How to Hang Wall Shelving
Wall shelves are great for creating more spaces to show the things you love or making more storage space. Whether you have them prominently displayed in your living room or installed above your hanging clothes in a closet, they can open up your organizing options.
Wall shelves usually consist of two main parts: the brackets used to hang them and a flat surface to set on top of the brackets.
Tools needed: Drill (if using drywall screws) with the correct drill bit for your size drywall screws, Screwdriver (if you do not have a drill with a Phillips or Flathead screwdriver bit), Screws, Tape Measure, Level, Pencil, Safety Glasses.
How to Hang Them:
Decide how high you want to install them and how many brackets you would like to use. Mark on the wall the exact height for each bracket and have each mark evenly spaced so your shelves look symmetrical.
Hint: It pays to know where your wall studs are under the drywall. Personally, I like to install all of my brackets on wall studs with normal wood screws.
That way, I don't have to use drywall screws and my shelf is extra solid! Hardware stores have a large selection of stud detectors.
If using the studs are not an option for you, you MUST use drywall screws! Do not just use any old screw to hang your shelf . IT WILL FALL EVENTUALLY!
Follow the directions on your package of drywall screws to install them.
2. Put your safety glasses on. Drywall gets dusty! Hang your first bracket. I like to put the topmost screw that the bracket uses to connect to the wall directly on the mark made in step one. Be sure the bracket is flipped correctly! The top of the bracket where the plank sets should be almost as long as the plank is wide. If possible, use the level to ensure the bracket is flat on top.
3. I like to double check that my marks other are at the correct height at this point. I would rather take the extra time ensuring levelness than install a crooked shelf! Place the plank on top of the bracket and hold it there. Place your level on top of the plank. Grab another bracket and place it where your next bracket-mark is. See that where your mark is corresponds to having a level plank by holding the bracket against the wall and checking the level. Adjust the mark if necessary. Remove the plank and the loose bracket.
Tools needed: Drill (if using drywall screws) with the correct drill bit for your size drywall screws, Screwdriver (if you do not have a drill with a Phillips or Flathead screwdriver bit), Screws, Tape Measure, Level, Pencil, Safety Glasses.
4. Install the second bracket at the adjusted (if it was in fact adjusted) mark as you did in step 2.
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for the rest of the brackets.
6. Once all the brackets have been installed, place the plank on top and make sure it is level (hopefully you took my step 3 advice).
7. Many brackets allow you to screw the plank into the bracket from the bottom. I always recommend doing this for a solid shelf. Make sure the screws you use for this are shorter than the plank is thick, or you will have screws sticking out the top of your new wall shelf!
That's it! You've got a brand new storage space!