Put up a corner shelf on a timber stud wall

1 each · Spirit level

1 each · Dust sheet

CS-02Plan the position and mark it upHold the shelf or bracket in the corner at the height you want and mark the fixing points lightly in pencil. Use your spirit level to check the marks are level and the shelf will sit square in the corner. Mark both walls of the corner if the bracket fixes to each side.

1 each · Pencil

1 each · Tape measure

CS-03Do your safety checks before drillingCables and pipes can run almost anywhere behind a wall, not just in the usual safe zones. Run a detector over your marked points, but still treat the wall as if something could be there — detectors miss cables that are deep, in metal conduit, or behind metal-backed plasterboard, and a metal stud frame can confuse a cheap detector. Before you drill, find your stopcock (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 have any doubt at all, isolate the relevant circuit at the consumer unit before drilling.

1 each · Cable, pipe and stud detector

CS-04Work out what type of wall you haveTap the wall near your marks. A dull, solid sound usually means brick or block; a hollow sound means plasterboard on a stud frame or lath and plaster. Run a magnet or your detector sideways to find a line of screw or nail heads — even spacing of around 400mm or 600mm points to a stud wall. Drill a small pilot hole at one mark: fine timber dust means a timber stud or batten, fine grey metal swarf means a metal stud, and old thin wooden slats behind soft plaster mean lath and plaster. If the wall sounds hollow but has a hard skim right at the surface with a gap behind, you likely have dot-and-dab plasterboard over brick or block.

CS-05Solid brick or block: drill and plugUse a masonry bit sized to match your wall plug, typically 6mm or 7mm, and drill to a depth of about 40-45mm. Push in a matching wall plug (Rawlplug or equivalent) until it sits flush, then it's ready for the fixing screw. This is the strongest option and is fine for a light corner shelf on its own.

1 each · Masonry drill bit 6mm

4 each · Wall plugs (Rawlplug type)

4 each · Wood screws 40mm

CS-06Plasterboard on timber studs: fix into the studFind the centre of the stud with your detector or by tapping and checking for the screw-head line, then re-check with a small pilot hole. Drill a pilot hole about 2-3mm wide into the centre of the stud to stop the wood splitting. Drive a wood screw, at least 40mm long, straight into the stud — this is your strongest fixing point on a timber stud wall.

4 each · Wood screws 40mm

1 each · Pilot drill bit 2.5mm

CS-07Plasterboard on metal studs: use the right fixingIf your pilot hole brought out fine metal swarf, you have a metal stud wall. Never use a plastic wall plug or an ordinary wood screw here — they strip straight through 0.5mm steel and won't hold. Use a self-drilling metal-stud screw fixing straight into the stud, or a toggle-type hollow-wall anchor in the plasterboard between studs for a light shelf like this. A metal stud alone will not take a heavy load or anything that pulls away from the wall — for that you'd need a timber noggin fitted between the studs, which is beyond a light corner shelf job.

4 each · Self-drilling metal stud fixings

4 each · Toggle-type hollow wall anchor

CS-08Dot-and-dab plasterboard: reach the masonry behindDot-and-dab plasterboard is stuck to the wall with adhesive dabs, leaving a gap of roughly 10-50mm behind the board. For a secure fixing, drill through the plasterboard and the gap into the solid masonry behind, using a long masonry bit and a fixing long enough to reach it — typically a 60-75mm screw with a matching wall plug. If you can't reach solid masonry, use a hollow-wall anchor or toggle fixing rated for the shelf's weight, fitted into the plasterboard only.

1 each · Long masonry drill bit 7mm x 100mm

4 set · Long wall plugs and screws (60-75mm)

CS-09Lath and plaster: fix into the timber behindOld lath and plaster walls have thin wooden laths behind a layer of soft, brittle plaster, usually on timber studs spaced further apart than modern walls. Drill a pilot hole to locate solid timber behind the laths and avoid cracking the plaster around the hole. Use a screw long enough to bite well into the timber behind the laths, and go gently — this plaster is old and can crumble if you rush it.

4 each · Wood screws 50mm

1 each · Pilot drill bit 2.5mm

CS-10Fit the bracketUsing the fixing method that matches your wall, screw the bracket firmly to the marked points. Tighten each screw fully but don't overtighten into plasterboard, as this can crush the board around the fixing. Give the bracket a firm tug by hand to check it feels solid before you carry on.

CS-11Attach the shelf and check it's levelRest the shelf on the fitted bracket and secure it from underneath or through pre-drilled holes, following the shelf's fitting instructions. Check the shelf is level with your spirit level and adjust the fixings slightly if needed. Load it gradually rather than all at once, checking it stays firm.

1 each · Spirit level

CS-12Clear up and check your workVacuum up any dust or debris, especially plaster dust from lath and plaster or dot-and-dab walls. Wipe down the wall and shelf. Give the shelf a final firm push from different angles to confirm it holds before you put anything valuable on it.

1 each · Vacuum cleaner