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 to do distance learning instead of going to school.🙋‍♀️ Right now it's more important than ever to have a nice and comfortable office area at home. The great thing is, you can easily and affordably create your very own space thanks to all the Labor Day savings going on at The Home Depot!
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 of their rooms, but my girl was begging 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 she even stole some space in my office last semester.🙄

Now that a new year is about to start, I made the decision 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.
Well, this little spot in our living room, right by the main entrance was the ideal area! It was an under utilized room with lots of light and somewhat secluded. 👇

The wonderful thing was, she was completely involved in the entire process. Ha, at the beginning I wanted to make it a surprise, picking out a wallpaper that I thought she might like. When she saw it, she wasn't happy.🤦  From that point on, she got control of this project, at least the buying part. ;) She went on The Home Depot online and picked out a beautiful color for the wall, and she also bought all the accessories that she wanted to have!
The awesome thing is that during the Labor Day Savings Event, The Home Depot has the best low prices for indoor and outdoor items and everything can 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 where I got to use lots of materials that I already had 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.

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 FRONT FACE 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, less weight on the shelves. I had to trim them @ 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 of 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 put together with glue and three 1-1/4" brad nails on each corner.

3. ADD THE BOXES TOP AND LOWER COVERS

1/4" plywood was used for all top and lower covers, 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 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 there in the wall from where 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 un-installed and here you see me adding painter's tape to protect the areas I didn't want paint on.

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

OK guys, here comes one of the best parts of this entire project, this Behr Marquee Bali Bliss color is GORGEOUS!! And given that I was the painter, I am completely in love with the "ONE-COAT hide guaranteed" quality of Behr Marquee. I don't want to go back to any other type of paint that requires two coats!

| BEHR Marquee - Bali Bliss - Matte | 

As soon as the paint was dry, I re-installed the floating shelves.

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

And I had 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 streamline desk, a blank board on the wall for reminders, a lamp, a comfy chair and a good amount of pretties are the elements to 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 at 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

An 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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