A mantel is a great way to decorate any room of the home with an elegant shelf. But when ugly brackets, awkward mantels and weak support systems are in place, your mantel isn’t going work or look good in the space. Create a simple, yet elegant mantel shelf that fits seamlessly against any wall with minimal work and tools using this guide.
Choosing a Location
Finding the right location is crucial to the design’s success. It needs to appear level and be at the average eye level so you can easily showcase your home décor and other accessories. But it also needs to be strong enough to support heavy weights-so a few studs will need to be located in the wall. Use a stud finder if you need to, but poking a few nails in the drywall to find the studs is alright as long as you cover them later with the mantel.
To find the right height and to make the mantel level, measure down from the ceiling and make a mark over each stud you’ve located. Using a level may make the mantel perfectly level, but if your ceiling’s out of level slightly, the mantel will appear out of whack when installed.
Installing the Supports
Build your mantelpiece supports out of two 2×4’s cut to the desired length of your mantel. Choosing the right length is easy as long as it coincides with the location of the studs in the wall. Ensure that a stud will hit somewhere close to each end of the mantel when deciding upon its overall length. Cutting both studs at the same time on a miter saw with a stop will make sure they are both the same length.
1. Attach the first 2×4 to the wall using four 2″ woodscrews. Make sure it’s exactly on the pencil marks and the screws tap directly into the wall studs!
2. Next attach the other board on top of the first board using three of the 2″ screws so that each end gets a screw and the last screw is installed in the center.
3. Be sure to keep all screws at least 2″ away from the ends of the 2×4’s to prevent splits in the wood.
Building the Box
You can use fine woods or simple MDF boards that have been painted your favorite color for the mantel-as long as they are made from 1×6 boards. To build the box:
1. Cut two 1×6’s with an opposing 45 degree angle on each end. The short points of the 45 degree angles are going to be hidden from view so painting or staining isn’t necessary on this side. Cut the boards to the length of your 2×4’s but make sure the overall length is between the two short points of the 45 degree angles and not the long points or your 1×6’s will be too short to work.
2. Attach them to the top and bottom of the 2×4’s using 6d finish nails.
3. Cut the two side boards out of the 1×6’s. Make them 3 ½” from short point to short point of opposing 45 degree angles; just like you did with the first two mantel boards. The short point side of the boards will be covered as well, so no need to paint them on that side either.
4. Attach the two side pieces to each end of the 2×4’s using wood glue as nails may split the wood.
5. Cut the face of the mantel so that the ends hang slightly over each side ¼” so that they match the overhang at the bottom of the mantel. You can also rip the board to the desired length using a table saw if a flush faced mantel is desired.
6. Attach the face panel using 6d finish nails and wood glue, then countersink and putty each nail.
7. Once the glue and wood putty has dried, touch up any rough edges with sandpaper and repaint or stain as necessary. Let it dry for at least four hours before decorating your shelf.
