How to Build Your Own Floating Shelves

Want to spice up the design in your home? These easy floating shelves are simple to construct and add an interesting element to any room!

There are two main types of open shelves that everyone wants in their homes: built-in shelving and floating shelves. Since we did both DIYs in our recent

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Locate the wall studs and mark out your studs on painters tape. If you don't have a stud intersecting with the location of the shelf on all 3 of your walls you can use drywall anchors.  Ensure that you have at least two studs or a drywall anchors on each wall for a minimum of two connection points (6 in total). If you plan to place heavy objects on the floating shelves you may consider having more connection points.

Measure the width of the wall behind the floating shelves, take this measurement and subtract ¼" (this will allow ⅛" of gap between the shelf and wall on each side). Then determine the depth of the shelf, we went with 8". Build a 2x2 rectangular frame using these measurements.

Install your 2x2 bracing at the correct height. Ensure that you have a screw connection to a stud or drywall anchor on each end of the 2x2s. Check that your brace is level prior to attaching it to the wall.

We wanted a

For the top and bottom boards cut a 45 deg mitre at the end that meets the front board. For the front board cut a 45 deg mitre on the top of bottom (you can see the small front board, with two 45 deg mitres in the second row in the photo above).

We stained our boards with

Install your finished boards to the 2x2s, using a nail gun and finish nails. Once the shelf is installed, use wood putty to fill the nail holes and any gaps between your mitres. Use caulking to fill any gaps between the wall and shelf.

Fill up those shelves and enjoy your new modern floating shelves!

These shelves are exactly what I wanted! You can't find custom-built shelves like this anywhere! I'm SO happy with how the project turned out :)

You can also learn how to easily make

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