Do you have a bunch of prints you want to hang but don’t want to commit to framing them or want to make a bunch of holes in your wall? Well Elsie did, and she asked me to make her some shallow shelving for her prints and photographs. Since the house we work in has all plaster walls, hanging and screwing in shelves is a big hassle. So I decided to make a shelving system that could be hung from only two hooks. This a quick and easy solution which you could be placing stuff on today.
Supplies:
-1.5″ x 5/8″ pine furring strips
-1″ x 1/8″ wood strips (which I ripped from 1/8″ hardwood ply, but you can find something similar at the store if you don’t have a table saw)
-rope (I used 3/8″ woven)
-wall hooks
-wood glue
-wood filler (optional)
Tools:
-drill
-miter saw (a hand saw works just as well)
-level
-knife
-tape measure
-table saw (optional)
-nailer (optional)
Step One: After you figure out where you want these shelves and have your measurements, cut out all the pieces. I made ours 5′ long with five shelves.
Step Two: Once I had the pieces cut and sanded, I attached skinny pieces (they act as a lip so things don’t just slide off all willy nilly). I glued and nailed them on, then filled the holes with wood filler. I think just gluing the strips on would have sufficed. It’s not like they’re going to have a huge amount of force against them. After they were attached, I gave each shelf another good sanding, then painted them with a couple coats of glossy white.
Step Three: After the paint dried, I measured in an inch on either side, then drilled a hole through. Since the rope was 3/8″ wide, I used a 3/8″ bit.
Step Four: This step is probably the hardest, only because I did it by myself. If you have a helping hand (to measure while you hold the rope), it’ll be a breeze. First I wrapped the frayed ends of the rope with painter’s tape so it would slide through the holes easily. Then I started with the bottom shelf by threading the rope through both holes (the rope ran along the bottom) and made sure the rope was equal on both sides. Then I measured up a foot on the rope, marking with a Sharpie, and tied a knot on either end. After that I slid the ends through the second shelf, and then it was just a matter of measuring, marking, knotting, attaching, and repeating till all five shelves were attached. Then I screwed two hooks into the wall and tied the rope ends to them. You could also pre-tie some loops and just slip them over the hooks. Be sure to find studs, or use anchors, and try to get the shelf to hang as close to the wall as possible.
There you go, easy as 1, 2, 3…4 steps! Let me know if you have any questions in the comments. -Josh
Credits // Author Joshua Rhodes. Photography: Joshua and Sarah Rhodes. Photos edited with A Beautiful Mess actions.
I love the look of these shelves, but unfortunately they wouldn’t work in our house (cats and clumsy people) unless over a dresser or such. We even use sticky tack to hold things down–and we don’t live in California!
Question: I love those hanging terrarium planters! Did you make them? I would love to make (or buy) some plastic ones. Oh, I hope you made them–too cute!
Thanks For Sharing Such A Great Post
Hi just wondering where your wallpaper is from? I love it!
such a great idea, really want to give this one ago. Might try to experiment command strips/ hooks to avoid having to screw into the wall completely. Thanks for another super post xxx
Thank you Josh. Where can I find the “hanging pots”?
This is cute.
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I am thinking the wood I bought isn’t heavy enough.
My shelves are not sitting straight against the wall all but one of them are tipping forward making the lip more like the ledge.
Any thoughts, or advice how to get each shelf to hang against the wall like it’s supposed to?
thanks!
Love this idea!
Earthquakes I believe is the concern. LOLOL
Such a clever idea. I love being able to mix and match small photos easily.
Loved it seems to be perfect for my workplace many thanks for sharing these wonderful set of pictures too..
This is a really great idea and something that is pretty simple to do! I think this is definitely what I’ve been looking for to add to my room. I also really love those hanging glass pots by the way. Thanks for sharing 🙂
I love the look of these shelves, but unfortunately they wouldn’t work in our house (cats and clumsy people) unless over a dresser or such. We even use sticky tack to hold things down–and we don’t live in California!
Question: I love those hanging terrarium planters! Did you make them? I would love to make (or buy) some plastic ones. Oh, I hope you made them–too cute!
What an amazing idea, I can’t drill into my walls so this is the perfect shelving unit for my new flat!
Thanks for providing yet another great DIY A Beautiful Mess team, you never disappoint!
Alyss
I love the way this looks! Can you tell me where you got the hanging planters?
great idea. I’m also a renter with plaster walls and have discovered nailing isn’t good. Happy to try screws. This is a great idea. Thanks.
As I was bringing this up to show my boyfriend as a suggestion for putting up a bunch of photos we framed but never hung, I had an even better idea.
He paints minis- miniature metal/plastic figurines for use in Dungeons & Dragons type games and has tons of little plastic paint pots about 1″ high by 1/2″(?) diameter each. I think I want to make one of these with many more shelves much closer together so he can display them in all their colorful glory. Eee, I can’t wait to get supplies.
Love this idea! I’m constantly changing around the pictures in my room and I’m left with ugly holes in my wall! I definitely have to try this!
This is really cool! I take sooo many shots of my kids and this would be a super easy and lovely way to display a good amount of my photos!
this is amazing!
xxoo,
nikki
www.dream-in-neon.com
So cool! Definitely have to try! I’m always changing things in my room and leaving ugly nail marks, this looks like an easy fix. Thanks!
This is such a good idea, I love this!
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