Installing a Photo Ledge Without Power Tools

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of High & Mighty. All opinions are 100% mine.

​​​​​​​Sometimes all you need is a quick DIY project to transform a space. And let’s be honest, sometimes that’s all you might have time for. Today I’m showing you how you can give a space a whole new look in under 30 minutes. The quick DIY I’m about to share with you took place in a part of our living room that we had not paid any attention to. It was basically a couch and a lamp against a wall. Good news, a blank slate like this is the best to work with.

For the past two years I’ve wanted to install a photo ledge above our couch. With shorter ceilings in this part of our home, I needed something to make the room feel taller. What if I told you within 10 minutes I was able to install a photo ledge using zero power tools? It might sound too good to be true so I’m going to show you how this project was possible.

I used three floating wall shelves by High and Mighty that are 36 inches each in flat black. They come in a few different sizes but this worked best for our couch and wall. I was very intrigued by how these were going to work considering I didn’t even have to get out a drill.

Each floating shelf came with everything that I needed which was found on the back of each one. There was a template, a level that’s attached to the template, and mounting hardware. That’s it! Once I decided where I wanted to place them on the wall, each shelf was installed in under 3 minutes each. I do want to note that these High and Mighty floating shelves are for drywall only.

I stuck the template on the wall where I wanted my floating shelf to hang. I made sure it was level by using the level that was attached to the template. This alone saved me so much time!  

Once I had the template in place, I attached the mounting hardware, called hangers. There were notches in the template on the ends and middle to show where I needed to insert the hardware. I found it easiest to place one thumb in the middle of the hardware and push one side of the hanger with the other thumb until it was securely pushed all the way into the wall. I then pushed on the other side. It was a little tough so I ended up using the palm of my hand to push it in.

To attach the floating shelf, I lined it up with the hangers, flipped the shelf up, and then pushed it down to secure it on the hardware. Then it was only a matter of repeating these quick and easy steps with the remaining two floating shelves. Honestly, the trickiest part was spacing out each template so that the shelves would be installed practically touching to make it look like one floating shelf. I was able to install them seamlessly!

Within 10 minutes I was displaying my artwork and photographs on my newly installed photo ledge. With a depth of 6 inches, I was a little nervous that these floating shelves would stick out too much.  That ended up not being the case and they are the perfect depth to allow me to easily layer my picture frames. Which, by the way, each floating shelf can hold up to 25 pounds.

If you’re wanting to try some of these High & Mighty floating shelves in your home, you can find them on Amazon. You can also hang them staggered, one above another, or use a single floating shelf. Imagine the possibilities especially with the ease of installing them! With a toddler running around, this was the perfect afternoon project that had a huge impact. This project is also very renter-friendly or perfect for someone who may not have power tools on hand.

I also spent another 10 minutes or so adding a little more decor to the space to highlight the new photo ledge. For example, the colors of the new pillows compliment the colors in the artwork and a little greenery was added throughout the space to balance everything out. And we can’t forget about the new lamp and side table. It’s all of these little things that helped to create a cohesive look while the photo ledge became the focal point of the space.   

Before it was a boring and cold space to sit. Now, not only does it feel cozy, but it also looks very inviting to anyone visiting our home. Not to mention a place we now want to spend more time in. Why didn’t I do this sooner? Here’s a before and after to show you how just 30 minutes of my time and a quick DIY project changed this space for the better!

My hope, as always, is that this inspires you to look at your own home in new ways. Maybe you have a blank wall that could use a photo ledge and artwork. Or maybe your bedroom needs a few smaller shelves to display a few pieces of decor. Either way, this project is quick and simple! And the best part? You won’t have to get out a single tool for these High & Mighty floating shelves.

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