Bedside shelves

In response to a pm asking for further explanation of my small note (above) regarding a shelf that slides under the mattress, I decided to do a quick prototype.

Note, first, my wife's going to complain loudly that I took a photo of an unmade bed (just got back from a week long fishing trip and bedding is in the laundry)

Second, this is just a scrap of wood I had laying around. Choose one as nice as you would like, and dimensions to suit you.

Pre-assembly


Installed


Stowed

someone recently posted (here?) that they slid a nice board between the mattress and support, and then slid it out a bit to become a nightstand ... somewhat like a cutting board drawer in the kitchen. This will be my next addition.

I had an old "over the sink" shelf that we used in our last trailer. It was two pieces held together with metal dowels. I took it apart and put 1" corner braces on the bottom of them and used 1/2 inch screws to mount them to the wall. they've there 4 years now.

Wait, this is not an impossible project at all -- you certainly can fasten light objects into the wall paneling with screws. It just has to be done carefully. It does not take a lot of skill. It does require that you drill with great care before installing the wall anchors.

But don't just stick the drill in and hope for the best, like I did the first time I used wall anchors.

You all bring up great points. I'm going to abandon this project. Sometimes leaving well enough alone is the best option. Thanks guys.

I have used screws -- but first I sink a spiral plastic anchor into the wall and then screw into that. You pre-drill a small hole for the anchor. Don't drill too deeply, though. (Don't ask . . . . )

I think TakingThe5th above has the right answer. I would not trust Liquid Nails alone for the simple reason that, in most cases, the bond will not be to the wood wall but to the paper covering over the wood wall. You don't know how strong that paper or vinyl covering is glued to the wall behind it. I would attach the ledger using small plastic wall anchors and screws through pre-drilled holes in the ledger along with glue.
Barney

You might consider using a mini “Ledger Board” approach using a nicely finished piece of wood, then attach the shelf to the top of the ledger, and maybe add support brackets/wood. If the shelving doesn’t work out for you, remove only the shelf and brackets and leave the relatively attractive ledger board intact, perhaps for some other use.

The ledger board will help distribute the load. Anchor it the best way possible.

"No More Nails" will do the trick! I never put holes in the walls if I can avoid it!

I installed a shelf in mine but instead of shelf brackets I used a piano hinge so that I could spread the load instead of concentrating it. The walls are 1/4 inch plywood/particle board, so not the strongest anchor.