How to Hang Decorative Wooden Shelves

Decorative wooden shelves are usually very affordable and make a great addition to the interior design of any home. Besides being useful for storing or displaying items, they also personalize the home. Hanging decorate wooden shelves is easy to do, once you learn all the steps involved. You will need some tools, such as a stud finder, wall anchors, a drill or screwdriver (electric is always easier!), a hammer and a level.

Things You'll Need

• Stud Finder Pencil Level Electric drill or manual screwdriver Anchors Hammer Brackets Screws Shelf

Instructions

1. Get proper brackets and nails. Usually, these come with shelves, but if you don't have them, take the shelf to a home improvement store such as Lowe's or Home Depot and ask the sales clerk what type you need. Most shelves will need shelf brackets that are L-shaped.

2. Find the studs inside the wall with a stud finder. Studs are usually 16 inches apart, but make sure by measuring 16 inches from the first stud you want to use. Attaching the shelf brackets to the studs ensures that the shelf will be sturdy and won't fall off the wall or damage the wall itself.

3. Mark an X with a pencil on each point of the wall where you are going to be drilling a hole for the bracket. Line up the brackets to each hole and measure these points with a level to make sure they are equal distance apart and are even on both sides. Make sure one isn't higher than the other.

4. Drill and install the anchors. Anchors are usually plastic and gray or white. Drill a small hole where the X's are to fit in the anchors, which hold the screw in place. Install the anchors into the drill holes by slowly tapping them in with a hammer.

5. Install the brackets onto the wall. Drill or screw the brackets into the wall anchors that you installed in the previous step. In some instances, the shelf will already be attached to the brackets. If it isn't, you can either attach the shelf before you install the brackets or, once the brackets are mounted securely to the wall, attach the shelf to the top of the brackets.

Tips & Warnings

• Do a "test drill" (not more than 2 to 3 centimeters) into the wall to make sure you have found the stud.