How to Install Floating Shelves

Floating shelves are the ultimate upgrade for any room where you need function without the visual clutter of bulky brackets. By hiding the hardware inside the wood itself, you achieve a minimalist look that draws the eye directly to your display items. It is a deceptively simple project, but it requires absolute precision in your leveling and stud finding to ensure the final result doesn't sag or drift under load. Done well, a floating shelf looks like it is defying gravity. Done poorly, it pulls away from the drywall or tilts forward, eventually failing. The secret to success is anchoring your mounting hardware into at least two wall studs. Never rely on drywall anchors alone for floating shelves, as the leverage exerted by the shelf's depth will inevitably rip them right out of the wall.

  1. Find Your Wall's Skeleton. Use a high-quality stud finder to identify the center of the wall studs where the shelf will sit. Mark these locations clearly on the wall with a pencil and use a level to draw a light vertical line through each mark.
  2. Dead-Level or Bust. Place the shelf's mounting bracket against the wall, aligning the pre-drilled holes with your marked stud locations. Hold a carpenter's level on top of the bracket to ensure it is perfectly horizontal before marking the screw holes.
  3. Bite Into the Stud. Remove the bracket and drill pilot holes into the studs at your marks. Ensure the drill bit is slightly smaller than the diameter of your mounting screws to maintain maximum wood grip.
  4. Lock It Down Tight. Drive the mounting screws through the bracket and into the wall studs. Tighten them firmly, but be careful not to overtighten and strip the wood fibers inside the stud.
  5. Glide Into Place. Slide the shelf onto the bracket rods until it sits flush against the wall. If the fit is tight, use a rubber mallet to gently tap the shelf onto the rods.
  6. Prevent The Slip. Insert the set screws or locking pins provided with your shelf kit into the underside of the shelf. This prevents the shelf from sliding off the bracket if bumped.