INSTALL A FLOATING MANTLE SHELF

By Matt Weber

Mantle shelves can be installed so they appear to float in place on a wall. This requires internal hardware hidden behind the shelf which fastens to the wall studs. Depending on the weight of the shelves, they can be installed using several different methods.

The popular rustic-style mantle shelves are often made of a solid timber beam or a live-edge slab. They feature the natural distinction and one-of-a-kind character of solid wood, but they can be extremely heavy and often require professional installation.

As an alternative, a DIY woodworker with a table saw might consider building a faux beam to simplify installation. The hollow nature of a faux beam retains the look of the wood but reduces the weight of the shelf, so it doesn’t necessitate heavy-duty hardware such as solid metal rods, which the solid beams require. By using a wooden mounting bracket, you can hang a hollow shelf without requiring the pro-grade tools, precision drilling, or expensive metal brackets associated with installing a solid mantle. And to top it off, purchasing a few 1x and 2x pine boards is typically less expensive than purchasing a hardwood slab or timber beam from a lumber supplier.