This article was co-authored by diy home decor Pete Sveen Pete Sveen is a DIY enthusiast based in Montana. The two pieces of 1 x 3 will interlock holding the shelf firmly to the wall. So that end 2″ x 2″ piece not only has the two original screws holding it on, but it also has two pocket screws that I attached after the bracket had been attached to the wall. This plan combines the best of two designs - Ana White's Barn Beam Ledges and Young House Love Floating Shelves - to create large and sturdy floating shelves.

This one uses a single stained plank with two pocket holes for hanging the shelf. Floating shelves can be as simple as a piece of beautifully stained wood that hangs on your wall and appears to ‘float.' These shelves are free of brackets and other supports that are visible which creates a clean and clutter free appearance.

Use a pencil to mark the screw-mounting holes in the second bracket onto the wall. On the underside of the shelf there are fixing screws located that screw up into holes in the fixing bracket. Paint or stain the shelf in a color of your choice. This piece form the u-shaped frame of your shelf.

Drive 1¼-inch wood screws through the longer 1×2 pieces and into the ends of the shorter 1×2 pieces to hold the pieces in place. Plus, I'm thinking of using the Kreg HD which using larger diameter screws (#14 to be exact) and is expressly designed for larger cuts of lumber.

Then I placed the bottom of the shelf on top of the spacer running a bead of glue everywhere the bottom piece mad contact with the other pieces. So while you can buy cheap shelves in stores and install them quickly, just a little bit more effort in building DIY shelves will give you unique results.