Easy DIY Floating Shelves!
This easy tutorial will show you how to build these DIY floating shelves. Just follow the free printable plans and how-to video by www.shanty-2-chic.com! I finally put use to a blank wall I have been staring at in my bathroom for far too long. I am LOVING how it turned out! Check out our How to Build a Floating Shelf Video! Just click the play button below!
How fun are those?? I really wanted my shelves to be thick and beefy looking. I also wanted them to be super sturdy in case a certain 2 year old decides to use them as a ladder. It will happen. This design does both!
Easy DIY Floating Shelves Tutorial and Plans
This is a great beginner project… Very simple cuts and assembly! Let’s get started!
Easy DIY Floating Shelves – The Supplies
Supply List for 3 Shelves
1 – 1″ x 10″ x 8′ pine or whitewood board
2 – 2″ x 3″ x 8′ pine or whitewood board
1/4″ hardwood plywood material – I bought a 4′ x 4′ sheet and had Home Depot rip mine into 9.25″ strips.
3 – 1″ x 4″ x 6′ select pine or whitewood boards
brad nailer
Kreg Jig (optional and totally recommended)
2.5″ pocket hole screws
3.5″ torx or wood screws
The cost of wood for all 3 shelves was around $45 making these bad boys $15 a piece for wood… Yup. I love them even more now.
Start by making your cuts. (Watch our How to Use a Miter Saw video HERE) Each shelf will have a frame that you will build first. The back of the frame that is attached to your wall will be a 2×3 cut at 32″. Then, each shelf will have 3 brackets that are each 7.75″ long.
I used my Kreg Jig to add 1.5″ pocket holes on one end of each of the brackets. This tool is the bomb. It will make your projects so much easier to assemble and also make them much stronger. If you are using the K3 or K4 model right now, I totally suggest checking out the K5. I just upgraded to that one and LOVE every little thing about it! Best thing ever.
And watch our How to Use a Kreg Jig video HERE!
This is how I lined up the brackets to make the two pocket holes…
Next I attached my brackets using 2.5″ pocket hole screws. I did add some Gorilla wood glue to each one as well to make it extra sturdy.
Easy DIY Floating Shelves – Wall Mounting
That’s it for the frames! Now to attach them to your wall. The first thing you will want to do is mark where your studs are. The easiest way to do this is by using a stud finder. This is the stud finder I use.
It’s a simple little tool that you run along the wall and it beeps when it finds a stud.
I held each frame up to the wall and marked on the frame where my studs would be. Then I used my Ryobi drill to pre drill 2 holes where each stud lined up. This keeps the wood from splitting when you attach it.
You can use your drill on this next part, but I chose to use my impact driver. Guys… This is like a drill that does all the work for you. If you have a battery, the tool only costs $69 and you will be amazed at how often you use it over your drill for driving.
I chose to use 3 1/2″ torx screws to attach each of my frames. You can also use wood screws. Here it is after I attached it to the wall…
You can see where I drilled straight through the back of the frame and into the wall.
Here they are all 3 up and ready to go!
Next, I added my bottom 1/4″ hardwood plywood. I had Home Depot rip my sheet down to 9.25″ strips and I cut each one at 32″. I attached them to the base of the frame using wood glue and 1 1/4″ brad nails. I used my cordless Ryobi AirStrike nailer on this part. Can I tell you how awesome cordless tools are… Especially for indoor projects like this one! Saved me a ton of time and hassle.
After adding that I moved to my top piece. I used 1×10 board on this part. Each one was cut 32″ long and I attached them using wood glue and brad nails.
Your final step will be trimming it all out! I used 1 x 4″ select pine on this part, but you can also use whitewood. I love using whitewood because it is cheaper, but I had a hard time finding enough straight ones that day, so I went for the select.
Start by cutting your side pieces. Mine were each 9 1/4″ long. I attached them using 1 1/4″ brad nails and glue.
And now for the front piece! You will want to measure for exact on yours, but it will be somewhere around 33.5″ long. I attached mine the same way using glue and brad nails.
Once I had all 3 done I taped them off…
Easy DIY Floating Shelves – Staining
I used this stain to stain mine. You can find this at Home Depot and I love it! 1 hour dry time just like Rust-Oleum that is carried elsewhere. I actually find that it dries even faster than that.
Here they are drying!
You can keep them like this or distress yours like I did! I used my Ryobi Corner Cat sander to go over all my edges and corners. This gives it a fun, vintage look. I like to say they look ‘shanty’ 😉
That’s it! Here are the diy floating shelves all finished up!
What do you think?? I love them! I may make some for every room now 😉
I found all the cute baskets, towels and accessories at HomeGoods! LOVE that place… I always walk in for one thing, and out with many more ;-)…
I would LOVE for you to pin these and share them with all your friends! You guys are awesome!
Thanks so much!
~Whitney
DIY Floating Shelves
Supply List
- 1 1x10x8 Pine or Whitewood
- 2 2x3x8 Framing Lumber
- 1 4’x4’x1/4″ Hardwood Plywood
- 3 1x4x6′ Pine or Whitewood
- 1 1/4″ Brad Nails
- 2 1/2″ Pocket Hole Screws
- 3 1/2″ Wood Screws
- Wood Glue
Instructions
- Cut List
- Screw the three 7 3/4″ pieces to the back 32″ piece.
- Locate your wall studs and transfer the locations to the back piece. Predrill two holes at each stud location and use 3 1/2″ wood screws to attach the shelf to the wall.
- Add the bottom 1/4″ plywood. this piece and the rest of the project will be attached with wood glue and brad nails.
- Attach the top 1×10 shelf.
- Attach the side 1×4 trim.
- Attach the 1×4 front trim. Now you’re ready to tape off the walls, sand and finish.
Why not use a French Cleat? Start by ripping a piece of 1×3 or 1×4 at 45 degrees 3″ shorter than the box you are building. Mount one section with the 45 Degree angle to the wall with the longer edge facing up and away from the wall. Build your 4 sided box. Attach the second cleat to the inside back of the box flush with the edge of the box with the 45 Degree angle to the box with longer edge facing down and away from the box. Put your shelf up and your done. The cleats will interlock.
Since the cleats are shorter than the box, you will h have 3″ to slide the box to find the center.
Remember, a picture is worth 1,000 words. I don’t have pictures so I have 1000 words instead.
I noticed the video and the tutorial is different – is there one way that’s better than the other for : 1. beginner level 2. longer length shelf
Thanks!
Why are the instructions different from the video? Also, the cut list is very hard to read when you enlarge it.
Really cool project. But the instructions do not match the video. Would be helpful to match these things up!!