How to Build Picture Ledges

Thistlewood
by Thistlewood
4 Materials
$11
2 Hours
Easy

This is such a fun project you can finish in an afternoon. They sell these same picture ledges at high end stores---but you can make your own for about $11. Here's the step-by-step instructions on how to make a picture ledge.

It all started with these marquee letters. You can find them anywhere. I put them on the picture ledge instead of pictures. They helped create one of my favorite projects to date.

This is a quote wall with marquee letters sitting on picture ledges we made out of 1″x 2″ boards.

The entire project cost about $11 to make.

1. Purchase your lumber

I bought four of these boards from Lowe’s.

They measure 1″ x 2″ by 8′.

They were $2.48 each.

2. Cut boards to size

We cut each of the boards in half. Each of the shelves measures 1″ x 2″ x 4′.

3. Attach boards together

Here’s a close-up of what the picture ledges that we made look like.

We just attached one board to the other and then nailed them directly into the wall.

Together they form a backwards L.

4. Add your picture or a message

I took those same marquee letters that have traveled across the Mississippi river with me and created a quote wall.

It reads:

Live

Laugh

Joy

Repeat.

I love how it turned out and it was such a simple project! You can make your own this weekend! One quick tip---you could also add a board to the front of them to hold the pictures in place!

Here are a couple of other fun projects I created with the marquee letters:

Office organizers

Desk decor


Suggested materials:
  • Plywood   (Lowe's)
  • Pine boards   (Lowe's)
  • White paint   (Sherwin-Williams)
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Thistlewood
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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  2 questions
  • Joy Joy on Jun 30, 2020

    Where did you get the beautiful rug?

  • Amanda Peterson Amanda Peterson on Oct 08, 2020

    What a creative way to display marquee letters in your home! That whole area is beautiful. I am curious as to the sliding ruler piece. Did you make that yourself? I would love to recreate that as well!

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