out an antique look by sourcing vintage knobs or go super modern and choose a matte black look like we did. Add some color by painting simple white hooks or forget them all together if you'd rather have a simple, sleek wall mail organizer without the extra hanging options.

Keep in mind that you can vary the dimensions to make this a smaller unit to fit into whatever space you need. And if you want to try a different shape – go for it! I wanted a simple, clean rectangle, but you could certainly make a more vertical layout, or even try creating different unit shapes like triangles.