Extra Long DIY Floating Shelves

I built in long floating shelves in my studio closet with the extra space I created by moving my doorway over 8″.  Moving the doorway was extra work but it was worth it to create all this new storage on these closet shelves.
This project is sponsored by LIQUID NAILS Fuze*It,  Don’t Just Glue It. Fuze*It

Long Floating Shelves in my Craft room!

Building Long Floating Shelves

Door over against the wall = no storage.  Move the door over = storage potential.  Having shelves spanning this whole wall = tons of new storage!  Shelves are so much more functional than piles of “things” scattered around on the floor. Which is what I had going on in here before, so I had to tackle the closet!

Building floating wood shelves

I built three floating shelves along one wall in this closet.  These shelves are 10″ wide by about 9′ long. I used LIQUID NAILS Fuze*It and 3″ long fasteners to build the 2×2 skeleton of my floating shelves and secure it to the walls.  I thought LIQUID NAILS Fuze*It would be helpful on this project because it’s instant grab feature could replace my need for a third (forth and fifth) hand.  

Install back cleats

Liquid nails Fuze It

I applied a bead of adhesive onto my 2×2 and pressed it into place and then secured it with 3″ fasteners into the studs.  

Building shelves

I used a laser level to create a level point of reference while securing my 2x2s to the wall.  If you don’t have a laser level,  draw a line on the wall using a long straight edge and level before building your shelves. 

Install side cleats

Floating corner shelves

LIQUID NAILS Fuze*It grabs almost instantly while still allowing you to reposition.  I added screws into the studs on three walls for permanent support.

The opposite side is the slanted ceiling and my shelves aren’t deep enough to hit a second stud.  Therefore I’m relying on a screw on one end and adhesive and a few nails on the other end. LIQUID NAILS Fuze*It bonds almost anything to almost anything else and creates a durable, flexible bond that is twice as strong as fasteners alone.  I’m relying on that strength in this one corner but I added screws through studs everywhere I could.

Building wall mounted shelves
Cutting beveled cleats on table saw
Building wall shelves and ledges

I ripped short pieces of 2×2 at an angle for this side support.  LIQUID NAILS Fuze*It can be applied interior and exterior in hot, cold, wet or dry environments to porous or smooth surfaces.  IF you slightly wet the surface before applying it, it bonds faster!  I wet both the wall and the 2x2s that I applied on this slanted ceiling so the adhesive would bond quickly and I could make sure it stayed in place without being fastened to a second stud. 

Building Shelves
Hanging shelves

I used my nail gun to shoot a few nails into the wall/ceiling and drove a screw into the corner where I could hit a stud.After securing the back and side 2×2 into place, I secured a long 2×2 across the front.  I found it was easier to secure the front 2×2 if I added a brace behind it, against the first side piece.  

Create shelf ribs

Wall mounted shelves
installing wooden shelves

I used Fuze*It and screws to secure all the 2×2 pieces to each other. I added all the inside ribs by glueing up both ends, pulling the front 2×2 forward and sliding the ribs in place.  After inserting each rib, I secured it to the front 2×2 with one 3″ screw.   I used a clamp to keep both pieces flush with each other while driving the screw.

Making floating shelves

After all the inside ribs were in place, I secured them all to the back 2×2 with screws. Again, I used a clamp to keep the surfaces flush with each other while securing.  

Attach plywood

Building long floating shelves

Once my 2×2 skeletons were built, I added plywood.  I ran a bead along the sides of my plywood as well as on the ribs 

Making wall shelving

The LIQUID NAILS Fuze*It really held this light 1/4″ plywood in place once I pressed the two surfaces together.  So, I felt confident using 23 ga nails to hold it in place while the adhesive set up.

Building decorative shelves

I used 1/2″ plywood on the tops and secured that with adhesive and nails as well.  

Building wooden closet shelves

Install shelf fronts

Building Floating Shelves

1×3 primed pine is an easy front of my floating shelves.  I applied LIQUID NAILS Fuze*It to the front of the 2×2 and as much plywood as I could because I wanted the front to bond to the whole “wood sandwich”.  

Making floating wall shelves

I used 16 ga nails to secure the face to the shelves.

Building closet shelves in the craft room

In addition to the three shelves on the side wall, I put a 22″ wide by 8′ long shelf along the back wall.  

At that width and depth, the 2×2 ribs are not going to be enough to fully support it.  I used 1/2″ plywood on the top and bottom to give it additional strength and I’ll be adding a little support after I get the flooring installed.  I went ahead and built the shelf now though, so I could get it sanded, caulked and painted with the other shelves before the flooring goes in.

Building Floating Shelves

The 1/2″ plywood was to heavy for the Fuze*It to hold it in place. I hadn’t brought up enough clamps so I had to get creative while I got some nails in there.

Prime and Paint

Painting white floating shelves

After building all my shelves I just had to fill the nail holes, sand, prime and paint.

White wall shelves


Before I installed my shelves, I installed beadboard on the ceiling and walls. It is 100 times more work to install beadboard in between your floating shelves than before you put them up.  I learned that the hard way in my hall closet with floating shelves.

Now I just have to install my flooring and this closet will be done!

White Floating Shelves

These closet shelves provide SO much storage space. I’ll be so glad to organize my tools while I continue building the rest of my studio!  Then, once the building is complete I’ll have plenty of shelving for my crafting supplies. Can’t wait!

White Long Floating Shelves

White corner wall shelf

This post is sponsored by LIQUID NAILS Fuze*It, available exclusively at The Home Depot.  I was compensated for my time and effort in creating this project to share with you.

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12 Comments

  1. Hi Sandra,
    Just discovering your work as I prep to build/install floating shelves in our pantry. Really appreciate your work and the way you convey your experience and wisdom! ;o)
    What kind of load are your shelves (with 2×2 framing and 3″ wall fasteners) able to sustainably support? (I’d like to slim down to 1-1/4 struts”, with support in rear and sides, if reasonable for pantry-scale loads).
    Cheers!
    Doug

  2. Hi – I was also looking for info on what you used for extra support for the 8’ long shelf. I’m about to build an 8’ long shelf in a closet and was going to use your tutorial but I am not sure what to do for the extra support.

  3. Fantastic loft project! Been hopping from article to article.

    Why not pre-build the 2x frames, then attach to the studs?

    What will be used for extra bracing? Kind of critical for such a span … and not something that I see a concealed option for, unless with manufactured steel hidden inside the shelf.

  4. Hi, Sandra! Firstly, let me compliment you on your hair. I really like the hairdo. Stating that your elaborative post on floating shelves helped saved my life, might almost be an understatement. My needs have been increasing, however; the size of my room remains the same. I didn’t want to spend a lot of money on increasing space through fancy interior professionals. Your simplified procedure seems do – able and extremely practical too. Thank you so much! I was wondering when i’ll be hearing from you next!

  5. It really did!

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