Whether you’re a skilled-DIYer or a novice looking to take on your first home improvement project, floating shelves are a great project that almost anyone can tackle on their own (or with the help of a friend!). But if you aren’t sure where to get started, floating shelves can seem somewhat daunting — especially considering they need to be able to support the weight of your items without falling, breaking, and causing damage to your wall. Rest assured, with the tools and tried-and-true instructions, you’ll have your floating shelves hanging in no time.
If you’re ready to get started, you’ve come to the right place. Kitchen Cabinet Kings has put together a helpful guide that will walk you through the best way to hang floating shelves so you can have peace of mind knowing they’re built to last.
3 Methods for Hanging Floating Shelves
Are you hoping to enhance the look of your mudroom by installing floating shelves? Do you want a single shelf above your bed where you can showcase a favorite piece of artwork? Is your newly renovated kitchen utilizing modern open shelving instead of traditional cabinets?
Before getting started with your do-it-yourself project, it’s important to understand what you are working with. Will your shelves be installed directly on drywall? Are there studs where you plan to attach them? Will they have brackets or no brackets? Knowing the answer to these questions will help you determine the best method for hanging floating shelves in your home.
1. How to Hang a Floating Shelf on Drywall
To get started hanging your floating shelf on drywall, use your stud finder to locate the studs in the wall. As you slide the stud finder along the wall, lightly mark the wall in pencil where the studs are located.
One of the most popular ways to install floating shelves is with brackets. Drill into the marked stud that aligns with the placement you wanted for the shelf. We recommend starting with a 0.25 inch drill bit first and can eventually size up to 0.5 inches for the bracket. This allows you to make sure the placement is perfect before making the holes too large. Once the hole is made, you will insert the brackets into the hole, turning the bracket until there is a bit of resistance and the bracket feels secured in the wall.
Now that the first bracket has been secured in place, use a level and stud finder to determine the ideal placement for the shelf’s second bracket. Following the same method, install the second bracket and secure it in place, making sure to measure the ideal distance apart the brackets need to be to properly fit the shelf.
If store-bought, the shelf will likely have pre-drilled holes in it for the brackets. If not, use your drill to create bracket holes along the backside of the shelf. Slide the shelf onto the brackets using the holes to secure it in place.
2. How to Hang a Floating Shelf Without Brackets
Now that we’ve covered how to install floating shelves with brackets, it’s time to kick things up a notch and uncover how to hang a floating shelf without brackets. Similar to the previous method, you’re going to start by using a stud finder to locate the studs in the wall. Use a pencil to lightly mark the positioning of the studs.
Without brackets, you’ll want to use a different type of hidden support mechanism to add additional stability to the shelf — especially if you are going to actually be using the shelves! Depending on your preferences, you can opt for pins, rods, ledges, or keyhole brackets. We recommend researching the various options and determining which makes the most sense for your shelf’s use-case. Follow the manufacturer’s directions for whichever support mechanism you decide on.
Position the shelf on the wall, adhering it using the support method you choose — ensuring that they are aligned with the studs (which is more important than ever since you aren’t using brackets!). Once the shelf is in place, test its stability by adding your items one by one, making sure it can fully support the weight of your items.
3. How to Hang a Floating Shelf Without Studs
Depending on the layout of your tiny bathroom or kitchen, you may find during the first step that the wall where you intend to install the shelf does not have studs. Luckily, with the proper anchors and support, you will still be able to install your floating shelves.
What type of wall are you installing the shelves on? Understand the material that you are working with so you can purchase suitable wall anchors that will be able to fully support the weight of your shelving. Use a level and tape measure to determine the ideal location for the anchors, drilling pilot holes and inserting them securely in place. Once the anchors are secured, you can follow your manufacturer instructions to secure the brackets in the wall (and anchors!).
While using anchors will allow you to install floating shelves without studs, it’s important to remember that these shelves will not be as secure. The lack of studs can reduce their weight-bearing capacity, so it’s important to be mindful of their stability as you fill them with your gorgeous knick-knacks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do floating shelves have to be installed into studs?
No, floating shelves do not have to be installed into studs. However, they will need to be secured to the wall using a suitable anchor to ensure they will be able to hold objects without tearing away from the wall (and causing damage to your drywall). With a proper anchor system, floating shelves will still be able to hold ample weight without studs.
How much weight can a floating shelf hold?
There are many factors that impact how much weight a floating shelf can hold, including length, depth, number of brackets, anchor system, and more. In most cases, floating shelves can hold objects from 25 lbs to 100 lbs. Be sure to read through your manufacturer’s instructions to understand what your shelving system is equipped to hold.
Can floating shelves fall?
Yes, if floating shelves are installed incorrectly they can fall. Not only can this cause your precious items to break but can cause damage to your wall and shelves. Make sure to follow your shelving’s instructions during installation, ensuring they are securely fastened to the wall. If you notice them sagging over time, you may need to reduce how much weight they are carrying or improve the brackets or anchors.
Are floating shelves effective storage in a kitchen?
If you have a kitchen with a small footprint, floating shelves can be an effective way at making the space feel larger than it really is. Because shelves take up less room than cabinets at eye-level, the room will feel more open. They make it easy to showcase your dishware but might not be the best choice if you have a lot of kitchen items that need to be organized and stored.
