Installing IKEA Floating Shelves - Modern Look That's Surprisingly Easy

IKEA floating shelves displaying vintage ceramic aqua blue vases in a bedroom.

Floating shelves …what’s not to love? I have them in just about every room in my house! They hold live plants and pottery in the living room. In the kitchen, they store stacks of dishes and glassware. And, in the bedrooms, they display retro radios and collectibles. In total, in my home, I have nineteen floating shelves!! I won’t call it an obsession…just a necessity! And installing IKEA floating shelves is surprisingly easy!

Three floating IKEA shelves with faux oak finish displaying houseplants, pottery, and artwork.

My Love For IKEA Floating Shelves

You might be wondering what a floating shelf is? Floating shelves are shelves in which the support mechanism is hidden from view. So, the shelf looks suspended on the wall as if by magic. Usually, they are made of particle board with a hollow center, but you can find them in solid wood or even stainless steel. Open shelving is a wonderful way to display all the art and collections you may have…but floating shelves go a step further with their sleek and contemporary look! They have such a timeless design which is why they are so popular.

Three IKEA mini floating shelves. Installing floating shelves is surprisingly easy.

The majority of my shelves are from IKEA …you can’t beat the price of $25 for a 43 1/4 x 10 1/4 unit. The smaller ones (11 3/4 x 10 1/4) are only $10 each. They come in a few choices of finishes and are good quality. You can find the small shelf here, and the larger shelf here. Most of mine are white with the exception of the living room which have a faux oak finish. These IKEA shelves are made of particle board which has a smooth white coating. It’s a 2 inch thick shelve but is hollow so it remains super lightweight.

The longer LACK shelves have a metal bar support which gets mounted to the wall and is hidden inside the hollow frame of the shelf. Instead of a metal bar support, the smaller shelf uses keyhole mounting brackets which are hidden on the back. These IKEA shelves are beautiful and wonderful for display but they are limited in the weight they can hold. The small ones can hold up to 6 pounds.

Let’s Get Started…Supplies You Might Need:

The tools needed to install a floating shelf, including a drill, hammer, tape measure, level, and anchor/screw set.

Tape Measure
Hammer
Pencil
Drill with screw bit and Phillips head bit
Anchors and screws (paid link).
Level (paid link).

Installing Small IKEA Floating Shelves

Step 1. Figure out the shelf placement on the wall and mark it with a pencil. Mark the two holes you will need to drill, and then check that the markings are level.

The back of the IKEA floating shelf, showing the metal keyhole mounting brackets.

Using a level to check that the markings you have made on the wall are perfectly horizontal.

Step 2. Drill the two holes, using the appropriate drill bit for your anchors.

Using a drill to make the 2 holes in the wall that will hold the anchors for the IKEA shelf.

Step 3. Put the anchors into the two holes. You may need a hammer to insert them all the way.

Putting the anchors into the wall using a hammer, to ensure they are fully inserted into the wall.

Step 4. Drive the screws into the anchors to the correct level. For these shelves, about a quarter of an inch should be left out of the anchor.

Screwing the screws into the anchors in the wall, leaving about 1/4 inch out of the wall.

Step 5. Next, place the shelf onto the screw heads, so the screws fit into the keyhole bracket on the back of the shelf. Push down lightly to secure the shelf onto the wall.

One floating IKEA white shelf holding a vintage ceramic aqua blue vase.

The Finished Product:

These two shelves are perfectly aligned on the wall. Once the shelves were installed, I placed two ceramic vintage aqua vases on them to create the finishing touch for my bedroom!!

Two mini IKEA shelves displaying two vintage ceramic aqua blue vases.

Two IKEA floating mini shelves holding vintage aqua ceramic vases in a bedroom.

Installing Larger IKEA Floating Shelves

These longer IKEA shelves are a real joy to install. They use one long black metal mounting support which is secured to the wall first.

Step 1. Measure where to place the shelf and mark it on the wall.

Step 2. Secure the bracket to the wall using one screw and anchor on either end of the bracket.

Step 3. Recheck the level by placing the level across the two metal rods. Complete the mounting by drilling the rest of the holes, inserting the anchors, and then putting in the screws.

A drill putting screws into a metal floating shelf bracket.

A black metal mounting bracket on the wall.

Step 4. Insert the floating shelf onto the black metal bar. Then, push until snug on the wall.

Placing a mounting bracket. a floating shelf onto the metal

Step 5. Secure the shelf to the bracket by using the two holes on the bottom of the shelf and two screws.

Putting in a screw to secure a floating shelf to the mounting bracket.

The Finished Product:

These three floating shelves all line up and look amazing in my living room! They display some of my favorite houseplants and pottery collection.

Three IKEA floating shelves with faux oak finish displaying houseplants, pottery, and artwork.

DIY: A Few Helpful Tips:

Tip #1: One key I have figured out on floating shelves is to use MANY of the screw openings. The longer LACK styles that use the black metal bar have 16 screw holes. I have found that to have the best and sturdiest shelves, I used at least 10 screws to attach them. Don’t skimp!

Tip #2: Installing the shelves is a lot easier if you start with a good screw and anchor set. The one I used comes with a drill bit. Having a set is a great place to start, because it takes the worry away from what size of hole to drill, and you know that the screws and the anchors will fit like a hand into a glove, and give you a secure system.

Tip #3: Make friends with your level. I use and check the horizontal level of the shelves many times, to make sure the hole and the black metal bar are level. Additionally, you can orient the level vertically and check to make sure each of the shelves is in alignment.

Tip #4: For the longer shelves with the black metal bars, make sure you mount them the correct way facing up. Several times I have put these on the wall, and realized I have the bracket upside down. The quickest way to check is to make sure the holes in the rods are facing down. This is important because the rods are slightly upward angled, which is required for perfect installation.

My Love For Floating Shelves Continues

My love for floating shelves has been ongoing. They are absolutely perfect for anyone challenged with decorating a small room. In a small area, these shelves can add storage without taking up any floor space at all. But, the best part is their contemporary look. I absolutely love the contrast between the white clean shelves and the colorful aged vintage items on display. It showcases everything beautifully. So, give IKEA LACK floating shelves a try!! I think you will be happily surprised at the quality and value of these shelves! And, with the right tools, the installation is surprisingly easy too!

I’d love to hear from you if you give this a shot – just leave me a comment below! ENJOY!! Let’s get HOMEY!

If you liked this article, see the DIY post, “My New Handpainted Wallpaper Look: After Reveal“.