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Storage & Shelving

Floating Wall Shelves with Gallery Rails

This is a great beginner project for anyone who needs some extra storage, wants a place for their plant babies, storage for some books or a place to display their trinkets!

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Difficulty
Easy
Time
2.3–4.3 hours
Cost
$$

About this build

This is a great beginner project for anyone who needs some extra storage, wants a place for their plant babies, storage for some books or a place to display their trinkets!

Tools

Essential

  • Circular Saw
  • Drill / Driver
  • Jigsaw
  • Miter Saw
  • Pocket Hole Jig

Materials

ItemQty
1x6x8', .75" x 5.25" x 96"3 board
Gallery rail, 20.5" including posts2 board
Kreg pocket screws 1 1/4"25 each
Super glue1 each
Stain or paint1 each
Sandpaper - 80, 120 and 2203 each
Wood glue1 each
Toggle bolts for wall attachment2 each

Overall cost: $$. Lumber prices vary by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure we would only be pretending to know.

Cut list

PartQtyT × W × L
Wall shelf sides23/4" × 5 1/4" × 38"
Top and bottom23/4" × 5 1/4" × 21 1/2"
Shelves23/4" × 5 1/4" × 21 1/2"
Decorative Top13/4" × 4" × 21 1/2"
Wall attachment Piece13/4" × 2 1/2" × 21 1/2"

What to buy

Buy 4 boards at 8 ft.

3/4" × 5 1/4"

2 boards

3/4" × 4"

1 board

3/4" × 2 1/2"

1 board

Assumes 8 ft stock, a 1/8" saw kerf, and buying each part at its own width. Change the board size or kerf on the full board plan →

Start building →

Instructions

  1. 11

    Attach the top and bottom pieces to the sides of the shelf with pocket holes and wood glue. The pocket holes should be facing up at the top and down at the bottom.

    Floating Wall Shelves with Gallery Rails — step photo 4
  2. 22

    • Cut out the decorative top piece with a jigsaw. I used random circular objects I had around the house to create the wave but you can really make any design you like for the top!
    • Attach the decorative top to the top of the shelf, underneath the top piece with wood glue and pocket screws.
    Floating Wall Shelves with Gallery Rails — step photo 5
  3. 33

    Attach the shelves the same distance apart, measuring from the bottom of the decorative top piece. Using a spacer block will make this step a lot easier! Make sure the pocket holes are facing the bottom and screw the shelves into the sides with pocket holes and wood glue.

    Floating Wall Shelves with Gallery Rails — step photo 6
  4. 44

    Screw in the wall shelf attachment to the back of the shelf with wood glue and pocket screws. The wall shelf attachment should be 2.5" wide to allow room to screw into the wall.

    Floating Wall Shelves with Gallery Rails — step photo 7
  5. 55

    Sand from 80, to 120 and then 220. Finish with your favorite paint, stain and finish for durability.

  6. 66

    • Glue the gallery rails to the two middle shelves. Use a dab of super glue and set the gallery rails about 1/2" back from the front of the shelves.
    • Leave them to try overnight. This step is optional but definitely adds to the vintage charm of this shelf!

    Tip: And that's it! You've built the cutest little floating storage shelf.

    Floating Wall Shelves with Gallery Rails — step photo 8

Tags

  • Storage Shelves
  • Beginner

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