How to make an economical, decorative and functional wooden shelf

If you don't have as many square meters as you'd like, install a flown shelf on the wall! Floating shelves are perfect for creating storage space without sacrificing the broad concept of modern decor. They also serve as decorative elements, because they add colour and allow you to look at things that make you unique, such as your favourite books or souvenirs from your travels.

      Although there are prefabricated models, their design is so simple that you can do it yourself. To do this, all you need to do is reuse old woods you have at home, some Brycus tools and give free rein to your creativity.

Choose the installation location

     Determine where you want to put your shelf and how much the objects you plan to mount on it weigh. Examine some of the Brycus ideas for inspiration:

-The foyer. With an orchid it will look gorgeous.

-In the children's room. It'll be your own children's library!

-In a bathroom. Complete with a basket of clean towels or your personal care products.

-The living room. You can place a couple of books, a plant and photos for an alternative decoration.

-In the bedroom. With a couple of pictures with different frames, you will give it a contemporary style.

On the overhang of some open-air wall. If you incorporate a vertical garden above and use the shelf to put your implements, you will have a functional and conditioned space.

Looking for wood for the project

The best thing about this project is that you will need few materials and many of them you already have at home: a sliding drawer that you no longer use, a tray or some loose slats. This way, you can reuse old woods and give them a new use.

Don't you get any objects? Buy a thick sheet at your local store. Choose the standard measurements, between 10 and 30 centimetres long.

Keep your Brycus tools handy

No matter how simple the procedure, you'll need to use a couple of Brycus tools:

-Hammer

-sandpaper or electric sander

-Foam roller or brushes

-Drill and drills of various sizes

-Serra de calar, in case you want a specific design

Make a shelf flown step by step

This procedure is ideal for small to medium rectangular shelves with invisible fixing brackets:

 Measure the table lengthwise and divide the number by 5. Use this number to measure from the edge of the batten to the center. Make a mark with a pencil or marker and repeat on the opposite side.

 drill

With the drill, open a hole in each mark. Try a drill that fits the diameter of the support. So that the board does not crack, start with a small measure and gradually increase it.

 leveller

Open the holes in the wall. Make sure the distance between them is the same as the holes in the batten. Use a leveler to make sure they are at the same height. Finish by inserting the invisible brackets.

 electric sander

It's time to treat the wood. Start sanding by hand or with an electric sander. Choose a rustic sandpaper at the beginning and give the final touches with a finer one. If you wish, round the edges of the board for a better finish.

 acrylic varnish

Apply a pore cap formula with a brush or foam roller and wait for it to dry. Finish with the acrylic varnish of your choice or a paint. Two coats will suffice.

 hammer

Once it is dry, take the ribbon and insert it into the supports until you feel resistance. If you are not going to add leather straps, ropes or similar, take the hammer and a protective pad, and tap the protected board until it does not move.

 Looking for an alternative decor for your mantelpiece? Get two leather belts and make a circle with one of them joining their ends. Put it on the wall taking care that the shelf is inside the circle, as if you were holding it. Grab a nail and, with the hammer, fix the leather to the wall. Do the same with the second belt.

Tips and more Brycus ideas

Use wood or iron brackets as support. They are traditional and will give your shelf a vintage look, especially if you are going to reuse old woods with veins. If you want to build a library blown up with shelves, put one on top of the other leaving a distance of about 40 cm between them, because the average height of books is 15 to 30 cm.

If you don't have any boards and just have a drawer, don't be discouraged! Submit it to the treatment and screw it to the wall using the drill. Install two metal brackets to secure the stand - it'll be your own minimalist mini-shelf!

For an alternative to industrial-style decor without fixings, use galvanized pipes, a pair of pipe brackets and pipe caps. Paint the entire metal with a wrought iron spray and, once dry, fix the tubes to the wall with screws. Finish by putting the board on top and, ready!

Do you want to do another DIY project for the home?