How to Build Floating Display Shelves (in Your New Home)

Moving into a new home can be an exciting time. The best part is being able to customize and personalize the space to reflect your style. You can transform a boring builder-grade bathroom into a customized-looking spa retreat by adding DIY Floating Display Shelves, which are perfect for showing off art and accessories. But preparing for move-in day is important and the task can be easier with a few helpful tips.

First set your sights high! Don’t forget to remove all that built-up dust, dander and allergens from your ceiling fans easily with a Swiffer Extender 360 Duster.

Deep clean away the previous owner’s bathroom grime and germs easily from the floors, sinks, counters, showers, tubs, and toilets with Mr. Clean Liquid Muscle multi-purpose cleaner. No rinsing needed, just dry with Bounty paper towels for quick cleaning.

And before you start building those fabulous floating display shelves, remove any residual hair spray build-up or scuff marks on the wall with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.

Let’s build some shelves!

DIY Floating Display Shelves

Supplies Needed

• Stud finder
• ScotchBlue Painter’s Tape
• Level
• Compound miter saw
• Nail gun with 1¼-in. nails and 2-in. nails, or drill and screws
• Wood glue
• Wood filler
• Behr Premium Plus Paint and Primer in One (satin or semi gloss) + paint brush
• (1) 1-in. x 4-in. x 8-ft. Primed Finger Joint Pine Board
• (3) ¾-in. x 36-in. square dowel rods
• (1) 1-9/16-in. or 1¾-in. decorative trim moulding (pre-primed or composite)

Step 1

Use a stud finder and mark the studs with a small square of painter’s tape.

Cut the  painter’s tape into three separate lengths. I chose 18 in., 30 in., and 36 in. Place the tape horizontally on the wall where you would like the shelves. Use a level to make sure the tape is level.

Note: You need to make sure that each strip of tape is somewhat centered over at least two wall studs.

Step 2

Cut the 1-in. x 4-in. x 8-ft. primed finger joint pine board into your desired shelf lengths (18 in., 30 in., 36 in.) with a miter saw.

Cut the square dowels to the same lengths, except subtract ¼ in. from each dowel (17¾ in., 29¾ in., 35¾ in.).

The square dowels will be the cleats that the shelves will rest upon.

Step 3

Cut the trim with a miter saw. Be sure to stand the trim up flat against the saw fence as pictured below.

The first cut will be a 45° angle to the left. This trim piece will eventually be placed on the right side of your shelf.

The second cut will be a straight 90°. That straight cut will be flush against the wall when installed.

To find where exactly you need to make the cut, I found that the easiest way was to place the inside edge of the newly cut trim right against the right side of the shelf board and mark with a pencil where that board ends (see pic above).

Be sure to cut the trim board on the right side of your marking.

Repeat Step 3 again for the left side trim piece, but in the opposite 45° direction. And for the front trim piece follow Step 3, but instead of straight cuts, you will be making opposing 45° cuts.

Pictured below are all the pieces for one shelf, lying flat.

Here is a view from above to help you visualize how your three trim pieces need to look.

Step 4

Nail the trim to the shelf board using 1¼-in. trim nails, or you can use wood glue. A combination of both is even better!

Fill in any nail holes with white wood filler.

Step 5

Paint the shelves (tops and bottoms) and dowel cleats with Behr Premium Plus Paint and Primer in One.

Allow the shelves to dry.

Step 6

Align the dowel cleats directly under the tape. Nail the cleat into the studs (two nails for each stud) with 2-in. nails and your nail gun.

Add a few nails in between, also. They won’t be going into wood, but it will help.

If you choose to use a drill instead, then be sure to pre-drill first before drilling in the screws to prevent possible splitting.

Step 7

Place your shelves onto the cleats and nail the shelves to the cleats with the 1½-in. nails or screws. I nailed every 2 inches.

If the shelves flex at all then add more nails into the cleats.

Step 8

Fill the nail holes with wood filler, and then wipe the shelves down with a wet Bounty paper towel to remove any wood filler dust.

Touch up the nail hole areas with paint.

Step 9

Time to celebrate and decorate! Add bottles of bubble bath, or bath salts, candles, folded towels, flowers, art… whatever expresses your style!

What was once a boring blank wall feels now like a special and serene spa oasis, and best of all, you made it!

Welcome home!

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