Making DIY Breeze Block Shelves
Welcome to the first project in my breeze block series!
When I stumbled across a gorgeous stack of breeze blocks at Bunnings a few days ago I almost couldn’t believe my luck! Straight away I started thinking about all the things I could make with them. In fact I have so many ideas I’m going to do a little series of different projects to highlight their versatility. First up? DIY Breeze Block Shelves.
And make sure to watch this step by step video
Before & After
What are breeze blocks?
They are patterned blocks of concrete that when stacked on top of each other provide air circulation, privacy and shade to buildings. They’re an important to mid century modern design up until the 1970s when they began to fall out of style and were inspired by sun-reducing screens in Asia and first used in America in the 1930s. They’ve seen a rise in popularity in the last couple of decades and people have also been using them to design furniture for a long time too.
Project Details
♻️ Making: DIY Breeze Block Shelves
🕒 Project Time Estimate: 20 minutes, not including timber stain drying time
💰 Materials Cost: $100
Materials
2 x Beech wood plank
Timber stain in your colour of choice
4 x Breeze blocks
Optional: Construction adhesive
Tools
Paint brush
How To
Step 1: Using a paint brush, apply one coat of timber stain all over the two pieces of wood. Set aside to dry.
Step 2: Assemble the shelves. Position two breeze blocks on the ground and place one piece of wood on top. Ensure the breeze blocks come out a bit further, which will make the shelves more bespoke. Place two more breeze blocks in line and on top of the wood, then place the second piece of wood on top. And that’s it! Simply add your favourite books, decor and other items - and enjoy.
Note: You can use glue to secure the breeze blocks and wood together, but I found they were stable enough on their own. The choice is yours.
Ta daaaa!
This has been one of the easiest and quickest projects I’ve done in a long time. And honestly, you don’t even need to use glue if you want to use the breeze blocks for something else in the future.
