Hammer Time: DIY Art and Picture Ledges for a Powder Room Re-fresh

Here's a recent project that I am rather pleased with.  Our powder room was about as dull as they come.  Other than tiling the floor when we first moved in, I simply had not put that much effort into it.  Which is a shame, because I think powder rooms are one of those spaces where you can go nuts injecting color and personality.   If I had the time and money, I would do a bigger reno...tiling the wall, new vanity, etc.  We have bigger fish to fry, however, so I decided to put some lipstick on it and call it a day.  But, I have to say, I am kind of liking this lipstick.

Up until now, this room was the same beige that was painted by the previous owners and the only decor was a collection of art that we had found in our travels.  We had developed a bit of a theme, with streetscape-type art from favorite places.  Definitely a personal touch, evoking great memories.

I didn't want to replace that collection, but I also didn't like having those pieces randomly placed on the wall.  So, I decided to group them on picture ledges, making them easy to add to or switch out if I felt inspired.  These ledges needed to fit the space and I wanted a particular finish, so I decided to make them so I could customize them to my needs.

These were really quite easy to build.  I used premium pine lumber to limit the number of knots and imperfections.

Here's the supply list:
 -    (2) 6' lengths of 1x2 Select Pine boards
 -    (2) 6' lengths of 1x3 Select Pine boards
 -    (2) 6' lengths of 1x4 Select Pine boards
 -    Fine grit sandpaper
 -    Wood glue
 -    Circular saw
 -    Nail gun
 -    Minwax Stain in Provincial
​ -    Clean rag and gloves

When you are purchasing your lumber, make sure the boards are cut straight and not warped.  Just place one end on the floor and one at eye level.  Turn the board vertically and look down the length of board to make sure it's straight.  If it's not, choose another one until you find a good one. 

Cut your boards to your desired length and then sand the ends.  I made my shelves 32" long, so I was able to get 2 shelves from the lumber that I purchased.  

Then arrange them as shown.  The 4" board is the back, the 3" is the bottom and the 2" is the lip.

Apply a thin line of wood glue to join the boards and then secure them with the nail gun.  Try not to get any glue on the outer surfaces of the wood as it will interfere with a smooth stain application.

I love the Provincial finish of stain.  It's a neutral medium brown.  Not too dark, not too red.  I just used a rag to lightly rub an even coat of the stain onto the wood.

You have a couple of options for hanging.  I have seen some picture ledges screwed directly into the drywall.  I think is a good option if you have a longer ledge and you can hit the studs for a secure mount.  
I elected to use a cleat-type hanger.  These come in different lengths and have a level built in so they are quite easy to install.  Available at Lowe's and Home Depot.  This type of installation does not guarantee a completely flush mount to the wall, but it's strong and the slight tilt does not bother me.

,Other additions to this room include:
 -  Fresh paint.  Sherwin Williams Anew Grey on 3 walls and my fave, Sherwin Williams Seaworthy, on the focal wall.
 -  Champagne Gold-framed round mirror (Lowe's)
 -  Champagne Gold knobs (Target), toilet paper holder and towel holder (Amazon)
 - Tassel hanging that I made with a twig, yarn and wood beads.  I love adding something textural and organic to a room.
 -  And my favorite addition, my ultra glamorous light (Wayfair).  Every powder room needs a little bit of bling!  

I added a few geometric prints from IKEA to balance out the other art.  The black frames unify everything.  I'm still in search of the final touch for this room...removable wallpaper for the ceiling.  Trying to decide on a color/design.  When it comes to powder rooms - have no fear!  

I'm in the process of making more ledges, which I will hang in the upstairs hallway to house family photos.  I like keeping photos gathered in one space and on ledges so I can mix them up and easily add new ones.  Again, I like to put them all in black frames for a more cohesive look.  Keeping them centralized also opens up space for art and accessories elsewhere in the house, which are usually the real workhorses in pulling a room's design together.

​Thanks for visiting!