How to Put Up A Floating Shelf

November 2021 Sophie OMahony

Watch Jordan, our workshop supervisor, install our floating shelves to a brick wall.

What Will I Need to Install Floating Shelves?

To install our floating shelves on a brick wall, you will need:

Drill
Spirit Level
Pencil
Tape Measure
Adjustable Spanner
Hammer

Our floating shelves come with all fixings you need to mount them on your wall at home.

Step-By-Step Guide: How to Install Our Floating Shelves

Measure and level to mark up the drill holes

Step 1.

First, decide where to position the shelf and use a tape measure and level to mark up the drill holes. Make sure the holes you drill are measured to align with the pre-drilled holes on the back of our solid wood shelving.

Drill a 10mm hole

Step 2.

Drill a 10mm diameter hole and place the wall plug inside, hammering it flush with the wall.

Slip washer onto screw thread

Step 3.

Next, slip the washer onto the screw thread and screw the shelf's supporting pin into the wall plug.

At this step, the screw is not centred with the bracket as it allows you to adjust it.

Push shelf on as far as nerl section

Step 4.

Push the shelf onto the fixings, so it is snug to the wall. This gives you the chance to check how it'll look and make any final adjustments.

Use a spanner or adjustable wrench to level shelf

Step 5.

Now, use a spanner or an adjustable wrench to level the shelf. The steel brackets included with our floating shelves adjust when rotated.

Turning the screws tightens the fitting and adjusts the height.

Push shelf all the way to wall

Step 6.

Once you are completely happy with the height of the floating shelf, and it is level, push the shelf all the way to the wall.

Are Floating Shelves Hard to Install?

This method, demonstrated by Jordan, is a quick and simple way of mounting your new floating shelf to any solid wall. Take care when installing a floating shelf to a stud or plasterboard wall, it may not sit level as they are a weaker wall type.

If you are looking to install shelving on a stud or plasterboard wall yourself, we recommend choosing from our selection of bracketed shelves. However, with the help of a professional joiner or skilled DIY enthusiast, our floating shelves can be fitted to your timber frame walls as well.

Please note, we are unable to guarantee the shelves if they are installed into alternative wall types or using alternative methods.

For more information about fitting your shelves, please refer to the instructions sent with your shelf or visit our website.

Or if you've decided floating shelving isn't for you, bracketed shelves are a great alternative. Explore our range of shelf brackets, from the retro peg-storage hutton bracket to the statement circular penshaw bracket.