Vintage Style Wooden Decorative Brackets DIY Tutorial

Vicky Kloppenborg
by Vicky Kloppenborg
3 Materials
$5
2 Days
Easy

Decorative brackets can be the perfect accessory for farm style and country decorating. They can lend just the right touch when used with a shelf, accentuating the corners of a doorway or window, or supporting a flower box.

Recently, I came up with a fun new bracket idea by adding chicken wire inserts for a bit of vintage flair. They take a little time, but I think they are worth the effort.


I traced my bracket pattern on to 1/2″ plywood. The plywood was only finished on one side, so the pattern was traced 2 face up, 2 face down, making sure the grain was running the same direction on all, then cut out with a scroll or band saw.

The insert pattern was centered and traced on each bracket.

Drill several large holes inside the drawn lines of the insert tracing. Cut the insert openings out with a scroll saw. I found it easier to connect some of the holes first, removing small chunks of wood from the center, then get a clean cut on the traced lines.

Sand to smooth all the rough edges before painting with exterior primer and paint so they can be used indoors or out.

Cut two pieces of chicken wire to extend over and cover the insert area, matching the pattern in the wire.

With a bracket finished side down, place the wire over the insert opening. Brush a little paint on the wire that extends on to the wood. Flatten the painted wire with a hammer. Staple the wire to the wood. Flatten the staples with a hammer so they are as flat as possible.

Apply some wood glue, and cover it with a matching bracket, finished side up. Clamp together tightly to dry. My brackets were large. I ended up using twice the amount of clamps that are shown in the picture below. It looked like some sort of a torture device when I sit it down to dry. Make sure to wipe away any glue that squeezes out when tightening the clamps.

After the brackets are dry, they can be sanded to smooth any uneven edges, and touched up with paint.

The brackets are done and can be used at this point, or, the outside edge can be trimmed with 1/4″ thick wood strips, which is how I choose to finish this pair before repainting.

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Vicky Kloppenborg
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