DIY Floating Shelves

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.