DIY Floating Shelves: How to Build Floating Shelves
Who needs built-ins when you can create your own storage instead. A stunning way to display books, photos, or personal items, floating wall shelves not only look good, they don’t require much space. It's a win for rooms that are short on square footage—you can utilize vertical space instead. These floating shelves will help you add personality and interest to a room by allowing you to show off your favorite books, curios, and plants.
DIY floating shelves are an easy woodworking project for someone who feels comfortable using power tools, but don’t worry. Our floating shelves DIY offers practical tips and reliable supplies that will help you create a truly custom décor piece affordably. Here’s how to build floating shelves:
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Supplies You Need
While it might be tempting to buy your floating shelves from a big box store like IKEA, Home Depot, or Lowes, you might end up with a less custom look. A lack of variety in color and size—not to mention a wider, overly boxy shape—really limits what you’re able to buy pre-made. For almost the same price or less, you can create your own custom versions that are more tailored to your home and color scheme. Use the supplies below to craft your own floating wood shelves.
- 2” x 10” pine board
- Miter saw or circular saw
- Hand or bench router with dado router bit
- ½” paddle bit
- Drill press (optional)
- Sand paper (medium grit)
- Cloth (2 or 3)
- Stain or paint
- Polyurethane (optional)
- Paintbrush
- BIGTEDDY-Adjustable Blind Shelf Floating Support Invisible Brackets
- Pencil
- Drill
- Level
How to Build Floating Shelves
The steps below will teach you how to build floating shelves with as little pain as possible. Excluding drying time, this project can be completed in half a day, giving your walls a custom, high-quality feel.
Step 1: Cut your board down to size and gather materials.
The most cost-effective way to create DIY floating shelves is to buy a larger piece of wood and cut it into smaller sections using a miter or circular saw. Obviously, you’ll want to customize the size to fit the space where you plan to hang them. We cut ours to 25” per shelf.
Step 2: Notch the back of each shelf to accommodate the hardware.
Create a notch using a hand router so that the hardware will fit in the back of each shelf. If you use the hardware we recommend, the notch should be 1/2” deep per the instructions. If you use different pieces, follow those instructions. You’ll need the notched back so when you hang the shelves the hardware doesn’t create a gap between the wall and the shelf.
Step 3: Drill the holes for the hardware.
There are a few ways you can do this. If you're using a hand drill, use the paddle bit to create holes where your hardware will slide into place. The holes here are 4” deep, but follow the instructions on your hardware. If you’re nervous about creating straight holes, start them with the paddle bit and finish drilling with a drill press. Using a paddle bit will make it easier to accurately start each hole.
Step 4: Sand and stain (or paint).
In a well-ventilated area, sand any and all rough edges on each shelf. Wipe off any extra sawdust, then apply your favorite stain or paint. Depending on your home’s aesthetic you might want to choose white floating shelves or something more rustic like wood floating shelves. The beauty of painting them yourself? You get a more customized look than if you'd bought floating shelves premade from a store. Get creative and use reclaimed wood or make pallet floating shelves for a weathered look. If you’re applying stain, be sure to wipe off excess stain and let each coat dry until you reach your desired finish. If you wanted your stained shelves to be glossy, cover with a coat of polyurethane lacquer. Let all pieces dry completely.
Step 5: Hang the shelves.
Once the shelves are dry, it’s time to install your hardware. While you might see tutorials online with wood framed supports, this hardware makes things a little easier and allows your floating shelves to handle more weight. Building your own wood supports can be time-consuming and can go horribly wrong—a lack of precision could get you to this step only to have your shelves not fit. Figure out where you want to place your shelves and mark and measure where you’ll need to install the hardware on the wall following the packaging instructions. Use a level to make sure each shelf is straight. Once the hardware is on the wall, slip your shelves (via their drilled holes) into place.