In this article, you’ll learn how to mount a floating shelf in just a few minutes. We’ll cover the tools you’ll need for the job, as well as 5 steps that newbie DIYers can use to properly hang their floating shelves.
If you are a DIY beginner looking to hang floating shelves, you’re in the right place. To hang your floating shelf, you’ll need to locate the studs in the wall, screw shelf brackets to the studs, and mount a shelf board onto the brackets.
Keep in mind: The method in this article relies heavily on wall studs. If you need to place your shelf in an area without them, read our article about how to hang floating shelves without wall studs.
What You’ll Need
The all-important first step in hanging a floating shelf is to prepare your equipment. Don’t worry, these tools are easy for beginners to procure and use. They include:
- Pencil
- Tape
- Tape Measure
- Stud Finder
- Drill
- Level
- Smartphone
- Floating Shelf Bracket
- Jig/Drill Guide/Drill Press
- Mallet
Step-by-Step Guide to Hanging Shelves
1. Find a Spot to Place Your Floating Shelf
This is part of the preparation for hanging your floating shelf. It involves selecting a wall and a spot on said wall where you’d like your floating shelf to be mounted.
Notice how we didn’t use the term “perfect spot?” That’s because it doesn’t have to be perfect. In fact, it doesn’t even need to have a stud behind it. While we do recommend finding a spot with a stud, your design preference matters more. You shouldn’t have to let go of a picture-perfect spot just because there’s no stud within it.
With that said, if the area you’ve chosen has a stud behind it, continue reading. But if it doesn’t, keep reading anyway; there’s a solution for that further down in this article.
2. Locate the Studs in the Wall
Floating shelves require sturdy support. Because of this, they’ll usually need to be affixed to something strong, solid, and capable of bearing a lot of weight. They’ll need the support of wall studs.
To locate a stud, simply grab your stud finder, move it horizontally across the wall, and use a pencil to mark the spots the tool signifies. Those are your stud edges. Pinpoint the centers of each stud and mark them down, as well.
Read More:
- How to Find a Stud in the Wall In 5 Easy Steps
- How to Find Studs Without a Stud Finder (A Beginner’s Guide)
3. Secure Your Floating Shelf Brackets
Once you’ve marked the centers of all your studs, it’s time to secure your floating shelf brackets to them. Here’s the process:
- Find your way to one stud center
- Fasten a shelf bracket to it with your drill
- Place a level on the now fastened bracket, ensuring that the level extends to the other stud centers you marked earlier
- Adjust the level as necessary until it indicates even spots on your stud centers
- Use a pencil to mark those spots
- Finally, use your drill to screw the other shelf brackets into the spots
Tip: If you can’t get your hands on a level, you can download a level app on your smartphone. Go to your Play Store or App Store, search “level app”, and you’ll be met with a variety of software to choose from. Your phone may also have this feature built-in.
4. Drill Into the Shelf Board
To complete the installation, affix the board back-first to the shelf brackets. Holes at the back of the shelf board are aligned with the rods sticking out of the shelf brackets. The idea is to get a firm fit.
If your shelf board doesn’t already have a pre-drilled hole for you to fit the rods of the brackets into, you’ll have to drill your own hole.
Locating Drill Spots
The first thing to do here is to find the exact spots to drill. Place the back of the shelf board directly on the rods and apply force. This will create a dent in the back of the board for you to mark with your pencil. Those are the spots you’ll be drilling into.
Finding the Right Depth
When you drill, you need to make sure that the depth is neither too deep nor too shallow. To get the right depth, remove your drill bit, measure it against the rods of the shelf brackets, and mark the spot with tape. Once you have the right depth, put your drill bit back in and get drilling.
Drilling the Hole
To drill a straight hole in your shelf board without any mistakes, we suggest using a jig, drill guide, or drill press. Use one of these tools first to make a guaranteed straight hole in the board, and then follow up with the actual drilling using a half-inch drill bit.
Tip: Did you know you can mount a shelf without drilling into the wall? Read our article to learn how to hang wall shelves without drilling.
5. Mount the Board to the Brackets
After drilling the appropriate holes in the back of your shelf board, the final step is to attach the shelf board to the shelf brackets.
This process should take about a minute to complete. Simply take the shelf board and align its holes with the rods of the shelf brackets, making sure that each rod fits securely into each hole. If you encounter any resistance, use a mallet to gently drive in the board, until it’s flush against the wall.
Congratulations! You have successfully installed a floating shelf all on your own.
Read more: How Far Apart Should Floating Shelves Be?
FAQs About Hanging a Floating Shelf
What If the Floating Shelf is Not Flush Against the Wall?
If you notice that your floating shelf board is not lying flat against the wall, the brackets are the likely culprit. Since this happens because the brackets are too bulky to fit into the back of the shelf board, the solution is to create enough room within the shelf board.
To do this, first unmount the board from the bracket. Measure the size of the brackets and trace the same with a pencil around the back of the shelf board. Then, carve out those areas to create space for the brackets. Once that’s done, just slide the board back in and this time, the brackets should fit snugly into it.
Can I Hang a Floating Shelf With Just Screws?
Yes, you can hang a floating shelf with just screws. This method relies heavily on wall studs, so the first step is to locate them. After that, make two holes in your shelf board and drive a long, sturdy screw into them until the screw penetrates your drywall; but don’t stop there. Keep driving the screw through, and only stop when you can feel that the screw is nestled deep within the stud in the wall.
Note: You’ll need an especially long and sturdy screw for this.
When to Call a Pro
If you’re new to DIY home improvement, a little help can go a long way toward making sure the job is done right.
Home Gnome delivers the best home service experience at the click of a button. Book reliable, skilled handymen and handywomen in seconds and leave the rest to us.
Main Image Credit: Prostock-studio / Adobe Stock Free / License
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