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How to make very long floating shelves

Making long floating shelves, compared to regular length ones, requires some extra knowledge. See all the steps to achieve them.[/wc_box]

It’s in the $ 100 Room Challenge that I made these long floating shelves. It was my third participation in this challenge. If you want to see all the adventures I had this time renovating the family room, click on the following links:

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5

Long floating shelves

If you have already read some post on my website you probably know that I’m a big fan of Shanty 2 Chic. It’s on their website that I found instructions on how to make these floating shelves.

But my shelves, in addition to being stuck between two walls, were not the same size. So I stubbornly did what I thought and followed more or less their instructions. And, once again, I learned several things I shouldn’t do! Thanks to my husband for helping me, otherwise, I think I would still be trying to install them!!

The plan

It had to cost me as little as possible for the $100 Room Challenge.  Therefore, the depth of the shelves was determined by the number of planks I was able to get into a 4 ‘x 8’ plywood.

Long floating shelves | DIY | family room makeover | $100 Room Challenge | plywood | Stain | pocket hole | Kreg jig | Longues tablettes flottantes | contreplaqué | teinture #floatingshelves #homedecor #familyroom #DIY #fairesoimeme #tablettes #kregjig #decomaison #sallefamiliale

If you watch closely you’ll say: Why 5 planks Natalie? For 2 shelves, you only need 4 (2 above and 2 below)?

Well, it’s because my wall measures 9 ‘- 6″ to complicate things 🙁

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Requires materials

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Tools required

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Steps to follow and not to follow!

Anchors

I cut 14 pieces of 7-3 /4″ length in the 2 “x3”. Then, I made 2 pocket holes with the Kreg jig on each piece at one end only.

To make sure it’s solid, I found the studs in the wall and marked the long 2″x3″. Then I drilled holes with a countersink drill bit so that the screws get in the studs. (With this picture, you understand that “I” is not me !!! 😉 )

Long floating shelves | DIY | family room makeover | $100 Room Challenge | plywood | Stain | pocket hole | Kreg jig | Longues tablettes flottantes | contreplaqué | teinture #floatingshelves #homedecor #familyroom #DIY #fairesoimeme #tablettes #kregjig #decomaison #sallefamiliale

That’s when I should’ve installed IMMEDIATELY the small 7-3/4″ pieces! But my husband had to leave and since we had to be 2 in order to set it to level, we installed the 2 “x3” on the wall immediately.

Long floating shelves | DIY | family room makeover | $100 Room Challenge | plywood | Stain | pocket hole | Kreg jig | Longues tablettes flottantes | contreplaqué | teinture #floatingshelves #homedecor #familyroom #DIY #fairesoimeme #tablettes #kregjig #decomaison #sallefamiliale

What I learned is that screwing through pocket holes takes some strength. Strength that I would have had if I had been on the floor with the drill pointing down. But now, with the drill pointing to the wall and my feet on a stool, it was simply impossible. So I was trying to save time but still had to wait for my husband to return to help me. Frustrating !!! ?

Long floating shelves | DIY | family room makeover | $100 Room Challenge | plywood | Stain | pocket hole | Kreg jig | Longues tablettes flottantes | contreplaqué | teinture #floatingshelves #homedecor #familyroom #DIY #fairesoimeme #tablettes #kregjig #decomaison #sallefamiliale

You see the green pieces of tape? That’s the only good shot I did on this project!?  It showed me where the small boards were when it was time to nail the top and bottom.

The shelves

When buying the plywood, I immediately made the store cut 5 sheets of 9-1 /4″ otherwise it would not have even entered the car!

I undertook to immediately attach a piece of plywood to the other piece of 8 feet to fit the length of my wall. BIG MISTAKE. Using pocket holes in 1/2″ plywood doesn’t work very well.

Long floating shelves | DIY | family room makeover | $100 Room Challenge | plywood | Stain | pocket hole | Kreg jig | Longues tablettes flottantes | contreplaqué | teinture #floatingshelves #homedecor #familyroom #DIY #fairesoimeme #tablettes #kregjig #decomaison #sallefamiliale

Even to fix the front, it would pass through from time to time. I ended up putting a few brackets like these.

Long floating shelves | DIY | family room makeover | $100 Room Challenge | plywood | Stain | pocket hole | Kreg jig | Longues tablettes flottantes | contreplaqué | teinture #floatingshelves #homedecor #familyroom #DIY #fairesoimeme #tablettes #kregjig #decomaison #sallefamiliale

Here are the shelves once assembled.

Long floating shelves | DIY | family room makeover | $100 Room Challenge | plywood | Stain | pocket hole | Kreg jig | Longues tablettes flottantes | contreplaqué | teinture #floatingshelves #homedecor #familyroom #DIY #fairesoimeme #tablettes #kregjig #decomaison #sallefamiliale

A few coats of stain and varnish later …

Long floating shelves | DIY | family room makeover | $100 Room Challenge | plywood | Stain | pocket hole | Kreg jig | Longues tablettes flottantes | contreplaqué | teinture #floatingshelves #homedecor #familyroom #DIY #fairesoimeme #tablettes #kregjig #decomaison #sallefamiliale

The shelves were then fixed with a nail gun, taking care to nail in the 2″x3″ I had previously marked with green tape.

Family room makeover | $ 100 Room Challenge | false shiplap | pencil | DIY floating shelves | cinema | organization | TV | wall | paint color | fireplace | Vintage map | Distress map | vintage geographical map | color paint behind TV | TV Wall | home | decoration | floating shelves | home cinema

Family room makeover | $ 100 Room Challenge | false shiplap | pencil | DIY floating shelves | cinema | organization | TV | wall | paint color | fireplace | Vintage map | Distress map | vintage geographical map | color paint behind TV | TV Wall | home | decoration | floating shelves | home cinema

What I should have done instead

I should have simply cut the pieces and not attempt to assemble them together before putting them on the wall. It would have been so much easier to nail them on the anchors on pieces at a time!

Lessons learned:

  1. The walls are never fully levelled and it’s almost impossible to get everything to fit perfectly! (If you knew how many times we went back to cut the planks!)
  2. Do not try to skip steps to go faster, it never works!
  3. The pocket holes in a 1/2 inch of material, it is not recommended. I will definitely buy a 3/4″ plywood next time.
  4. Use a nail gun and fill the holes, it is totally doable even if you stain. (the girls from Shanty 2 Chic use this wood filler and I promise myself to buy and use it next time!)
  5. Make construction during winter in Quebec, between two snowstorms, when your tools are in the shed = never again! ?

Remember to go take a look to see all the stages of the $100 Room Challenge

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5

Especially the post about the making of this vintage map.

Family room makeover | $ 100 Room Challenge | false shiplap | pencil | DIY floating shelves | cinema | organization | TV | wall | paint color | fireplace | Vintage map | Distress map | vintage geographical map | color paint behind TV | TV Wall | home | decoration | floating shelves | home cinema

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See the step by step tutorial on how to make very long floating shelves. They make a stunning decor above a television. They are simple and easy to make once you have these tips. #floatingshelves #livingroom
Long floating shelves | DIY | family room makeover | $100 Room Challenge | plywood | Stain | pocket hole | Kreg jig | Longues tablettes flottantes | contreplaqué | teinture #floatingshelves #homedecor #familyroom #DIY #fairesoimeme #tablettes #kregjig #decomaison #sallefamiliale

Lynda Hardy

Saturday 24th of February 2018

I really love the look but this is beyond our skill set - worth it to hire someone, though! Thanks for sharing with Party in Your PJs!

playdatesparties

Thursday 22nd of February 2018

I LOVE the look of your shelves, but this definitely puts them in my 'give it to the contractor' list. We're just not that handy yet. At least I can enjoy looking at your pretty pictures! Thanks so much for sharing at the #happynowlinkup!

Nicole

Monday 19th of February 2018

I'm so glad I found your tutorial. I've been thinking of building floating shelves for my kitchen. DIY is really the only way I can go since it's an odd size space. Yours look great!

Natalie

Wednesday 21st of February 2018

Thanks Nicole! DIY is perfect when it comes to odd size space!

acraftymix

Saturday 17th of February 2018

They look great Natalie. I've always wanted to try make some floating shelf so I really appreciate you sharing the lessons you learnt doing it. Often people make it sounds so easy and then you feel like a complete idiot when you can't get it right

Trish@BlowingAwayOutWest

Thursday 15th of February 2018

Great tutorial! Long shelves are such a struggle. Love the tips

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