The trend of open shelves in the kitchen isn’t going anywhere. If pre-made shelf options out there don’t fit your space, you can use this tutorial on how to DIY your own floating shelves. They can be made any size you like and used for easy access to your everyday kitchen wares or to display some of your favourite pieces. We’ll take you through the steps and show you everything you need to build your own DIY floating shelves.
There are 7 steps to completing this project:
Cut your shelf wood to the desired length then begin to prep by sanding it using either a belt or palm sander. Start by using a 120-grit sandpaper, changing it regularly. Depending on how rough the wood is you may want to do at least 2 rounds of sanding.
To get your wood as smooth as possible, change to a finer 240-grit sandpaper and continue to sand. You want it to be smooth because once you stain it, any rough spots or imperfections will be magnified. Wipe down the shelves with a damp cloth and then with a tack cloth to get rid of all the wood dust. Allow wood to completely dry
Using a clean microfibre cloth and following the directions on label, apply a coat of wood conditioner to the shelves. This will help to even out the tone of the stain you apply later. If you’re using oil-based or water-based stain, make sure you use the same type of wood conditioner.
After the conditioner has properly dried, use a new, clean microfibre cloth and apply your first coat of stain, following the directions on the label. Apply as many coats you need to get your desired colour, making sure to let it dry completely between coats.
After your shelf is the colour you desire, use another clean microfibre cloth to apply 2-3 coats of polyurethane to protect the shelf from wear and tear, allowing them to dry in between coats.
When mounting your shelf brackets, be sure to use the recommended number of brackets for the length of your shelf. Be sure that you mount them into the studs for maximum support. A stud finder can help you locate your studs to make things easier. You can even paint your brackets to match your décor.
Place your finished shelves on the brackets and secure them with screws so they don’t move. Then, fill them up with your kitchen goods and enjoy!
This article was published in partnership with The Sweet Escape.
