As I dust off my keyboard (partly because I feel like I haven’t posted in forever, partly because I’m literally working above my desk and, well, sawdust) and prepare to type this post, I truly feel like I understand what a “love/hate relationship” means. When you love something: the look, the satisfaction, the smell, the taste…but it isn’t necessarily good for you. Take Twix bars, for example. I love these little guys. They’re delicious, come in many sizes for my caloric or hunger needs. But they simply aren’t good for me (spoiler alert!) They make me double, even triple my morning run just to make it worth it. Love them. Hate them. Another example would be the hit TV show, This is Us. I love when my DVR notifies me that a new episode has recorded. I get ready, tissues in hand, and watch away. But those tissues are for tears, and I always wake up with swollen eyes and a different perspective for mothers with multiples (Ok, that part is good). But the swollen eyes. Seriously. Love it. Hate it. For this post, I will talk about my love/hate relationship with hand built and installed floating shelves. I love the way these look against any background be it white, grey, shiplapped, or pallet board. I love the satisfaction of building, staining, and installing a perfectly level shelf. I love the purpose it creates, allowing me much more storage than before. However, there is a flip side to that love. These turkeys are really difficult to build and install! Side note: this may be just my opinion. I am neither trained nor have many years building experience. But I have built, stained, and installed 7 floating shelves in the last 4 months, ranging from 3 feet to six feet long and 6 inches deep to 12 inches deep. See my first floating shelf build here. And let me tell you, each of them has been a journey of its own! In this post, I am going to give you my thoughts on the positive aspects of building and installing floating shelves (the Good), the negative aspects of building and installing floating shelves (the Bad) as well as some tips to watch out for when building and installing your own shelves (the Ugly (truth)).
Floating Shelves: The Good
In all reality, I love floating shelves. I would probably build them in almost every room to some form and capacity. They are beautiful in any stain (Ok, I’ve only stained them two very similar colors, but I can imagine alright?) or paint. They can function as desk shelves, bathroom shelves, hallway decor shelves, media shelves, dish display shelves, open shelving in the kitchen, open shelving flanking a fireplace. You really can put a floating shelf almost anywhere.
I also love the satisfaction of building a shelf. It is definitely a math related activity, and math is kinda ma thang. The measuring, the precision, and the power tools. Be still my beating heart. I began building with very simple tools, none of which plugged into a wall, except for my drill. Now, I prefer a cordless! So power tools have made my life soooo much easier when it comes to building. Check out this post for my top 5 DIY tools. Power tools are such an accomplishment when used correctly (and safely!). So to build a floating shelf (or anything for that matter) really is empowering. People have even hired me to build them floating shelves. Getting paid to do what I love to do? Now THAT is cool.
Floating Shelves: The Bad
Have I convinced you yet that I love floating shelves? Well, I am also here to tell you that they aren’t always exact squares and right angles (my builder’s analogy for bunnies and roses). When building a shelf, or any piece where things will sit on and be expected to stay there and not roll off, precision is key, for the shelf that is. It’s difficult to be precise. Like, really difficult. Here are the tools needed to be precise: a square, a good blade, clamps (lots and lots of clamps), sawhorses to get your build off of the very uneven floor, skillset to use said power tools, maybe even a second set of hands (not sold in stores). These things take time and money, people even. I have acquired most of these over time (I still could use more clamps), and even after building 7 floating shelves in the past few months, I wish I could say I have mastered it, but the truth is I haven’t. Here’s the worst part. My shelves could’ve turned out EXACTLY perfect, no flaws, perfect right angles at the corners. The braces could’ve been perfectly level, all cuts and measurements precise. BUT since my house was built in the 60s, the walls are not exact. They are not level from the corner. They have settled in many places, and people have used these walls for things other than installing shelves, so there is a lot of junk, er, character to overcome when installing these beautiful, perfect shelves. That is what makes it difficult to build and install. I am currently in the process of building and installing corner shelves above the very desk I am sitting. I’ve installed the first part, and it was a pain. I literally had to hammer in one side of my shelf because the corner wall wasn’t being a very nice corner. BUT I installed it, and I love it. Plus, it will be here if we ever sell the house because that bad boy isn’t going anywhere!
Floating Shelves: The Ugly (Truth)
Here is the truth. Are floating shelves worth it to build? I’d say if you have the patience, tools, and space, then absolutely! I am learning why purchasing floating shelves is so expensive! Being precise is key. The right tools is another key. Skills is your third key. Start small. I tackled a 6 foot, 10 inch deep floating shelf on my own as my first floating shelf project, and I learned things along the way I wish I had known before I had to remove a 6 foot (already level) brace from the wall because a support was blocking a stud (you need those studs!). Maybe start with building a couple (shelves are best in pairs or threes) that are 2 feet wide, 4 inches tall, and 6 inches deep. You can purchase slats for the fronts, a 1×6 for the top and bottom, and use 2x2s for the brace. It would only cost you about $20 for the whole project.
However, if you don’t want to start small, don’t want to be patient, don’t want to or can’t buy tools necessary to do the job right, then purchasing them and hiring someone to install would be your best bet. Tell them Jenny sent ya! 😉
Until then, here are some examples of the floating shelves I have built.
Happy building (or dialing)!