DISCLAIMER: This post is not an instructional guide, but rather a description of an interesting DIY project. Please do not attempt this at home as Suitebase accepts no liability for your personal safety or for any damage that may be caused to any device in the process.

If you’re lucky enough to have a large loft space with expansive walls, you may find yourself in a little bit of a design predicament. In most condos, larger pieces of furniture such as the sofa, dining table, or television are typically anchored to the wall. But what do you do with the excess wall space that is free of furniture? How do you transform that blank, boring, uninteresting space into a focal point of the room?

One simple solution and perhaps the most obvious is artwork, whether it be a wall sculpture, photograph, or a painting on a large piece of gallery canvas. Other more practical solutions include a floating shelf installation, a large mirror, or a fancy lighting fixture. Here is a DIY solution that combines of some of these ideas that just might help you dress up that empty space. The best part of this project is that it requires very little cutting and is a simple project for the average DIY’er.

The floating shelf wall unit is basically a large piece of MDF, offset from the wall by a few inches by building up the sides of the unit. Affixed to the front facade, are 3 floating shelves. Optionally, the top and bottom gaps are outfitted with fluorescent tubes hidden behind the unit. This unit provides 3 functions. First, it is practical by providing shelf space to display collectibles or decorative accessories. Secondly, the negative space behind the front facade of the unit houses a lighting feature to help illuminate your space. Lastly, it adds visual interest to the room with the use of different materials, contrasting colors, and architectural design. The lighting enhancement is completely optional. It works best when the wall unit is located over an electrical outlet that is controlled by a wall switch. This would make the the wall switch useful by adding mood lighting to the room, not to mention hiding all the messy wires for a completely clean wireless look.

Here is what you will need to build your own floating shelf wall unit:

• One large 7′ x 4′ MDF (from your local build-it center)
• 2 pieces of 7′ x 3″ strips of MDF
• Steel L-brackets
• Handful of wood screws
• 3 IKEA LACK floating shelves (small)
• 6 nuts and bolts
• 4′ steel chain
• 2 Heavy duty picture hanging brackets
• Wood filler
• Paint color of your choice

The following are optional for the lighting enhancement:

• One 4′ dual fluorescent tube light unit
• One extension cord
• 3 wire twist connectors

First you want to start off with the large MDF sheet flat on the ground. Attach the 2 MDF strips to the sides of the sheet using the L-brackets and wood screws, evenly spacing them at about one foot intervals. Make sure that the pieces edges are flush before securing them to together. With the optional fluorescent lighting feature, disassemble the fluorescent unit from the steel casing. Screw the plastic end connectors to the bottom edge of the unit. Using a fluorescent tube to space out the connectors, secure the other connector to the other side of the unit. Repeat for the top side of the unit. Once all 4 connectors are secured, bolt the transformer to anywhere on the unit. Cut the extension cord and wire it up to the transformer using the twist connectors.

Lay out the steel chain that will be used to hang the unit to the wall. Attach the chain to the MDF sheet by screwing through the spaces of the links. Add a few screws for added strength. Now prop the unit upright and measure out where to attach the IKEA floating shelves. Here we’ve installed the shelves at about 15″ apart. Mark the holes of the brackets, and drill through the MDF sheet. Bolt the shelf brackets to the front of the unit.

Next, measure out the height of the unit to where you would like to position it on the wall, and secure the 2 heavy duty wall brackets to the wall. Make sure to screw into a wood wall joist, or into concrete using concrete anchors.

Warning: Failure to do so, and hanging the unit directly off the drywall is NOT a good idea! Do not attempt to hang this unit unless the brackets have been secured into concrete or into a wall joist.

If you have installed the lighting enhancement, ensure that the entire floating shelf wall unit covers the electrical outlet, so that the plug is completely enclosed in the void space behind the unit. Next connect the extension cord to the electrical outlet. Test the positioning of the unit by hanging it to the wall, and make adjustments as needed.

Remove the unit from the wall. Using wood filler, fill in the cracks along the side that may be a result of combining the different MDF pieces. Wait for the wood filler to dry, and sand until it is smooth. Repeat this process until the cracks are no longer visible. Finish off the floating shelf wall unit by painting the unit with the desired color, adhering wall paper, or add wood veneer if you so choose. Hang the completed wall unit to the wall. Finally, secure the IKEA floating shelves to the shelf brackets.

Now accessorize with some of your favorite things! Please feel free to leave any comments or questions.