Upgrade Your Small Bathroom Storage Space With A Simple Shelving DIY

If you're trying to transform a small bathroom on a budget, the biggest hurdle is creating enough storage without adding a cabinet or anything else that takes up precious floor space. Enter this super simple DIY: floating bathroom shelves. YouTube user DIY Dane broke down an easy way to create floating shelves for bathroom storage using interlocking furniture connector brackets, which make it easy to install the shelves onto the wall. To install your own, gather your tools: a sander with at least 100 grit sandpaper, a measuring tape, a stud finder, circular saw, large and small chisels, clamps, hammer, level, drill, drill bits, and a marker or pencil.

Measure your area and decide how long you want your shelves to be, how many of them you want, and determine the perfect height as well. If you want to attach them to the studs in the wall, use your stud finder to mark their location. Then, pick up wood boards that are 2 inches by 8 inches for the shelves (pine or poplar are popular options), interlocking furniture connector brackets, and screws and drywall anchors if needed from your local hardware store.

First, cut your boards to size with your circular saw. Sand the boards down. For ultimate smoothness, use 100 grit sandpaper, then 150, then 220. Wipe away the dust. If you'd like, paint or stain your shelves and let dry completely before moving on. Mark a space for the brackets on each end of the board. If your shelf is longer than 20 inches, consider adding a middle bracket for additional support. Measure the length and width of the brackets, then mark their dimensions on the shelf. Grab the large chisel and indent the notch's perimeter. Place the chisel bevel edge down on the far end of the mark and tap the hammer until you reach the other end. Keep going until 90% of the notch is made, then switch to the small chisel to get clean lines. Slide the brackets in the notch to make sure they fit properly. If they do, mark the screw locations. Find the right size drill bit — about half the width of your screws — and drill the holes, then attach the brackets. Repeat on remaining shelves.

Next, install the partner brackets, using a level to mark the appropriate location on the walls. Mark the screw holes, using the brackets as a guide. If you're using drywall anchors, install now with a slightly narrower drill bit. Then screw the brackets to the wall, slide the shelf into place, and gently tap to interconnect.