Hang Floating Shelves: Easy Step-By-Step Guide

Floating shelves are a great way to add storage and style to your home. Whether they’re used to stylishly store your cookbooks, plants, nicknacks, or décor, floating shelves add a sleek, minimalist, and modern look. If you’re handy and love to DIY, you can easily hang floating shelves yourself.

Our stress-free step-by-step guide will teach you how to hang floating shelves easily and quickly so you can get to the fun part – decorating them!

Step 1: Gather Your Tools

Here are a few essential tools you’ll need on hand to hang your shelves:

• Floating shelf and bracket
• Stud finder
• Screws
• Drill
• Wall anchors
• Level
• Tape measure
• Pencil

Step 2: Find the Studs (Or Use Anchors)

The best way to hang your floating shelves is to attach them to your wall studs. These are the strong parts of your wall that can hold the most weight. To find them, use a stud finder, which is a tool that beeps or lights up when it detects a stud in your wall. Once you find it, mark the stud with a pencil.

If you can’t find the studs, use wall anchors to hang the shelves instead. Metal brackets should be used for further support, which can be braced between two studs if necessary. Keep in mind that the brackets should not be used by themselves but only in addition to mounting the shelf on the studs or wall anchors.

Step 3: Measure and Mark the Wall

Shelf placement should be a well-thought-out process, as it will alter the aesthetics of the room. Grab your tape measure and pencil and mark the wall vertically with your pencil where your shelves will go.

1. Decide on the height: Measure from the floor to the spot on the wall where the bottom of the shelf will be.
2. Measure for multiple shelves: If you’re hanging more than one shelf, use your tape measure to measure the distance between them so they’re evenly spaced. The distance measurement is essential to ensure the shelves look great next to each other.
3. Mark the stud locations: Along the line, locate the studs behind the wall using a stud finder and mark the center line of the studs. If using a wood mounting plate, which Fabuwood offers with our floating shelves, hold it up in the desired location and transfer stud lines to the plate. If studs are not available, bracing between studs is necessary.  

Step 4: Ensure Shelves are Straight

After marking the stud lines, use the level to draw vertical lines from the top to the bottom of where the shelves will be. These lines will guide you in keeping the anchors and brackets straight.

Step 5: Drill the Holes and Install the Anchors and Brackets

To install the shelf anchors, line them up with the pencil marks you made. If you attach it to the studs, drill directly into the wall. If you use brackets, place them on the wood mounting plate and ensure they line up with the stud center location. Mark the two outside vertical holes and drill the holes for them through the wood mounting plate.

Pro Tips:

1. If your shelf anchor doesn’t line up with the studs, don’t be afraid to drill extra holes in the bracket to make it work! The more studs you can hit, the stronger your shelf will be.
2. You must use the correct size drill bit for the holes. If you’re using an anchor, match the drill bit to the anchor.

Step 6: Attach the Shelf

It's time to attach the shelf after your anchors and brackets are in place. Using the correct-sized screws, fasten the metal bracket and wood mounting plate to the wall using the upper outside vertical hole on the metal bracket. Repeat for the second bracket.

Step 7: Double Check Your Work

Make sure the shelf is level and everything looks right. If anything is off, now is the time to fix it.

Step 8: Decorate

Now is the fun part! Let your creativity shine, and decorate your floating shelves with fun nicknacks, souvenirs, books, beautiful dishware, and anything you think would bring a stylish element to your kitchen. While you have your tools out, try hanging your coffee mugs under your cabinets for a fun and elegant décor idea.

Final Tips:

• Follow instructions: If your floating shelf came with its instructions, read them! This will ensure your shelf is installed correctly and securely.
• Use the correct screws: Make sure your screws are long enough to securely attach the shelf to the wall, especially if you’re using wall anchors.
• Watch out for wires or pipes: Avoid hitting electrical wires or water pipes when drilling. Hire a pro if you’re unsure.

Following our simple guide, you can easily hang your floating shelves. Floating shelves are a great way to add style and flair to your kitchen, especially when decorated thoughtfully. If you have a small kitchen, floating shelves help create the illusion of a larger space. To learn more about our floating shelves and other accessories, visit your local dealer.