When hanging your DIY shelves, it is important to anchor them properly. First, you'll need to locate your walls studs. A stud is a vertical member in the light frame construction of a building's wall. It is important to know where your wall studs are located when hanging heavy objects like shelves. They provide the strength needed for such DIY jobs.

You can go the old fashioned way and locate the stud by knocking on your walls, looking for an area that doesn't echo. Here is a more detailed description of this knuckle & ear method. This is something I swear only dad's can do safely, so if you want to be a little more accurate you can buy tools that do the same thing.

You can purchase handy-dandy tools like the electronic scanner or the Black & Decker electric Alkaline Stud Finder.

Now you'll need anchors and drywall screws to secure your new shelf set. The anchors prevent your screws from stripping or falling out of the wall when weight is addede. Here is a step-by-step guide to putting anchors into your drywall.

Now you should be all set to hang even the heaviest of shelves. Let me know how it goes and send in pictures of your finished projects!