Put up a corner shelf on a lath and plaster wall

Fit a level corner shelf safely, checking your wall type and avoiding hidden pipes and cables first.

CS-01Gather your tools and the shelf kitGet everything together before you start: the corner shelf and its brackets, a spirit level, tape measure, pencil, a multi-detector (cable, pipe and stud), drill with a mixed masonry and wood bit set, screwdriver, and a dust sheet. Check the shelf kit for the fixings it comes with — these are often only suitable for one wall type, so you may need to buy better ones.

1 each · Corner shelf and bracket kit

Buy:ScrewfixB&QToolstationAmazon

1 each · Spirit level (600mm)

Buy:ScrewfixB&QToolstationAmazon

1 each · Multi-detector (cable/pipe/stud)

Buy:ScrewfixB&QToolstationAmazon

1 each · Dust sheet

Buy:ScrewfixB&QToolstationAmazon

CS-02Decide the position and check both wallsHold the shelf in the corner to check height and reach — a common spot is 1200-1400mm up. A corner shelf usually needs a fixing point on each wall either side of the corner, so look closely at both. In an older house, one or both walls may be lath and plaster; a later stud partition or a solid brick chimney breast can meet it at the corner, so don't assume both sides are the same.

CS-03Work out what's behind each wallTap along the wall: solid brick or block sounds dull and solid all the way along. Lath and plaster and stud walls sound hollow, with a firmer knock where a timber stud or joist sits behind the laths — track this with your detector or a magnet finding nail heads. To tell timber studs from metal studs, drill a small pilot hole in the firm spot: timber gives pale dust, metal gives fine grey swarf and feels harder to push through. Metal studs are common in flats and anything built or refitted since the 1990s.

CS-04Safety check before you drillCables and pipes can run almost anywhere, not just in the usual safe zones — near sockets and switches, run your detector over the spot but still treat it as if something could be there. Find your stopcock now, usually under the kitchen sink, and check it turns freely so you can shut off the water fast if you hit a pipe. If you're at all unsure what's behind the wall, isolate the relevant circuit at the consumer unit before drilling near it.

CS-05Mark and level the fixing pointsHold the shelf or bracket template in place and use the spirit level to get it dead level across the corner. Mark each fixing hole with a pencil dot. Double-check the marks line up with the solid spot (stud, joist, or masonry) you found in step 3, not just wherever looks tidy.

CS-06Drill and fix — method depends on the wallLath and plaster: drill through the plaster and lath into the timber stud or joist behind with a 3mm pilot hole, then use a wood screw long enough to bite at least 25mm into the timber; going in blind between laths only holds the thin lath and will pull free. Solid brick or block (if one side of the corner is masonry): drill 6-8mm holes 40-50mm deep, fit a plastic wall plug, and use a screw sized for the plug. Plasterboard on timber studs: drill a 2-3mm pilot hole into the centre of the stud and use a 40-50mm wood screw. Plasterboard on metal studs: never use a plain wall plug or ordinary wood screw, as they strip straight through 0.5mm steel — use a self-drilling metal-stud fixing or toggle-type hollow-wall anchor made for metal track. Dot-and-dab plasterboard over masonry: use a fixing long enough to pass through the plasterboard and the dab (typically 50-75mm) and bite into the solid wall behind, not just the plasterboard.

1 pack · Wood screws 40mm (pack)

Buy:ScrewfixB&QToolstationAmazon

1 pack · Plastic wall plugs (pack)

Buy:ScrewfixB&QToolstationAmazon

1 pack · Metal-stud self-drilling fixings (pack)

Buy:ScrewfixB&QToolstationAmazon

1 pack · Long fixings for dot-and-dab (75mm, pack)

Buy:ScrewfixB&QToolstationAmazon

CS-07Fit the bracket and shelfScrew the bracket firmly to each wall, checking it's tight and doesn't spin in the hole — if a fixing feels loose, back it out and try a slightly larger plug or a fresh spot on the stud. Sit the shelf on the bracket and check it's level with the spirit level. Give it a firm push test before loading it up.

CS-08Tidy up and patch any damageVacuum up plaster and wood dust from the floor and windowsill. On lath and plaster, small cracks can appear around the fixing — fill these with a dab of filler, let it dry, then rub smooth with fine sandpaper. Wipe the shelf down and it's ready to use.

1 each · Filler (small tub)

Buy:ScrewfixB&QToolstationAmazon

1 sheet · Fine sandpaper

Buy:ScrewfixB&QToolstationAmazon

Some links may earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Save this as a project

Back to all guides