You can buy your boards in any length you want and cut them down to size. You can also find precut 4’ boards at Lowe’s that work well for a nice-sized shelf.

The 1×4 will be the bottom of your shelf; the other 1×4 will be the back. Put a thin line of wood glue on the entire back edge of the 1×4 and press the other 1×4 onto it at a 90-degree angle, so it forms an L-shape. When it’s perfectly lined up, nail several finishing nails into the back to hold it into place. Wipe off any excess glue with a rag or paper towel.

You basically screw the shelf into the studs in a couple places. To do this, you need to locate the studs with a stud finder. Once you locate the studs, mark them. Then, decide the height then you want to hang it, hold the shelf up against the wall with a level on it and mark the top a couple places with a pencil.

Mark where you’ll need to put the screws on the shelf with a pencil and make sure the marks are level. I used a laser level to make sure, but make sure your screw are toward the top edge of the back so they’re easy to screw in.

Once you have the everything marked, it’s a good idea to drill a pilot hole in the wall and shelf for your screw. After you have your pilot holes, put your shelf in place and screw it into the wall with a long screw.

Now you’re all ready to start adding decor to your DIY easy ledge shelf! This shelf is so simple and budget-friendly, I’ve made several more for our home! I love the idea of a super long ledge shelf above a couch or bed, where you can easily change out artwork and decorations. I can totally see adding seasonal decor to this type of display.

I've already built this shelf for a couple other areas of my home in different sizes and I love them all!