Even if you have ample cupboard space, open shelving is ideal for displaying small, everyday items. Racking fits the bill perfectly. Great as a spice or mug rack, the grooves also mean it´s suitable for plates. Change the colour of the white hardboard back, or take it off completely and you have a display rack for the living room. What better way to show off trophies, ornaments and objets d´art!

Make a plywood template for the end pieces from diagram Using the template, mark out the length of the ends on the pine

Whilst the pine and template are held together, mark off the positions of trenches and mortices

Saw off waste at ends, trim smooth and square Make a fence and use it to guide the router when cutting the trenches

To cut the mortices, plunge the router into the wood to bore a series of holes Use a chisel to square off the rounded ends

Remove waste from the shaped ends using coping saw

Bore holes in the template in line with trenches. Follow edge of template with router using a straight bit in the chuck

Cut tenons at ends of the top rail using the router. A wooden facing needs to be screwed to the straight fence. Cut rebates to properly house the back. Rebates on the end have to be stopped, so they only extend where required Make simple cove cut on each shelf using the Roman ogee cutter, but only partly projecting below the base of the router. Clean all surfaces thoroughly using a belt sander or by hand

Smooth moulded edges with a sanding block Glue components together, using clamps if available

Panel pins can be added for additional strength, either directly through the ends, or in a more concealed way through the shelves

Apply finish of your choice

If you want a back to your display rack: Cut out coloured hardboard back Pin it into the rebates