Floating shelves are sturdy and far superior to the pre-fabricated shelves that you buy in your local hardware store. These shelves are free of brackets and other unsightly supports that either don’t create the look that you’re searching for, or they are not very sturdy. Create the look of unsupported shelves in a snap with this easy DIY project.
1) First, mark the area where you want your shelf. Locate and mark studs. Draw a level line where you want your shelf to hang.
2) Next, you will want to affix a wooden “cleat” to the wall. This will be a hidden part that the shelf will surround. A board measuring 1” thick and 1.5” deep works great. If your shelf is going to be narrow, or less than 6” deep, a 1” deep board will work fine. If your shelf will be over 9” deep, you may want to move to a 2” deep cleat. It is not recommended that you build a shelf more than 12” deep or it will not be sturdy. Holding the cleat to your level line, drill 1/4“ holes through the board and studs so that you can install lag screws to the cleat. 1/4” x 3.5” lag screws are good for this project.
3) Now it is time to build your shelf. You basically want to build a 5-sided box around the cleat. Use whatever boards you like for the top and bottom of the shelves. Cut three sides, measuring to be sure that they will leave room for the cleat to just slide in once the shelf is complete. Slide the shelf over the cleat to make sure it fits snuggly before you go on.
4) Paint, stain, or finish your shelf however you want. When you’re done, you’ll be ready to install it. Line the inside of your shelf and the outside of your cleat with wood glue. Slide the shelf into place pressing it tightly against the wall. Use small nails every few inches to hold the shelf perfectly in place. When the glue is dry, your shelf is complete.
These shelves can hold a few books, picture frames, office supplies, and more. They may not be sturdy enough to hang on, so make sure you put them high enough to keep children from playing on them. You can dress them up with a hanging wood dowel rod for towels or blankets. Use a hardwood dowel for a sturdy place to hang coats and jackets.
About the Author: Dave Murphy is the founder and president of Good Wood, Inc., which makes a high quality wood dowel and the best hardwood dowel on the market. They also create wooden balls, wood knobs, wooden toy parts, custom wood parts, and more. They offer safe wood finishing, wood turning and can import from off-shore when necessary. Visit http://www.goodwoodinc.com for all of your wood product needs.
