DIY

How to Build Open Shelves without Brackets

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In this tutorial, I’m going to teach you an easy way to build open shelves without spending extra money on brackets or mounting hardware. This particular method is ideal when the shelves will be between two walls. I have used this method several times such as in our guest bath in our current home and our flip house kitchen.

Materials and Tools

  • Finish Nailer
  • Miter Saw
  • Table Saw
  • Tape Measurer
  • Wood Glue
  • Wood Stain
  • Sand Paper
  • Wood Filler
  • 1 1/4″ Finish Nails
  • 2″ Finish Nails

Wood

  • 1×12 Oak Boards
  • 1/2 x 1/2″ Square Dowels

Step 1: Determine How Many Shelves to Build

The first thing you need to decide is how many shelves you need or want. This will mainly depend on how much vertical space you have. In our guest bathroom, the space where I put the shelves extended all the way from the floor to the ceiling. So I have 10 ft of vertical space to work with. But obviously, you don’t want to place your first shelf too low.

I decided to place my bottom shelf 32 inches off of the floor, and each shelf would have a 15 inch space between them. There really isn’t a right or wrong regarding your spacing. Think about what kind of things you will be placing on the shelves and how much space you need between each one.

I decided to build three shelves, knowing that if we ended up needing more storage, I could always add a couple more above.

Step 2: Measure the Space for the Open Shelves

Next, I measured the distance between the two walls where the open shelves would be. Using a tape measure, I placed one end in the inside corner and then extended the tape to the other inside corner. Then I came out about 12 inches from the corners and measured again to make sure the walls were not out of square.

If they were out of square, I would need to cut the ends of the oak boards at a slight angle to avoid having a noticeable gap between the end of the shelves and the wall.

Step 3: Stain and Sand the Boards

You can stain the open shelves after installing them, but I like to do it before. That way I don’t have to worry about getting stain on the walls. I used a stain from Olympic called Driftwood Gray.

I used a clean rag to wipe the stain on the 1x12s and 1x3s. Then I let the boards dry completely before sanding with s fine sanding block. Then I applied a coat of satin polyurethane.

Step 4: Make the Cuts

I started by cutting the square dowels. I cut two pieces 11 inches long and one piece 22 inches long. These will be attached to the walls to support the shelf.

Using the measurement from step 2, I cut two pieces of the 1×12 23 inches long for the top and bottom of the shelf. Then I cut a piece of the 1×3 the same length for the front of the shelf.

I used a table saw to cut the 1×3 length-wise down to 2 inches to match the thickness of the top and bottom pieces plus the thickness of the dowel.

Step 5: Measure and Mark

Once I had all of the boards cut, I gathered everything I would need to start installing the shelves.

First, I measured and marked 32 inches from the floor for the bottom shelf. Then I used a stud finder to find the studs in the wall and marked each one.

Step 6: Nail and Glue Dowels to Wall

Since the dowels on the side walls only intersected one stud, I applied some wood glue to the back of them, before using 2″ finish nails to fasten them to the wall. I used a level to make sure all three of the dowels were level and lined up with each other.

Step 7: Add the Oak Boards

Once the square dowels were securely fastened to the walls, I added the top piece of 1×12 oak. I applied a little wood glue around the perimeter where the board and dowels would touch.

Then I placed the board on top of the dowels and used 1″ finish nails to nail the board to the dowels.

I did the same for the bottom piece of 1×12, followed by the front piece.

Once I was finished nailing, I used wood filler to fill all of the nail holes in the open shelves.

And that’s all there is to it! For additional shelves, repeat steps 4-7.

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7 Comments

  • Reply Katy

    Hi!! I love this tutorial. Wanted to know if you think this method would be appropriate on a 10 ft wall. Would it be strong enough? The shelves would have walls on both sides for support. Just curious to know if you think this method would work on a span that wide or if there is something else you recommend. Thanks in advance!!

    October 12, 2020 at 5:33 pm
    • Reply Henry

      Thanks. Glad you like it. I’ve never built one that long, but I think it should work. The front piece of oak should prevent the shelf from bending in the middle.

      October 15, 2020 at 9:58 pm
  • Reply Audrey

    This is so straightforward and helpful! Thank you! Did you use red oak or white oak? I love the finished color you achieved. I’m nervous about the pinkness of red oak but don’t know where to find white oak.

    October 26, 2020 at 12:24 pm
    • Reply Henry

      Thanks! Glad you like it. I used red oak. You’re right. White oak is hard to find.

      January 27, 2021 at 6:29 pm
  • Reply Sarah

    Very nice. If these are red oak, what stain did you use to achieve the color. They don’t seem to look reddish or pinkish. Thanks!

    February 26, 2022 at 3:24 pm
  • Reply Leeanne

    They turned out great Henry! Love the color,so strange its called a “gray.” In the video it appears there’s some space between the two boards? Then the front piece? Or they’re flush against one another?

    February 27, 2022 at 3:45 am
  • Reply Sheila Gerber

    I have a question on your floating shelf tutorial. I was wondering why you cut the 1×12 23” long if your opening was 22” long? And I wondered if you bevel cut the front of the 1×12” piece In order to have a nice 90° angle where the edges came together I couldn’t quite tell from the video or the directions. Thanks for your help. The shelves are beautiful

    March 5, 2022 at 7:18 pm
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