Add floating shelves for a contemporary, sleek look in an easy DIY project with limited supplies needed. Begin by building the shelf frame. Next, install your mounting hardware and front boards.
Planning Your Floating Shelf Design
Floating shelves offer an elegant way to display collectibles, home accessories, and more. Easy to construct and mount directly to walls for a clean professional look that complements almost any room, our design is particularly straightforward to construct and mount with very forgiving tolerance for minor inaccuracies during construction and mounting.
Start this project off right by gathering lumber and tools, varying depending on the size and style of the shelf you plan to create. Specific supplies will depend on their size and style - for instance, if building very heavy-duty shelves it is important to use materials that will bear weight while being resistant to moisture; pine boards tend to work well for floating shelf projects.
Once you are ready to begin building shelves on the wall, select a location in which you would like them and measure their dimensions. Furthermore, determine whether your wall is made of drywall or another stronger material such as masonry or concrete and whether mounting your shelves into studs for additional support is best. A stud finder or similar tool can assist you in this regard while using hammers and chisels can then secure wood frames by driving in lag screws through them into place for your shelves.
After you have determined how many lumber parts you require for the shelf frame itself, use a jigsaw to cut the shape out of 1/2'' plywood using your shelf frame as a guide.
Alternatively, cut the frame from two 2x4s instead. Use a level to ensure alignment before mounting it on the wall with two lag screws at each location on its backboard and slide into its respective stud mounts for further security.
Gathering the Materials and Tools You'll Need
An effective way to ensure you have all of the materials needed for a DIY floating shelf project is to create a shopping list in advance. This will save you from having to stop at the store mid-project to pick something up, while it also gives you peace of mind knowing your tools will all be ready and waiting when starting work. Organizing everything beforehand ensures a more pleasant, worry-free experience that makes building easier overall.
To construct the front of your shelves, measure out and cut a piece of plywood to match the size and shape of the frame you have already constructed. These can usually be found at home improvement stores in their wood section. Use a jigsaw to cut it to size; ensure its beautiful side faces upward when cutting for best results; test out on your frame to be sure it fits as intended before attaching.
Your shelves' support pieces require 2x4s and 1x2 boards as supports, with pocket holes being an efficient and quick method to connect them together for extra strength and durability. A pocket hole jig can be extremely helpful during this project.
Wall anchors will also be necessary. Rated to support specific weight capacities, these anchors offer the safest solution to ensure your floating shelves stay put. Regular metal brackets work just fine for plaster walls while butterfly or toggle anchors should be considered when working with drywall walls.
Once you have all of the materials and tools ready, it's time to start prepping your boards for assembly. Sand the wood carefully using 80-grit sandpaper as a first step; later work your way up through higher grades for optimal results.
As a first step, it is important to mark stud locations on the back of your wooden backing boards in order to make attaching them to walls easier once your project is completed.
Step-by-Step Construction: Building Your Floating
Floating shelves make an eye-catching statement in any room of the home and are especially great additions to bathrooms, kitchens, and living rooms. Not only can they serve as wall decorations; but these shelves can also help organize closets and pantries by providing storage solutions. If you want to install floating shelves in your home, the first step should be identifying where you would like them to go. Use a stud finder to locate any potential studs where you'd like the shelves installed; once done, use a level to ensure all marks made are level. Once this step has been taken, the next step should be calculating how much material will be necessary for your shelf. For instance, installing four floating shelves will require two support timbers measuring the length of each shelf plus an extra piece for its top (plus another piece if installing an extra central support).
As soon as it comes time to create your floating shelf, start by building its frame from 2x2s or 1x2s. A power saw is usually best, although depending on your skill level you may prefer building the frame by hand with nails and glue instead.
Once your frame is in place, attaching 1/4" plywood sheeting to the back of your shelf is the next step in finishing its look. You may choose either painting or staining this addition for maximum impact. If hanging your shelf above a sink for example, consider attaching another strip directly behind so water doesn't seep through and reach your cabinet below.
Once the plywood is attached, you can then screw your shelf to its mounts. Ideally, this step should occur prior to hanging your shelf so that any moisture from your walls is absorbed by its wood fibers; however, even without this luxury, it should still be strong enough for use once installed.
Mounting and Styling Your Floating Shelf
Floating shelves are sleek and stylish storage solutions, and if built properly they should provide plenty of support for general storage or decorative items. A sagging shelf, however, can not only look unsightly but pose a potential safety hazard that's only one earthquake away from collapse. If your floating shelf begins to sag over time, take immediate steps. Disassemble it using appropriate brackets and wall anchors; additionally you may require adding new supports strips for increased strength.
Before you reattach your shelf, it is advisable to paint or stain it and allow it to dry completely first. This will make the job much simpler and will ensure an even color throughout. A sander may be useful to create an even surface and fill any pores with wood filler (Elmer's may work well) or paste wood filler; once satisfied with results sand again for a receptive and smooth surface.
Install your shelf by cutting a piece of 1x4 the length of your desired shelf top board minus 1-1/2". Cut two more 1x4 pieces that measure equal widths as these for front and back shelf frames, attaching with glue and 1-1/4" brad nails. Cut two additional 1x4 strips that fit between these longer pieces to form a U-shape mount for your shelf frame - attach them using wood glue and 1-1/4" brad nails as well.
Next, place the mounting brackets onto the shelf and use a drill to make starting holes for screws. Doing this will prevent wood splitting when attaching them later on. Finally, securely install them following their respective instructions for optimal use.
Styling your floating shelf can be an enjoyable way to express yourself and add character and individuality to any room in your home. From matching it with your theme or color family to adding different textures and transparencies for visual interest - you have endless options when it comes to customizing it for each space in your home! Exhibit decorative objects from Kyoto like woodenblock prints or small vases on an assortment of floating shelves; for a minimalist aesthetic display your books vertically and horizontally on bookends that feature geometric design elements - or add decorative objects arranged according to themes or color family themes while using bookends that feature geometric bookends!