Order Custom 36 Inch Floating Shelves: What You Need to Know
Custom 36-inch floating shelves offer a stylish, tailored solution for adding storage and elegance to your home, perfectly fitting your space and design preferences. Whether for a kitchen, living room, or bedroom, ordering custom shelves ensures precision, quality, and functionality. This guide provides 10 essential tips to help you navigate the process of ordering custom 36-inch floating shelves, covering everything from material choices to installation, creating a cozy home decor masterpiece. Let’s dive into what you need to know to make your order seamless and successful.
Understand Customization Options
When ordering custom 36-inch floating shelves, you can tailor length, depth, thickness, wood type, finish, and bracket style to match your needs. Most providers, like Ultrashelf or J Thomas Home, allow lengths to be specified down to 1/8-inch increments, depths from 6–12 inches, and thicknesses from 1.5–2 inches. Choose from woods like white oak, walnut, or ash, and finishes like natural, stained, or painted.
Customization ensures your shelf fits perfectly in your space, whether for books, decor, or kitchenware. This personalization tip lets you create a unique, cozy bedroom or living room aesthetic that reflects your style.
Check provider websites for dropdown menus or custom order forms to input exact specifications. This initial planning step sets the foundation for a flawless floating shelf order.
Choose the Right Wood Type
Selecting the wood type for your custom 36-inch floating shelf impacts both aesthetics and durability. White oak and walnut are popular for their rich grain and strength, ideal for heavy loads (50–100 pounds). Ash offers a lighter tone and flexibility, while maple or poplar provides a smooth surface for painted finishes, as offered by The Shelf Shop.
Consider your room’s color scheme—dark walnut for moody kitchens or light oak for airy bedrooms. This material selection tip ensures your shelf complements your cozy home decor while meeting functional needs.
Request wood samples (often $3–$10 with free shipping) to confirm grain and color. This decision-making step guarantees your floating shelf aligns with your vision.
Decide on Finish and Stain
The finish of your custom 36-inch floating shelf defines its look and durability. Options include natural (clear varnish to highlight grain), stained (e.g., Minwax colors like Antique or Ebony), or painted (custom Benjamin Moore or Sherwin-Williams shades). Providers like Ultrashelf offer custom staining for an additional fee, while Semihandmade emphasizes natural wood variations.
Choose a low-sheen varnish for a subtle, romantic vibe or a glossy paint for modern elegance. This finish selection tip protects your shelf and enhances your cozy bedroom or living space aesthetic.
Confirm finish durability for high-use areas like kitchens, opting for commercial-grade paints like those from The Shelf Shop. This protective step ensures long-lasting floating shelves.
Verify Weight Capacity Needs
Custom 36-inch floating shelves vary in weight capacity, typically 50–100 pounds when mounted into studs, or 30–70 pounds with drywall anchors like toggle bolts. Ultrashelf’s Studlock Bracket holds 50 pounds per stud (100 pounds for two studs), while The Shelf Shop’s shelves support up to 236 pounds in drywall with specialized anchors.
Assess your storage needs—books or dishes require higher capacity than lightweight decor. This weight capacity tip ensures your shelf is safe and functional, perfect for a cozy home organization setup.
Specify your load requirements when ordering to ensure the included hardware matches your needs. This planning step prevents sagging or damage to your floating shelf.
Select a Reliable Mounting System
Most custom 36-inch floating shelves use hidden bracket systems, such as steel rods, plates, or French cleats, to achieve a seamless, floating look. J Thomas Home uses heavy-duty hidden brackets, while Urban Legacy offers customizable bracket placements to align with studs. Toggle bolts or molly bolts are recommended for drywall installations without studs.
Choose a system rated for your shelf’s weight and wall type, prioritizing stud mounting for stability. This mounting system tip ensures a secure, hardware-free appearance, enhancing your cozy home decor.
Review the provider’s installation guide (often downloadable, e.g., from Semihandmade) to confirm compatibility with your walls. This installation preparation step simplifies your floating shelf setup.
Measure Your Space Accurately
Before ordering, measure your wall space precisely to ensure your 36-inch floating shelf fits perfectly. Use a measuring tape to confirm at least 36 inches of width and adequate depth clearance (6–12 inches). Note stud locations with an electronic stud finder (e.g., Franklin Sensors, $25–$50) to align brackets for maximum strength.
Account for nearby furniture or fixtures (e.g., 18 inches above a kitchen counter) and vertical spacing (10–12 inches for multiple shelves). This measurement tip prevents ordering errors, ensuring a balanced, cozy bedroom or kitchen layout.
Double-check measurements and stud spacing before submitting your order. This precision step guarantees your custom floating shelf fits seamlessly into your space.
Check Lead Times and Shipping
Custom 36-inch floating shelves are made to order, with production times ranging from 1–6 weeks, plus 3–5 days for shipping. Ultrashelf quotes 2–3 weeks, Semihandmade 4–6 weeks, and Urban Legacy 3–4 weeks. Etsy sellers often include free shipping, while J Thomas Home ships within 10–15 business days.
Plan your project timeline, noting holiday cutoffs (e.g., Custom Floating Shelves closes December 24–January 2). This timeline planning tip ensures your shelves arrive on schedule, perfect for your cozy home decor project.
Contact providers for rush options if needed, as Ultrashelf offers expedited shipping for a fee. This logistics step keeps your floating shelf order on track.
Review Installation Requirements
Most custom 36-inch floating shelves come with installation hardware (brackets, screws, anchors) and instructions, but review requirements before ordering. You’ll need a cordless drill, spirit level, stud finder, and screwdriver for installation. Stud mounting requires 2½–3-inch wood screws, while drywall needs toggle bolts (50–100 pounds).
Ensure your wall type (drywall, masonry, or slat wall) is compatible with the provided hardware. This installation prep tip simplifies setup, creating a secure, cozy home shelving solution.
Download the provider’s installation manual (e.g., from The Shelf Shop) to confirm tools and steps. This preparation step ensures a smooth floating shelf installation process.
Compare Providers and Reviews
Research reputable providers like Ultrashelf, J Thomas Home, The Shelf Shop, Semihandmade, or Etsy sellers (e.g., NookWoodworking) for your custom 36-inch floating shelf. Compare customization options, pricing ($50–$200 per shelf), and customer reviews. Ultrashelf users praise easy installation, while Etsy buyers highlight craftsmanship despite occasional shipping delays.
Check for free shipping (common on Etsy and Custom Floating Shelves) and damage guarantees (e.g., Ultrashelf replaces damaged items). This provider comparison tip ensures quality and value, perfect for your cozy home decor.
Read 4–5-star reviews on provider sites or Etsy to gauge reliability and product satisfaction. This due diligence step helps you choose the best floating shelf supplier.
Place Your Order with Confidence
Once you’ve chosen your custom 36-inch floating shelf, place your order through the provider’s website, specifying length (36 inches or exact increments), depth, wood type, finish, and bracket placement. Double-check your measurements and selections in the order form or dropdown menus, as custom shelves are often final sale (e.g., Semihandmade).
Request paint or wood samples beforehand if unsure about finishes, and confirm shipping details. This order placement tip ensures accuracy, delivering a perfect shelf for your cozy bedroom or living space.
Contact customer support (e.g., Ultrashelf’s email or J Thomas Home’s chat) for clarification before finalizing. This final step guarantees a hassle-free floating shelf order.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How long does it take to receive custom 36-inch floating shelves?
Production takes 1–6 weeks, plus 3–5 days for shipping, depending on the provider (e.g., Ultrashelf: 2–3 weeks; Semihandmade: 4–6 weeks).
Can I install custom floating shelves on drywall without studs?
Yes, use toggle bolts (50–100 pounds) or molly bolts (25–75 pounds), but stud mounting is stronger for heavy loads.
What wood types are best for custom 36-inch floating shelves?
White oak, walnut, and ash are durable and stylish; maple or poplar work well for painted finishes.
How much do custom 36-inch floating shelves cost?
Prices range from $50–$200 per shelf, depending on wood, finish, and provider (e.g., Etsy or J Thomas Home).
Are custom floating shelves returnable?
Most are final sale due to customization (e.g., Semihandmade), but providers like Ultrashelf offer damage replacements.
What tools do I need to install custom floating shelves?
You’ll need a stud finder, drill, spirit level, screwdriver, and measuring tape for a secure, level installation.
Conclusion
Ordering custom 36-inch floating shelves is a fantastic way to elevate your space with tailored, stylish storage that fits your exact needs. From choosing wood types and finishes to verifying weight capacity and installation requirements, these 10 essential tips guide you through a seamless ordering process. Perfect for creating a cozy home decor setup in any room, your custom shelves will blend function and beauty effortlessly. Ready to transform your space? Pick your provider, customize your shelf, and order your 36-inch floating shelf today—or explore more home organization inspiration on our blog
