Marty’s hacks Chic shelves
For a modern take on a bedside table that’s also a great space-saving option, practise your DIY skills on one of our floating wall shelves, each of which can be knocked out in just a few hours
LIGHT IT UP! FEED THROUGH A CORD SET AND ATTACH A LIGHT OR TRY WALL LIGHT FITTINGS
TOP TIPS
> There are many ways to install a floating shelf, depending on what you plan to use it for and the weight of the objects you will be placing on it. Explore your options for materials at your local hardware store. Here we have used metal brackets and wall hooks as they are more discreet. Make sure you always fix your shelf to a wall stud.
> Try painting your shelf in various colours and don’t be afraid to be bold. A burst of colour would look great in a kids’ bedroom. Margaret Howell Anglepoise lamp in yellow ochre, cork coaster and mug, all from Everyday Needs. Mark Antonia candle from The Botanist. Barbara teapot from Copper + Pink. Wall painted in Resene ‘Eskimo’. Other items stylist’s own.
FLOATING BOX SHELF
STEP 1
Use a hand saw to cut a 350x1200mm strip off your ply sheet.
STEP 2
From this strip, cut off 2 squares 350x350mm – these are the top and bottom. Now cut 2 pieces 150x350mm for the sides.
STEP 3
Glue and screw the sides onto the top and bottom pieces with 32mm screws to create a box. Sand off edges.
STAND SHELF
STEP 1
Take an 18x1200x1200mm sheet of plywood. Cut off a 350mm-wide strip with a hand saw. You should now have a piece of ply measuring 1200x350mm.
STEP 2
Cut strip in 2: a 900mm piece for the back and a 300mm piece for the shelf.
STEP 3
Attach the 2 pieces at a right angle with wood glue and 32mm screws, keeping the screws in line. Sand off all edges.
STEP 4
If you are fitting a light to this shelf, buy the light fitting first then cut a hole to suit the size of the light with a hole saw.
HALF-ROUND SHELF
STEP 1
Find the centre of a sheet of 18x1200x1200mm ply and lightly hammer a short nail part way into the mark.
STEP 2
Attach a piece of string to the nail then wrap it around a pencil, ensuring the string length is 300mm when attached to both.
STEP 3
Stretching string tight, draw a circle (600mm diameter) around the nail.
STEP 4
Remove nail and string and cut the circle out with a jig saw.
STEP 5
Draw a line down the middle of the circle and cut along line with a hand saw.
STEP 6
Lay one half-circle flat and stand the other on top of it to form a shelf. Glue and screw the 2 pieces together with 32mm screws. Sand off edges.