I'm building some floating shelves in my pantry that will stretch the entire wall, around 61 inches wide and 16 inches deep, using 2x2 lumber and MDF for the casing. The back of the shelves can connect to four studs, but the sides won't hit any studs. I'm wondering if I should use drywall anchors or some alternative method to secure the sides properly. Any tips?
2 Answers
For floating shelves that are 16" deep, you'll need solid support for them. If you're set on that depth, consider reinforcing the sides. It's odd that your sides don't hit any studs since they should generally be 16" apart. You could attach a thin piece of wood, like a 1x2, along the wall from the stud to the back. This will help support the shelves better. Or you might think about putting a vertical support from the floor up to the shelves on the side wall.
If you're missing a stud at the sides, I'd suggest adjusting the shelf width to around 17” or 18” to ensure you have some secure anchoring. Relying on drywall anchors for a pantry shelf that spans 5 feet isn't ideal. A better approach would be to install a piece of plywood along the side walls or even add some vertical supports. A 1x2 could work perfectly for this, plus it helps with the load-bearing aspect. You might even want to think about adding a center support between the top and bottom shelves, which can just be as simple as a 1x2.