Easy DIY Wood Shelf

 

One of the easiest projects I have done so far is this handmade floating shelf.  

Depending on the size you want it, the shelf requires little to no wood, tools, or expertise to make. The longest part is waiting for the stain to dry. I first came across this style of shelf on a popular home décor website listed for $149.00 that price blew my mind! I knew I could scrape up some wood and make this myself for under $20. 

Step one

The first step into making this shelf is to get your materials. For a 4ft shelf, you will need:

• 1x3x8 board
• 1x2x8 board (you will have scrap left over)
• Stain of your choosing
• Sandpaper
• Wood glue
• Clamps
• Finish nails and hammer (or a finish nail gun)

Step two

Cut your boards. You will need to cut the 1x3x8 in half. Take your tape measure and measure the exact length of the board and find the center. You can use a hand saw with miter box or a miter saw if you have it. Whatever tool you have on hand and are comfortable with. For this project I used my hand saw.

Take the exact measurement of your 1x3’s and cut your 1x2 that length. For example, if they were 3ft 11 ¾inches then cut your 1x2 that length. The extra wood from the 1x2 will not be needed for this project so you can save it for later.

Step three

Sand and stain your boards. First you will want to take your sandpaper and give each board a complete sanding, including the ends to soften up any rough spots from cutting. Wipe off the board with a moistened rag to remove all the dust particles after you are done sanding.

Next you will want to grab the stain you are using and give it a good stir with a paint stick. You can use a foam brush or a rag to apply the stain to the wood in a nice thin even coat. You will then need to wipe off any excess stain with a rag after you apply the stain. If you want your stain color to be darker, you can apply a second coat following the same steps as the first coat. Give the stain about 30 minutes to dry before doing so. This step takes the longest because you must let the boards dry completely before handling them again.

Step four

Time to glue and nail the shelf together! After all the pieces are dry, you are going to take the two 1x3 boards and place them together in an L shape. As you can see from the picture, the board standing up will be the back of the shelf while the board laying down will be your base. Take some glue and dab the edge where they meet and clamp the two boards together. This is where you are going to put a few nails in with your hammer or nail gun. Wipe up any glue that may have dripped from between the boards with a damp paper towel or rag. After you let the glue dry for about 20-30 minutes. You are going to unclamp the two boards. Add glue to the front of the base board and attach the 1x2 to the front of the L to create a ledge. Make sure all the boards are flush on the edges and the base for a clean, slick look. Clamp all three boards together and add some nails to the 1x2 for additional security.

Step five

After all the glue is dry, you can unclamp the shelf and it should be ready to hang! For hanging, you can add hangers to the back of the shelf, but it will sit off the wall a bit, giving it a tilted look. Or you can do what I did and just put a screw right through the wood. I measured 32 inches (wall studs are usually 16 inches apart) and drilled a whole through the back of the shelf and attached it to the wall with 2 drywall screws. They aren’t that noticeable with my dark stain, and once you add photos to your shelf, you don’t even notice them.

After reading all of this, it may seem like a lot of work, but honestly it isn’t that much once you get going. I hope you found this shelf not so intimidating and are willing to give it a try!