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Before you hang your shelf work out where you'd like it to go and check to see whether there are any wall studs – these are the parts of the wall you can drill straight into. Use a stud finder to locate them – these nifty contraptions will beep when you locate one. If you don't have a stud near the spot you want to hang your shelf, no worries. You can use a wallmate – more on that later.
Get as creative as you like with your shelf. We're using a piece of timber from our local Bunnings, but there's no reason why you couldn't use a piece of driftwood you found at the beach, or an old re-purposed piece of recycled timber. Hold the shelf where you would like it to go, and mark the height with a pencil – this is where you'll screw in your brackets. Use a spirit level to make sure everything is straight.
Grab your shelf brackets, place them up against the wall, and mark where your screws will go. Then get your power drill and drill directly into the stud (if there's one where you're hanging), or grab a nifty wallmate and pop this into your plaster – this will protect your wall and allow you to screw through your bracket to the wall. Drill pilot holes for your wallmate first.
Our first bracket is going straight into the wall, but we're screwing the second one into the plaster using wallmates we drilled in through our pilot holes. Once these are in, you can grab your bracket and drill directly into the wallmate. When using your drill, don't forget to use safety glasses.
Once your mounting brackets are secured into the wall, grab your piece of wood and make sure it's central to the brackets. Then, locate your screws and use your drill to secure them into the wood from the bottom of the brackets.
With two brackets, some screws and a piece of wood we've created a beautiful shelf to display or store keepsakes. How easy was that? You are now an official D.I.Y. hero!
For more handy projects, check out home office makeover by Keira Rumble from Make It Yours season one.
Asbestos, lead-based paints and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber are health hazards you need to look out for when renovating older homes. These substances can easily be disturbed when renovating and exposure to them can cause a range of life-threatening diseases and conditions including cancer. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer or visit our Health & Safety page.
When following our advice in our D.I.Y. videos, make sure you use all equipment, including PPE, safely by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Check that the equipment is suitable for the task and that PPE fits properly. If you are unsure, hire an expert to do the job or talk to a Bunnings Team Member.
