Mount Decorative Shelving

• 1
  Look at the mounting hardware on the back of the shelf.rack and shelf image by Lars Christensen from Fotolia.com
  
  Determine what kind of installation hardware is placed on the back of the shelf, be it sawtooth mounting brackets, or manufactured holes in the back on which to mount screw heads or nails. Inspect the back of the shelf to see if there is a hanging wire mounted on the back, similar to those found on some picture frames.
  
  
• 2). Select where you will hang the decorative shelving. Search for a wall stud using a stud finder in order to insert screws or nails into the wood beams that are behind the walls. Determine at what height you will to mount the shelf, and mark it on the stud area with a pencil. Install a screw or nail through that spot into the wood beam, where it will be secure enough to hang the singe-mount decorative shelf. Use a level to make sure the shelf is balanced.
  
  
• 3). For shelves with two or more hardware mounts on the back, install the first screw or nail into the beam at the desired height. Hang the shelf on the first screw or nail you have installed, and hold the unsecured end of the shelf against the wall. Place a level on the shelf, and keep the shelf level as you mark with a pencil where the second screw or nail needs to be placed.
  
  
• 4). Take the shelf down, and install the second screw or nail. If the second hanging location does not hit a beam, it may be necessary to use a toggle bolt or a plastic anchor to secure the screw.
  
  
• 5
  A toggle bolt expands like wings to tighten inside hollow walls.bolt image by Grebenshchikov from Fotolia.com
  
  For hollow drywall or plaster, use a toggle bolt. Mark the placement area on the wall with pencil as you would do with a beam. Drill a hole to accommodate the toggle bolt into the drywall. Insert the toggle bolt, with the screw head facing upward. Screw the toggle bolt until it is taut -- an indication that the toggle has spread open, acting as leverage against weight on the inside of the drywall.
  
  
• 6). For plaster or drywall that is not hollow, use plastic anchors to hold mounting screws for light shelves. Use plastic anchors that are sized to fit the screw for the mounting hardware. Drill the mounting screw halfway into drywall. Pull the screw out by the head with pliers, leaving a pilot hole in the drywall. Place the tip of the plastic anchor into the pilot hole, and gently tap it into the wall using a hammer. Drill the screw two-thirds of the way into the anchor, leaving the screw to protrude enough on which to hang shelving.