1. Home
  2. Home & Garden
  3. Garages & Storage Spaces

Installing Wall Shelves with Standards and Brackets

By Jeff Beneke, About.com

6 of 8

Attach the Shelf Brackets

Choose the right bracket for the intended shelf depth.

Photo © Jeff Beneke
Shelf brackets range in size from 5 inches (for shelves holding paperback books) to 24 inches (for desktops and other large spaces). Plan to use brackets that are just a bit shorter than the depth of the shelves. So, if you want shelves that are 8- inches deep, use 7-inch brackets.

You don’t have to make all shelves the same depth (this is one reason I so like this system). Instead, you can install shelves that get increasingly deeper from top to bottom, allowing you to place smaller items on top and bigger items on the bottom. Or the other way around.

Slip the bracket into the slots on the standard, then give it a little push down to make sure it's set properly.

Explore Garages & Storage Spaces
About.com Special Features

Banish mess, reduce allergens, and maintain a clean, healthy home. More >

Inspirational ideas and expert tips to help you pull off your next DIY project. More >

  1. Home
  2. Home & Garden
  3. Garages & Storage Spaces
  4. Shelving & Storage Basics
  5. Shelf Brackets - Attach the Shelf Brackets

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.