How to make your own coloured floating shelves

Create with paint! Projects from habitat by Resene

Floating shelves are really a dream addition to any kid’s room. They take up little space yet provide plenty more to stack books, toys and the different bits and pieces that seem to collect over time.

Make floating shelves for your childs room

We decided to get creative with floating shelves, introducing colourful MDF squares to sit above each shelf, both painted using Resene testpots. We’ve also come up with three ways to hang the shelves – perfect for when the kids want to change up their bedroom. Here’s how to create your own.

You will need

3 MDF squares, measuring 600mm long
3 floating shelves, measuring 600mm x 600mm
Resene testpots in your choice of colours; we used Resene Smiles, Resene Sherbert and Resene Yabbadabbadoo
Resene testpot brushes
3M picture hanging strips
Drill and screwdriver for hanging up shelves
Level, measuring tape and pencil

Wall in Resene Softly Softly, squares & shelves: Resene Smiles, Resene Sherbert and Resene Yabbadabbadoo, vase and candle in Resene FX Metallic Solid Gold, seashell in Resene Buzz and pot in Resene Splat.

Instructions

Step one
Pair up each MDF square with a floating shelf.

Step two
Paint each pair in different colours. We used Resene Smiles, Resene Sherbert and Resene Yabbadabbadoo. Leave to dry.

Paint MDF square yellow

Paint floating shelf yellow

Paint MDF square yellow

Step three
Hang the floating shelves according to instructions. Make sure to use a level to hang them straight. Have fun with how you hang them – whether it’s horizontal, stepped, or random. Make sure to leave enough room for the MDF squares on top of each shelf. You can always move them around when you want to change up the room.

Step four
Using the hanging strip, hang each MDF square so that it sits directly above and aligned with its corresponding shelf. It’s ready to be filled with all the kid’s paraphernalia!

Paint MDF square blue

Attach removeable sticky strip

Hang on wall

Top tip: If you get bored of the how the shelves are hanging, or even the colour palette, it’s easy to change it up. Just remove the shelves and squares, repaint using Resene testpots and hang them differently.