Easy DIY Bracket Shelves

11 Materials
$20
2 Hours
Easy

If you're looking for a quick an easy update to any space, these DIY bracket shelves are a great option! I’ve used them in two bathrooms and my laundry room. Make use of your vertical space for storage and decor with this quick naptime project.


Step One: Prep your boards. I chose to use 2x common board cut to length for my space. Common board can have a slight yellow tint to it at times, and can be a little rough. I sanded mine down well with a 120 grit paper followed by a 220 grit paper then applied my stain. I used to coats of the weathered stain, and distressed slightly with 220 grit again after the application. There are so many ways to customize these!

I stained mine with this odor free / low VOC Old Barn Milk Paint stain. It has no smell and dries quickly, but gives you an aged and weather look. Clearly this can has gotten a lot of use, because I just love this stuff!

Step Two: Hang your brackets. If you’ll be placing anything of significant weight on these shelves you’ll want to try and find a stud first. If it lines up correctly, pre dill your holes and secure the bracket to the wall. Because I wanted mine evenly spaced, I wasn’t always able to do this. WallDog self anchoring screws are a breeze. They serve as both an anchor and screw into drywall when you can’t find the stud, and can hold a good amount of weight. Just be sure to not over tighten. TIP: When hanging your second bracket be sure to level from the top or bottom of the actual bracket vs. lining up the screw holes. Not all brackets are created equal, and the screw holes will not always line up evenly.

As you can see. Not all brackets are created equal.


Step three: Place your boards!

Get a cute little helper. It makes the project that much more enjoyable!

Check for level!

These particular brackets also have mounting holes from the bottom if you’d like extra reinforcement.



Step Four: Decorate!! Shown here in my guest bathroom, the shelving can serve as both decoration and storage.


And again here in my laundry room.



That's it! This super simple project makes a big impact in any space for a minimal cost investment. Be sure to check out the blog link for more on this project and other fun DIYs!

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Jessica | The Martin Nest
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
3 of 4 questions
  • Gail Gail on May 05, 2019

    Where do you purchase Old Barn Milk Paint stain? The link is for Amazon and it’s not the same product.

  • Mymeme Mymeme on May 05, 2019

    Where did you purchase the white storage boxes on top shelve in laundry room?

  • Kristin Kristin on May 07, 2019

    How did you rate a window in your laundry room? :)

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3 of 13 comments
  • Linda Premo Linda Premo on May 06, 2019

    Hey are you the awesome round table lady? These shelves are great because the brackets look like wood jewelry. Love these too. Thanks for sharing❣️


  • Charise. Charise. on May 13, 2019

    Amazing! I have a million brackets, boards, screws, a drill, a stud finder...everything I need to put up a shelf in almost every inch of wall in my home. The problem: I so afraid to drill a hole in the wall. One of these days, I'll conquer that fear. lol!

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