We love floating shelves in kitchens: they’re practical, visually light, and create breathing room among cabinets. We’ve installed versions of them in almost every kitchen we’ve remodeled, and our favorites are the DIY floating shelves in the kitchens of our duplex. This tutorial explains how to build similar shelves to fit your space and finish preferences.
Building your own floating shelves lets you size them precisely for your wall and choose the exact finish you want. Store-bought floating shelves can work well—chunky Ikea shelves or rustic Pottery Barn options are fine—but nothing looks as custom as a shelf you build yourself.
Tools & Materials for Floating Kitchen Shelves
This kitchen version is a variation of a floating shelf project we built elsewhere in the house. These kitchen shelves are slightly chunkier and finished in a wood stain rather than paint. Refer to that project for extra detail if needed. Typical materials and tools include:
- 1×2″ pine boards (for the support bracket)
- 1×3″ pine boards (for the facing and trim)
- 1/2″ plywood (for the shelf top)
- 1/4″ plywood (for the shelf bottom)
- Miter saw
- Table saw or circular saw
- Power drill/driver
- Nail gun
- Long level
- Measuring tape
- Stud finder
- Clamps
- 2 1/2″ structural screws
- Wood glue
- Pocket hole jig (optional)
- Tile hole drill bit (only needed for tiled backsplashes)
Exact lumber quantities depend on how many shelves you plan to build and their dimensions.
Step 1: Build Your Support Bracket
These floating shelves are supported by a wooden bracket anchored into wall studs. The bracket is assembled from 1×2″ pine: a long back piece that mounts to the wall, with shorter spokes extending out to support the shelf. Place a spoke near each end and then roughly every 8 inches across the span, avoiding locations where you’ll drive screws into studs.
Cut each spoke to the desired shelf depth minus 1.5 inches to account for the back board and the front facing that will wrap the shelf. Fasten spokes to the back piece using pocket holes or by screwing from the back. Doing all cuts and pocket holes at once speeds up the process. If you want thicker, chunkier shelves, use larger boards for the bracket—using 1×3″ boards will produce a noticeably thicker finished shelf.
Step 2: Find Your Studs
Secure the bracket to studs for the strongest support. While some wall anchors can be used in place of studs, they will limit load capacity. For kitchen use—where dishes, glasses, and heavier items are common—screwing into studs is best.
A stud finder is the fastest way to locate studs, but tile can make detection less reliable. If your backsplash is already tiled, try alternative clues: outlet locations, screw locations inside nearby cabinets, or photos taken during earlier stages of renovation often reveal stud positions. In some cases, carefully drilling pilot holes until you hit solid wood works, but that becomes more challenging when drilling through tile.
Step 3: Mark Your Drilling Locations
Drilling through tile is slow and unforgiving, so take time to mark your locations carefully. Confirm stud positions, choose your shelf height, and ensure everything will be level. We positioned our shelves about 18 inches above the countertop, a common and practical height.
To transfer hole locations through tile, hold the bracket in place and slowly drill a small pilot hole through the wood until you just touch the tile. This leaves a visible mark on tape or the tile surface where the final holes should be drilled.
Step 4: Drill Through Your Tile
Drilling tile requires patience and the right tools: diamond or carbide tile bits and a steady water supply to cool and lubricate the bit. Go slowly and let the bit do the work; rushing risks cracking the tile. Accurate pilot marks from the previous step will minimize the number of holes you need to make.
Step 5: Secure Your Support Bracket
With pilot holes ready, mount the bracket to the wall using heavy-duty structural screws. Pre-drilling the screw holes partway through the bracket makes it easier to line up with the tile pilot holes. Use a level as you secure the bracket so the finished shelf sits perfectly horizontal.
Step 6: Nail In Your Shelf Top & Bottom
Once the bracket is anchored, add the finished shelf surfaces. Cut a 1/2″ plywood top to cover the full width and depth of the bracket. Apply generous wood glue and fasten it with finish nails. Then attach a 1/4″ plywood piece on the bottom; it can be thinner since it won’t bear weight. Clamps help hold pieces in place while nailing.
This combination keeps the overall shelf thickness close to that of a 1×3″ board, which allows a clean transition to the face trim.
Step 7: Nail On Face Pieces
Finish the exposed edges with 1×3″ pine trim. Glue and nail these pieces to all visible surfaces. Mitered corners between front and side pieces create a polished look. If you have a table saw you can rip the 1×3″ pieces to the exact shelf depth for a flush fit; if not, a small lip along the bottom or top is acceptable and purely aesthetic.
Step 8: Add Paint, Stain, or Sealer
Choose a finish that fits your kitchen. We stained one set of shelves a medium oak tone to match nearby floors and on the other side we applied a clear, water-based sealer for protection against stains and moisture. If you prefer painted shelves, use pre-primed trim boards and consider MDF for the shelf surfaces to achieve a smoother painted finish.
More DIY Shelf Ideas
If you want additional shelving inspiration and project ideas, consider exploring multiple DIY shelving styles that can be adapted to your home and needs. A simple floating shelf is just the starting point—there are many ways to vary depth, thickness, finish, and support details to match your aesthetic and storage goals.
P.S. These shelves were part of a larger duplex kitchen project; the same framing and finishing principles apply whether you’re remodeling one kitchen or multiple spaces. Good planning—accurate stud location, careful drilling through tile, and thoughtful finishing—will give you custom-looking shelves that hold up well in daily kitchen use.
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