Hanging Shelves On An Uneven Wall

Fit a floating shelf by pushing it onto the bracket instead.

Hanging shelves on an uneven wall.

Buy a different type of shelf that s less dependent on wall being flat. If you want the line to stay invisible place the top of the shelf on the line. Hold the level against the wall at the height you want the shelf. Position the shelf on the wall.

Or just using a bracket that would allow you to move the shelf away from the wall slightly. With some setups the shelf rests on top of the brackets. Attach the plywood top to the frame. You can use the nail gun to hold them in place while they dry.

Step 4 cut along the pencil line using a table saw. Remember that the top of the shelf will be above your marks. As the shaft of the pencil passes over an uneven place in the wall it causes the line drawn on the board to skip outlining the uneven parts of the wall. Hang the shelf on the mounting brackets.

You can have someone hold the shelf for you while you use a level to double check the evenness if desired. Then check the shelf to make sure it s sturdy and ready to bear the weight of whatever you put on top of it. Use the drawn line to help you ensure the shelf stays even. Adjust the level until the bubble is centered and mark the keyhole locations on the wall.

Use liquid nails to attach the front and optional sides. For example using an ordinary standard and bracket shelving system would push the shelf itself off the wall by about 1 2. Then install anchors or drive the screws into the studs and hang the shelf.