DIY Mantle/Floating Shelf
by
Shane Imler
4 Materials
A friend asked me if I could build a mantle for her to hang in her living room. I had never built one before, but figured it can't be that hard, right? After some trial and error, I must say that I'm pretty pleased with the end result!
She wanted the mantle 55" wide and about 8" deep. I built it using 1"x8"x6' pine boards. The support was built from a 2x4.
I made the mantle just tall enough to fit over the 2x4 frame. I cut down the window frame boards so the frame wouldn't be so think and used pocket screws to hold it together. Using a router, I cut out a notch in the back for the mirror to set in. The window slats were made using thin strips of window molding.
I used Minwax Special Walnut stain. It may be my new favorite color! I wanted to do a second coat of stains before sealing it, but she liked the way the color looked. Once dry, I used a spray polyurethane to seal it.
This is the complete piece assembled. I drilled small holes in the bottom of the window frame and the top of the mantle. I used 2" wood dowels to hold the two pieces together.
Hung on her wall. I attached the 2x4 frame first, using 4" Spax screws. They held quite nicely. Once I slid the frame on, I used 1" Spax screws to screw into the bottom of the mantle (by the wall) into the 2x4 frame to keep it from sliding off. The mirror just leans back against the wall and did not require additional anchoring.
Another view. Not bad for my first attempt!
Comments
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2 of 35 comments
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Not bad, everything looks GOOD to me.......I totally love it!! Great idea and the turnout LOOKS great!!!
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Beautiful!! Definitely putting this on my honey do list! Great job!!
Frequently asked questions
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How did you hang the mantle itself without visible supports?
Yes, that sun reflection on your couch from that mirror can cause your couch to catch on fire. Honestly. Did you ever use a mirror to start a fire. We learn that in science class.