How to Build a Wall of Floating Shelves
Supplies:
Tape
Tape measure
laser level or level
Stud finder
floating shelf brackets - Most similar to the brackets I used, which are currently unavailable (Example 4 brackets for 6 ft long shelf)
Wood of your choice, at least 1 3/4” thick (Example 2x6 pine board 6 ft long)
Drill & drill bit (size of the drill bit will depend on the brackets used)
DrillBlock or DrillMate Portable Drill Guide
Stain or paint of your choice (Example Minwax Chestnut Gel Stain & polyurethane)
Tutorial:
Step 1
Plan out how many shelves you want, how long the shelves should be, and how much spacing you would like between shelves. Taping out the shelves on the wall is a great way to visualize your plan!
For my shelves, I used 2x6 pine, and each shelf is 6 feet long. There is approximately 13’’ between each shelf.
Step 2
Use a laser level to ensure that your tape lines are completely straight. If you don’t have a laser level you can use a long level to do this. Having the tape on the wall makes placing your brackets easier.
Step 3
Use a stud finder to locate studs where you want to put your shelves. If there is a stud then you can place your brackets directly over it and screw straight into it. If you don’t have a stud in the area, you can use drywall anchors.
Consult your bracket instructions for spacing and load information. Line up the floating shelf brackets with the laser level or tape line to help install them evenly.
For my 6 ft shelves, every bracket was installed with one screw in a stud and one screw in a drywall anchor. I used four brackets per shelf.
Step 4
Place the wood shelf on top of the installed brackets and mark where your brackets are. This will let you know exactly where you need to drill holes. Use a DrillBlock or DrillMate Portable Drill Guide to drill the floating shelf holes straight. You only want to drill the hole as deep as your brackets require, so place a piece of tape on your drill bit to let you know when to stop drilling.
Consult the bracket instructions to see what size drill bit is needed to drill the holes in the shelves. Test to see if the bracket fits into the hole with a spare bracket. Drill the hole a little larger if the bracket has too tight of a fit, as it might be hard to get the shelf onto every bracket if they are all tight.
I drilled the holes in the center of the board for the first shelf, which resulted in the brackets showing when I mounted the shelf on the wall. I corrected this issue for the remaining shelves by drilling the holes 1’’ from the top of the board (where you need to drill the holes will differ depending on the type of bracket you buy). To make the brackets that were showing less noticeable, I painted them the same color as the wall, and they disappeared!
Step 5
Place the wood shelves onto the brackets. This can be tricky, but having an extra set of hands can help. Lift the shelf into place and focus on getting the outside brackets into the holes, then wiggle the shelf gradually until it is completely on the brackets.
If any of the shelf holes or brackets are crooked you will have issues getting the shelf on. It may be necessary to drill certain holes larger.
Step 6
Stain or paint shelves to your liking.
The stain shown is Minwax Chestnut Gel Stain, 3 coats of polyurethane was added later to seal the shelves.
Step 7 (Optional)
For an added decorative element cut 3/4’’ dowels to fit in between each shelf. The dowels can be glued into place with wood glue or hot glue.
I hope you found this tutorial helpful! If you have any questions feel free to comment below or send me a DM on Instagram. Thanks for reading!