Cut Each Shelf To Length

• Cut each shelf to the desired length with a power saw. Remove any wood splinters with a fine sandpaper: do not run the sandpaper against the run of the wood's grain, as it will scratch the wood. If you choose to stain the shelf, polyurethane the shelf after staining to help protect the wood and create a glossy shine.
  
  

Mark The Shelf's Location

• With a pencil mark the desired height of each shelf: place a spirit level against the wall and draw a line against its edge. This will create a level line. If you are putting up more than one shelf, you will want to end up with lines on your wall that are both level and parallel with each other.
  
  

Find The Studs

• Place a stud finder along each line and mark on the line the location of each stud. If the length of each shelf is fairly short (5 feet or less), you can choose to attach brackets only to the two studs closest to the ends of the shelf. However, if the shelf is much longer, a third bracket in the middle is advisable. If the studs can't be found, or a third bracket is desired in the center of the shelf and there's no stud there, wall plugs can be inserted into the drywall by punching a hole in the correct spot, pushing in the wall plug and screwing the bracket into the wall plug.
  
  

Attach The Studs

• Screw the brackets into the studs where they have been marked on each horizontal line (use 2-inch screws). You have a choice of many different screws, from wood to brass. Make sure the top of the bracket rests on the parallel line: this will ensure that each shelf will be level when attached to the brackets. Use an eraser to remove all visible pencil lines.
  
  

Attach The Shelves

• Rest the shelves on the brackets in the correct position, and screw them to the brackets using 1/2-inch screws.