DIY Hanging Shelves

Shelves can store many different things

Other than being more cost effective, creating shelves yourself from either planks of wood or old cabinets, stirs the creative juices and offers possibilities such as what paint color to use, or clear stain, or perhaps leaving the wood as it is for that natural look. After also choosing brackets (do you want one at each shelf end, or some in the middle also?) hanging the shelf securely to the wall is fairly simple and quick and if you're into do-it-yourself regularly, chances are you'll already have the tools you need.

Things You'll Need

• Spirit level
• Pencil
• Stud finder
• Brackets
• 2-inch wood screws
• Screw gun
• Shelves
• 1/2-inch wood screws

Instructions

1. Hold a spirit level evenly against the wall where you want to hang the shelves. Draw a pencil line along the top of the level and extend it so it is the length of the shelf. Do the same with the other shelves you want to hang: if they are above or below the first shelf, you will end up with parallel pencil lines on your wall.

2. Run a stud finder along the lines, marking on each line the center of each stud. Now install the brackets closest to the two ends of the shelf: hold the first bracket against one of the end studs, making sure the top is flush with the pencil line. Screw the bracket to the wall with 2-inch wood screws. Do the same with the other end bracket. Install brackets in the center of the shelf in the same fashion. Follow the same procedure to install brackets for the other shelves.

3. Rest the shelf on the brackets, making sure that the ends are equidistant from the two end brackets. Screw the brackets to the shelf, using 1/2-inch wood screws. Do the same with the other shelves.

Tips & Warnings

• If you want to install a bracket where there is no wall stud, punch holes into the wall--use the bracket as a template--using a small screwdriver and install wall plugs (screw anchors). Then simply screw the bracket to the wall plugs.

• If you want to hang the shelves from the ceiling, use a stud finder to find the center of ceiling joists, and insert a metal 1/4-inch diameter hook to the joists closest to the ends of the shelf. Then use chain--different thicknesses are available--to attach the ends of the shelf to the hooks in the ceiling. You can also buy chain that has brackets at one end that screw to the ends of the shelf; while the other end hangs from the wall hooks.

• If your shelves are holding heavy objects, it's best to have at least one bracket installed in the center of the shelf, as well as the ones at both ends.

References

• "Home Improvement 1-2-3;" Benjamin W. Allen, Christopher Cavanaugh; 1995