This easy beginner tutorial will help you build DIY cafe shelves with crown moulding to add character or decor to your walls in just a couple of hours.
Originally published March 26, 2014
Today I’m sharing my take on DIY Cafe Shelves! Do you love to decorate for holidays? If so, this beginner project will create the perfect blank canvas for your display. If you’re looking for other shelf ideas, you can check out my rough cut pine shelves here.
Since our mantel is currently home to speakers and other non-pretty things, I decided I needed another place to celebrate the seasons and holidays.
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When I first decorated this wall, I started out with some smaller crown moulding floating shelves. They were pretty enough, but lacked the depth I craved to hold larger vases and jars.
I knew I wanted to find shelves that were a bit deeper, so I sourced a set from one of my favorite catalogs. Unfortunately, they cost a bit more than I wanted to spend. I brought my concept to Mack and he said we could make it happen DIY style using brackets similar to these (unfortunately, the exact brackets we used are no longer available).
If DIY isn’t your thing, no worries! Here are some very similar cafe shelves already made.
Now I can set up seasonal displays in the breakfast nook! In the future, we’re planning on maybe adding some sort of console under the shelves and a built-in bench in front of the windows. (update: see the finished breakfast nook and bay window bench!)For right now, it’s a big blank slate.
