Open Kitchen Shelving with Rustic Brackets

Attach the bracket's bottom leg to the top piece on the back side, using glue and a 1-1/4" pocket screw.

Clamp the bracket securely to your workbench and mark the exact placement of the cross support — this matters, since it's what carries the shelf's load. Glue the cross support in and let it dry fully before nailing through the back into it. Nail closer to the inside edge of the cross support rather than the center, where the wood is thickest and least likely to split.

Attach the shelf boards to the finished brackets with glue and screws, nails, or staples. Paint or stain the whole assembly now, before it's on the wall. Predrill mounting holes in the brackets, then secure the brackets to wall studs — not drywall alone. Reaching behind the cross support to drive a screw is a little tricky, but a screwdriver bit or a stubby drill will get you there.