It's easy to build a set of floating shelves that will save you money and look great, even if you're not terribly experienced at building. This easy project is great, especially if you need custom shelves. Here's how to put a set together.
You'll need some 2x4s, a piece of MDF or wood the correct size for your shelves, a power drill, and some screws. Step one is to figure out the finished width and length of your floating shelves. Take a look at the available space and take a few measurements. Once you know what size you'd like to make things, cut your 2x4s to the correct size. You may want to make them a little bit shorter than the finished shelf size, to prevent them from obviously showing. You'll need two length pieces and two width pieces. If you're building a long floating shelf (more than about three feet), you'll need to add extra width pieces every foot or so to provide stability. Screw together the 2x4s into a rectangle, and insert internal supports if needed.
Now that you've created the frame for your floating shelves, you'll need to cut the MDF (if you haven't already). Make it the size that your finished shelf should be, then lay it onto the support structure and screw or nail it in place. Flip a piece over, then cut pieces for the sides and front, and screw them into place. Drill holes through the rear part of the support frame. It's important not to attach the top of your shelf, so that you'll be able to access the internal structure. Line these holes up with studs in your wall, so that there'll be adequate support for the floating shelves. This is much like hanging kitchen cabinets. Use long, strong screws that will provide enough support. Once you've managed to mount your floating shelf successfully, you can put the top onto it, screwing it in as before. Sand rough areas and fill any chipped or scratched areas.
Now it's time to finish your shelf. Prime it, and allow it to dry, then pain the shelf, or apply a veneer to make your MDF look like wood. If you've used wood instead of fiber board, you may choose to stain or polyurethane it instead. Add more shelves in the same way, remembering to leave adequate space between them. Remember not to over load this type of shelving, since it's only as strong as the fasteners holding it to the wall.
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