Turn Simple Picture Ledges Into A Stunning Midcentury Wall Shelf

Midcentury modern design is known for its use of natural materials, clean geometric shapes, and bright accent pieces. It's a style that has continued to appeal to homeowners because of its uncomplicated use of colors and considerable functionality. If you're interested in integrating this kind of design into your home, you'll need to think about the statement pieces that you're going to have in each of your rooms, since they are often considered core elements of this kind of arrangement. One unique way to create such a focal point for your living space is to install a multitiered shelf using picture ledges on your wall that will highlight the beauty of your framed photos, books, and other decor pieces.

To build your own midcentury wall shelf from scratch, you'll need a collection of IKEA MOSSLANDA matching picture ledges, several 1-inch-by-2-inch wood boards, and tools that every homeowner should have in their garage or shed such as a drill and measuring tape. You'll need to hang the picture ledges in a grid-like formation so that each row is set up at an equal height. The 1-by-2s are installed vertically between the columns of ledges to make everything look like it's part of a single fixture. Before you decorate the finished product, you might want to review common shelf styling mistakes so that you can avoid them.

To construct the fixture, you'll first need to determine how many MOSSLANDA ledges you're going to use and where you're going to put them. To do this, first measure your available wall space. Next, decide how much of a gap you want to leave above each ledge relative to the decor pieces you want to showcase. For example, if your shelf is going to have framed art pieces or posters, you'll need much more space than if you're going to put books or candle holders in their places. 

Then, locate where your studs are, and mark with a pencil or painter's tape where the screws for each shelf are going to go — each picture ledge should be anchored to a stud. Check to make sure that the holes are level; a Motovera cross line laser level can be particularly useful here. If you're not going to drill your shelves into wall studs, then you'll need to use drywall anchors.

Before you install either the MOSSLANDA ledges or the 1-by-2s that will run between them, consider painting or staining the pieces to ensure that all the elements of the fixture match. When you're putting up the picture ledges, use a countersink drill bit since it will keep the screws flush with the wood. Finally, install the 1-by-2s on either side of the MOSSLANDA ledges so that they give the appearance of supporting the shelves. You'll want screw caps or wood filler to cover the screw heads, and just touch it up with paint or stain.

The innovative shelf design using MOSSLANDA picture ledges looks fantastic, but it admittedly takes up quite a bit of wall space. To reduce the width of the fixture, simply put together fewer columns of picture ledges. If you're concerned about the vertical dimensions of the installation, just drop a row or two of the ledges instead. To make your shelves look more luxurious but still in keeping with midcentury modern design, you may want to add wood paneling to the wall behind the grid of ledges. This way, the fixture looks more like an accent wall. However, you might want to avoid choosing a dark wood for the panels since the color might not allow your decor pieces to be quite as eye-catching.

To give your shelf a bit more visual character, consider varying the heights of the ledges. Such an arrangement will help your smaller decor pieces, such as decorative tea cups or neat bookends, stand out a bit more from the crowd. If MOSSLANDA ledges are too shallow for the decor pieces you have in mind, then you might want to consider putting up a few floating shelves instead. These timeless fixtures usually offer a bit more weight capacity than picture ledges and can match any aesthetic. Make sure you're familiar with how to determine the perfect height for your floating shelves before you begin installing them.