DIY: Floating Shelves

This past winter, Lindsay's family moved into a new home. Lindsay and Chris came from living in a flip home (fix it up to sell) and then an apartment, so they were excited to put their own unique mark on a dwelling that was all theirs. A favourite décor feature was the addition of floating shelves. Floating shelves add visual interest to any space and are perfect for displaying knick-knacks, books, flowers or any other random décor that needs a home. This industrial look was loved so much that it was used in three areas: the living room, laundry area and the bar in the dining room. If you're looking for a chic way to update a tired or bland space, check out this DIY for floating shelves.

What you'll need
Wood of your choice (we used bass wood)
Threaded plumbing pipes
Flanges (these are used to anchor the plumbing pipe to the wall)
Threaded caps
Spray paint
Wood stain
Clear coat semi-gloss water-based urethane
Electric drill
Sander

Measure twice, cut once
Measure the space where you'd like to install the shelves and determine the length for each shelf. The depth of the shelf is also a personal choice. We thought about what we wanted to place on each shelf to determine its dimensions. Once you have all your measurements, the wood can be cut. Many home stores will offer to make the cuts for you.

Paint plumbing pipes, flanges and caps
We opted for black spray paint to create a strong contrast against the wood.

Stain shelves
Select your preferred hue and stain the shelves. This will take multiple coats. Sand the wood between each coat to ensure a smooth, clean finish. 

Clear coat
Use a clear coat semi-gloss water-based urethane to cover the shelves once they've completely dried from the stain. This is a finishing coat that will seal the stain and protect the shelves from wear and tear. 

Anchor to the wall
To assemble to the wall, find an area where there are. no studs and drill the plumbing pipe in place. Once you have your pipe installed, your shelves can be placed on top. You can also buy brackets to secure the shelf to the pipe.