Behind every shelf made man there’s a bunch of people who got screwed.
If your shelf screw is only in the drywall, especially just partially in the drywall, its going to rip out your wall. Make sure you have at least a 1-1.5inch of fastener after your shelf bracket. Get a stud finder and attach the screw to the studs (where available) If you dont have any studs to use, get drywall anchors which will help distribute the force.
I had some “floating shelves” without visible support. The shelf is important, and the screw is important… but the little keyhole that holds the shelf upright is actually the most important part. If it’s made of cheap sheet metal, it’ll deform under the slightest weight, causing your picture and nicknacks to come crashing down onto your face while you sleep.
Thanks Ikea!
As a person born and raised in California (even though I live in the Midwest now), I could never bring myself to install a shelf above where my head is while I sleep.




