Sharing a collection of picture ledge floating shelf inspiration and how we plan to incorporate this look into our home!
Last week, I decided it was time to add some personality to the walls in a few spots in our home. In our loft, I decided that installing some floating picture shelf ledges would be the perfect way to allow me to easily swap out what was on display at any given point in time. Today I’m sharing some of my inspiration pics that got me motivated to start this project, as well as our progress so far! I’m also sharing a few other alternatives if you decide this look isn’t for you.
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Picture Ledge Floating Shelves Inspiration
It’s no secret I’ve been a fan of oversized gallery walls for some time! But, admittedly, I’ve been a bit intimidated to install them in our new home. Particularly on the shiplap, where I’d have to drill a ton of holes in the solid wood. I knew if I ever wanted to turn back, that wasn’t a project I’d necessarily want to tackle.
Recently I’ve been searching for other ideas, and came across various picture ledge floating shelves. They are different from standard floating shelves in that a picture ledge floating shelves usually has a slight lip or groove along the front edge. This design allows it to securely hold framed pictures, artwork, or objects without the risk of them slipping off. They give me the gallery wall look I love, but are easy to change up at any given point without adding new holes in the wall!
Here are some examples of picture ledge floating shelves that inspired me to make the move!
This example from Pottery Barn is exactly the look I was going for. I love the layered, collected vibe of mixing picture frames, art, collections (hello seashells!) and more!
Although these shelves appear to be traditional (without the photo ledge), this next example from Amanda Lindroth Design at The Dunmore in The Bahamas shows beautiful layering techniques!
As I think of adding something similar in our carriage house, I always come back to this look for our little dining nook! Such a fun way to display family photos or images from favorite vacations, etc.!
If you love more of a maximalist, collector vibe, this is another gorgeous example from Amanda Lindroth!
I also love the idea of layering framed items like these pennant flags we used at Hola Beaches Casita! Definitely don’t be afraid to think outside of the typical framed photos when selecting items for your shelves! You’ll definitely be seeing more of these pennants popping up around our home.
BEDROOM SOURCES: Wavy Headboards (also here) | Striped Rug | Nightstand | Ceiling Fan | Gallery Frames | Pennants (Hola, Surf, 30A, Gulf Coast, Swiss Cross, Beach House) | Throw Pillow Covers | Lamp | Vase | Fan Palms
Where to Buy Picture Ledge Floating Shelves
There are quite a few retailers that carry picture ledge floating shelves, but after a thorough search, here are some of my favorite finds!
- Because I know my shelves will likely remain for the entire time we live in this house, these picture ledge floating shelves were my front-runner and the exact look I was going for.
- Although the profile isn’t quite as substantial, these floating shelves are a good look for less option compared to the Pottery Barn shelves I fell in love with. They also offer more finish and length options.
- This metal picture ledge shelf is so pretty in the aged brass and also comes in an oil-rubbed bronze finish. These would be fun in a kitchen or moody home office.
- These corner floating shelf sets on Walmart are a great option for smaller spaces. I love them styled with books or picture frames!
- These scalloped book ledge shelves would be so precious in a nursery or kids room!
- If you prefer your shelves to virtually disappear, these acrylic shelves are a great option!
I also share some tutorials further down in the post if you prefer to try making your own!
Gallery Wall Picture Shelf In Our Loft
I ultimately decided to order two of these shelves that are offered in four widths, two depths, and four finishes so there is a lot of customization available! We selected the 5′ length, 4.5″ depth, and Modern White finish. I considered the Seadrift finish, as well, but figured the white would give me more flexibility with changing out frames and art on the shelves.
Yesterday, when Kurtis was on his lunch break, I asked him to help me install them! While Pottery Barn doesn’t always get everything right, more companies need to follow their lead when it comes to French cleats! I can basically get Kurtis to hang anything if he knows it comes with a French cleat and PB is so great about using these on most of their mirrors, shelves, etc. Trust me when I say they’re a game changer. They offer drill holes every inch, so if you’re drilling into drywall rather than wood, you’re pretty much guaranteed to hit several studs, ensuring the most secure attachment.
Given the size of our wall and the height of the room, I wasn’t sure two shelves were going to cut it. But I decided to start there. Once they arrived, it was pretty clear we were going to need four to make the scale look correct. I think if the ceiling were flat in here rather than vaulted, we could have easily gotten away with just the two.
So, we ultimately decided we’ll do a stacked look, with a total of four shelves. I ordered two more yesterday once it was apparent that two wasn’t going to be enough for this wall.
Here is how our top row looks, once we decided we’ll do two rows. We obviously would have hung it much lower if we had only decided upon one row. I can already tell I’m going to have so much fun styling these! To give you an idea of scale, the total shelf is now 10′ long and I currently have the 25″ frames (gray finish) that used to hang in our hallway gallery wall in Omaha. I plan to do a much more layered look once the other shelves are installed. I’ll be sure to share an update once the two additional shelves arrive later this week or early next week! If you’re on the hunt for gallery frames, be sure to check out this post.
LOFT SOURCES: Picture Ledge Floating Shelf | Gallery Wall Frames | Sectional | Long Console Table | Bronze Linen Pillow Covers | Reversible Plaid Pillow Covers | Tassel Lumbar Pillows | Plush Pumpkin Pillow | Lamps | Woven Tray Set | Similar Rug | Striped Ottoman Cube
One thing I don’t love is that since the shelves are handmade, there is some slight variation to them. So when they butt up to one another, it’s not a perfect joint and you can see the seam. I’m going to wait until ours are fully installed to see if I need to find a solution or if they won’t be as noticeable once the shelves are filled.
Overall, I’m so happy with these shelves! I still think I may add some of the smaller ones in our carriage house to give the same gallery wall effect without the commitment. Stay tuned!
How to Make A Picture Ledge Floating Shelf
If you’re more of a DIYer, there are quite a few tutorials out there for building a picture ledge floating shelf! This would also allow for you to customize the length of each shelf to the exact dimensions you may need. Tap any of the article names below you may wish to read.
Additional Wall Decor Ideas
Following are even more wall decor ideas you may enjoy! Tap any of the article titles below to read the full post.
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