Hey friend,

I love my living room, but I’ve never been satisfied with one thing about it:

The far left corner.

I don’t know if you can relate to me on this, but sometimes there’s an empty space in the room and I have no idea how to fill it.

Well, this week, while scrolling on my phone, I came across this piece right here:

And I thought: “This is it, I’m buying it”. 

So I clicked on it to then checkout, but when I read the price tag I was flabbergasted…

$270!?

No way I was gonna pay that for 2 pieces of wood…

So I decided to build my own rustic ledge shelf, and check out the results:

This beauty cost me just 63$ and 1.27 hours of my time, and I love it!

So let me give you the exact steps you can use to build yours.

Materials Needed

1. Lumber Shelf Boards: size according to desired length and width

2. Lumber Side Support Boards: height according to the space between shelves

3. Wood Screws: 1.5-inch and 2.5-inch sizes

4. Wood Glue 

5. Sandpaper: 120 grit and 220 grit

6. Wood Stain or Paint 

7. Tools: Drill, Screwdriver, Paintbrushes, Level, Measuring Tape

I know, getting the materials ready sucks…

But once that’s done, here comes the fun!

Step-by-step Guide

Step #1 — Design Planning

Measure the area where you want to place your shelf and decide both the number of shelves and the spacing between them.

Step #2 — Cut the Wood

Cut the shelf boards to your desired length and then cut the side supports to match the height between shelves.

Step #3 — Sanding

Sand all pieces with 120 grit sandpaper followed by 220 grit for a smooth finish.

Step #4 — Assembly

Lay out the shelf boards and mark where you will attach the side supports, then apply wood glue to the ends of your shelf boards where they will connect with the side supports.

Now, using the 1.5-inch wood screws, attach the shelf boards to the side supports (make sure to pre-drill to avoid splitting the wood) and finally, check with a level to ensure your shelves are even.

Step #5 — Staining or Painting

Once the glue has dried, apply your chosen wood stain or paint and then allow for adequate drying time as recommended by the product instructions.

Note: for a more polished look, apply a coat of polyurethane to seal and protect the wood.

Step #6 — Mounting the Shelf

Locate the studs on your wall using a stud finder and then position your shelf against the wall and mark the placement of the studs on the side supports.

Now pre-drill holes into the side support for the 2.5-inch screws and finally secure the shelf to the wall by drilling the screws into the studs.

Note: ensure the shelf is level before fully tightening the screws.

And there you have it friend!

The cool part?

Not only did you save over $200, but you also spent a couple of hours on building a beautiful DIY project.

I don’t know about you, but that’s sometimes all I need to have a great day.

So give this project a try, reply to this email if you have any questions,

And most importantly, have a great weekend!

‘Till next time,

Your favorite modern farmhouse designer,

Jacob from Truss & Beam

==

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