How to Hang Wall Curio Cabinets

Curio cabinets can often be conveniently mounted to the wall, allowing more floor space access, and lifting the treasured objects up to a more comfortable and inviting point of view. Since most shelves of this type are relatively light, you may not even need to find the studs in the wall to hang one, as ordinary nylon wall inserts will hold securely enough.

Things You'll Need

• 4-foot Carpenter's level
• Phillips No. 2 screwdriver
• Nylon drywall screw anchors
• Mounting screws

Instructions

1. Hold the curio cabinet against the wall in the position you want to hang it. Don't block electrical outlets, vents, or other wall-mounted objects. Make a faint mark on the wall at the top center of the curio cabinet.

2. Measure the width of the cabinet and write the number down. On the back of the cabinet, measure from the center out to the mounting hook on the left side. Make the same measurement on the right side. If the mounting brackets are set below the top of the cabinet, measure the distance from the mounting notch or hook to the top of the cabinet.

3. Measure from the mark you made on the wall down the distance to where the left-hand mounting bracket will be and make another small mark. Hold the carpenter's level flat against the wall at the mark you just made. Keep the level level, and measure out from it in both directions for the mounting bracket locations. Make a small mark at each location.

4. Erase the first two marks. You will not need to erase the two outer marks as they will be covered by your wall anchors.

5. Screw the mounting screws into the wall 1/4 inch. Remove the screws, and place the wall anchors into the holes. Use the handle end of the screwdriver to tap the anchors into the wall until the flat rim of the anchor rests flush against the wall.

6. Screw the screws into the wall anchors until only about 1/8 inch is left protruding. Hold the curio cabinet against the wall with the mounting brackets just above the screws, and slowly lower the cabinet down onto the screws. Make sure that both sides have been seated on the screws.

Tips & Warnings

• Some curio cabinets will not have built-in mounting brackets. To install your own, simply align the bracket flush with the uppermost flat area the run all the way across the back of the cabinet.

• For heavier cabinets, use expansion anchors instead of nylon screw anchors.

References

• Ask the Builder: Wall Anchor Types and Strengths
• Bob Vila: How to Hang Curio Shelves
• Ideas for Wall Shelf Decorating