DIY - Floating Shelves - Easy & Comfortable Home Office Space

This post is sponsored by The Home Depot.

Raise your hand if you've been working from home or if your kids are still going through distance learning instead of going to school.🙋‍♀️ 

Right now, having a pleasant and comfortable office area at home is more important than ever. The great thing is that you can easily and affordably create your own office or working space.
Yes. I'm right there with you. I work from home and have a nice office that you can see right here. My kids also have good desk areas in each room, but my girl begged me to create a clutter-free work zone (her room is full of craft supplies, aka distractions). She couldn't concentrate in that room and even stole some space in my office last semester.🙄

Now that a new year is about to start, I decided to find an area in our home where she could have a small desk to work at during her final semester at the University of Maryland.

This little spot in our living room, right by the main entrance, was the ideal area! It was an underutilized room with lots of light and somewhat secluded. 👇

I loved that she was completely involved in the entire process. Ha, at first, I wanted to make it a surprise, picking out a wallpaper I thought she might like. When she saw it, she wasn't happy.  From then on, she got control of this project, at least the buying part. ;) 

We went to The Home Depot online, and she picked out a beautiful color for the wall and bought all the accessories that she wanted!

Lucky for us, it was the Labor Day Savings Event at The Home Depot, with the best prices for indoor and outdoor items, and everything could be delivered right to your front door. That's exactly what we did!

My job was to build a desk and two wall shelves. I went for a clean look with DIY Floating shelves. It was an easy build, and I used lots of materials from previous projects.

Let me show you how it all went so you can build your very own set! 

Did I tell you these floating shelves are super strong? 

Yes! You can't find this strength and size to fit your needs in those ready-to-buy floating shelves you find at some stores.

You can get the plans for this project right here.


*This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

The materials you'll need for one desk and two shelves:

3 - 2X3X8' (Pine boards)
5 - 1/2 in. X 4 in. X 4 ft. S4S Poplar Board
1 - Sheet Ply Underlayment
1 - Sheet 1/2 in. Plywood (1/2 in. X 2 ft. X 4 ft.)
36 - #8 X 2-1/2 in. Blue pocket hole screws
18 - 3/8 in. X 3-1/2 in. Hex Lag screws
3/4" & 1-1/4" brad nails
Wood Glue
Paint or stain

The tools you'll need:

Drill / Driver set
Kreg Jig
Brad Nailer
Tape Measure
Level
Miter Saw
Table Saw or Circular Saw
Stud Finder


DIRECTIONS

1. BUILD THE INNER FRAME

Follow the cut list in the plans to put together these 2 X 3 frames, using the pocket hole system with 2-1/2" pocket screws.

| MILWAUKEE Driver / Impact Driver Combo Kit |

2. PUT TOGETHER THE SIDES OF THE SHELF BOXES

I used 1/2" X 3-1/2" poplar boards for the front of the boxes. I like their thin profile, which means less weight on the shelves. I had to trim them at 3" for the shelves and 3-1/4" for the desk.

Using the table saw, I made rabbets -two passes- on both sides of the poplar boards to accommodate the top and bottom box covers. All those rabbets were 1/4" deep, except the one for the desktop, which was 1/2".

| DeWalt Table Saw | Makita Miter Saw |

The box corners were mitered and assembled with glue and three 1-1/4" brad nails on each corner.

3. ADD THE BOXES TOP AND LOWER COVERS

All top and lower covers were made of 1/4 "plywood, except for the desktop, where I used 1/2" plywood.

Wood glue was used all along the rabbets, and I used 3/4" brad nails to firmly secure the ply. Longer nails (1-1/4") were driven with the Ryobi AirStrike nailer to secure the thicker desktop.

All the gaps and nail holes were filled, and all the boxes were sanded and painted with Behr semigloss White.


4. INSTALL THE INNER FRAMES ON THE WALL

I used 3M painter's tape to better visualize the location where I wanted the floating shelves installed. Use a level to make sure those lines are straight!
Then, using a stud finder, mark the location of the studs on the wall.

I had three studs on the wall to secure these shelves. Two lag screws where driven onto each stud location - six screws for each shelf -.  It might be overkill, but the last thing I wanted to have was sagging shelves, especially for the desk!

Make things easy for you, DO pre-drills! And yes, install those shelves before painting that wall.🤲 You don't want to ruin that pretty new coat. ;)

The shelves were uninstalled, and here, you see me adding painter's tape to protect the areas I didn't want painted.

| 3M Original Multi-Use Painter's Tape | Ladder |

OK, guys, here comes one of the best parts of this project: This Behr Marquee Bali Bliss color is GORGEOUS!! 

And given that I was the painter, I am completely in love with Behr Marquee's "ONE-COAT hide guaranteed" quality. I don't want to return to any other type of paint requiring two coats!

| BEHR Marquee - Bali Bliss - Matte | 

As soon as the paint was dry, I reinstalled the floating shelves.

It all went very smoothly, and hey, no damage to that pretty color.

And I had to prove how strong these floating shelves are! 

Louie wanted to join in on the fun. :D

My daughter was good at keeping track of all of her orders. Everything arrived just in time for this makeover. Don't you think online shopping is the best?! 💙

She's absolutely ecstatic about this teal color, isn't it awesome?!

| Dry Erase Memo Board |

Hey, I also tried my hand at creating these two masterpieces. :D

A streamlined desk, a blank board on the wall for reminders, a lamp, a comfy chair, and a good amount of pretties are the elements that will help her thrive during distance learning these next few months.

| Hands Bookends | Black Vase | Modern Ring Sculpture |

Did you notice I also gave the staircase a little makeover? 😍

| Monstera Plant |

I'm super happy with how this project turned out. My daughter might be my new color consultant from now on. ;)

| Rug | Office Chair | Lamp |

Well, guys, it's now time for you to stock up! 

Go to The Home Depot and save on hundreds of items that will allow you to refresh and renew any space in your home. Look at the savings going on right now!

• Up to 30% Off Fall Home Decor and Furniture
• Up to 20% Off Wallpaper
• Up to 40% Off Interior Furniture

And check out these awesome Home Accent Discounts:

• 30% Off Vases
• 20% Off Baskets & Boxes
• 15% Off Decorative Accents
• 20% Off Wall Decor

I acknowledge that The Home Depot is partnering with me to participate in the promotional program described above (the "Program"). As a part of the Program, I am receiving compensation in the form of products and services, for the purpose of promoting The Home Depot. All expressed opinions and experiences are my own words. My post complies with the Word Of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) Ethics Code and applicable Federal Trade Commission guidelines.

*This post contains affiliate links.

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