How to Make Shelves for Bedroom Walls

There's just something about shelves. From holding an overflow of random stuff, to displaying our treasures, to storing our necessities, shelves are functional, practical, and sometimes simply pleasing to the eye. Whether you're needing a functional, no-frills shelf or yearn for a personal statement, a floating shelf -- a shelf that offers no visible means of support -- is a simple, fairly quick task. Best of all, it costs nothing but the wood and hangers involved.

Stud finder (optional)
Tape measure
Carpenter's level
Carpenter's pencil
Post-style blind shelf brackets or 7/16 hanger bolts
Drill
Boards for shelving, 1-inch to 1 1/2-inch thick
Paint, stain or desired finish

Instructions

- 1
  Find the studs located in the wall approximately where you want your shelves. Use a stud finder or tap on the wall to find where it looks, and sounds, solid rather than where it generates a hollow, soft feel and sound. Modern houses typically place studs every 16 to -- at most -- 24 inches. Shelves must mount to these studs -- the vertical, wooden wall framing -- for stability and strength.
- 2
  Mark the location of each stud involved. This will vary by the length of the shelf. A 2-foot long shelf covers two studs, but a 4-foot shelf might cross three studs, for example. Hold a level up to the marks on each stud and check for plumbness -- a perfectly straight up-and-down state -- before running a pencil down the edge of the level lightly to notate.
- 3
  Hold a level running sideways against the wall at the proper height for the shelves. Find the exact level alignment. Run a pencil lightly along the level's edge to mark. Repeat for additional shelves. Where the up-and-down and sideways pencil marks meet like a cross is the precise mounting location.
- 4
  Attach post-style blind shelf supports in position, one for every stud along the length of the shelf. Drive screws through each bracket to secure. Alternatively, use a drill to sink the pointed end of a hanger screw into the stud directly. Both methods result in posts sticking out from the wall, which will insert into the shelves, providing the support for floating shelves.
- 5
  Cut a 1-inch to 1 1/2-inch-thick board to the length and width of the shelf as desired, not exceeding 8 inches. The shelf's stability relies on the length of the post in relation to the depth of the shelf. In general, the length of any post should be about 2/3 of the depth of the board, from the wall out.
- 6
  
  Use your shelf know-how to design various styles of shelves.
  
  Measure across the back edge of the shelf to determine where the bracket posts or hanger screws will meet the shelf. Mark the locations precisely. Try holding the back edge of the shelf up to the posts and press hard to leave indentations to guide your measurements.
- 7
  Drill into the shelf board at each post location marked. Sink the drill bit deep enough to accommodate the post or bolt used. Bore slowly and carefully to avoid angled holes or penetration of the sides or end with the drill bit.
- 8
  Finish each shelf as desired. Stain, paint or special surface treatments can adequately cover the bare wood. Burning designs into the board, applying decoupage or spreading lace, ribbon or bows secured with hot glue are other options. Use your imagination to complete the shelf. Allow the finish to dry before hanging the shelf, lining the holes up with the post hangers and sliding in place.

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