I hear you on the stud finder—sometimes I feel like I spend more time searching for those than actually getting anything hung up. I’ve flipped a few places and learned the hard way that sometimes “good enough” really is good enough, especially for shelves and lighter stuff. I used to sweat every little measurement, but after patching more holes than I can count, now I just eyeball it half the time. No one’s ever noticed. Unless you’re mounting something heavy or valuable, it’s not worth losing sleep over a few inches here or there. Function wins for me every time... unless it’s in a rental, then yeah, maybe double-check before drilling.
Yeah, I’m with you—stud finders are like socks in the dryer. They vanish right when you need them most. I used to be super precise too, but after patching up a wall that looked like Swiss cheese, I just started trusting my gut for lighter stuff. That said, I did once hang a plant shelf without checking and woke up to a pile of dirt on the floor... lesson learned. If it’s heavy or sentimental, I’ll break out the level and double-check, but otherwise, close enough usually does the trick.
I did once hang a plant shelf without checking and woke up to a pile of dirt on the floor... lesson learned.
Been there, done that—except mine was a heavy mirror and I got lucky it didn’t shatter. Honestly, I still don’t trust my gut for anything over a few pounds. Stud finders are hit or miss, but tapping and listening for that solid thunk works more often than not. Drywall anchors are my backup, but I’ve learned not to push my luck with them. If it’s sentimental or expensive, I’ll spend the extra time. Otherwise, yeah, “close enough” gets the job done most days.
I get the “close enough” approach, but I’ve had drywall anchors pull out on me even when I thought I was being careful. Maybe it’s just my luck, but now I’m paranoid about anything heavier than a picture frame. Stud finders drive me nuts too—mine beeps at random spots like it’s haunted. Honestly, sometimes I just go for a French cleat if I want to sleep at night. Probably overkill for a plant shelf, but hey, at least the dirt stays put... most of the time.
I hear you on the stud finder situation—mine seems to think every square inch of my 1920s walls is a stud, or maybe a ghost, who knows. Drywall anchors have betrayed me more times than I care to admit. There’s nothing like the slow-motion horror of a shelf tilting forward, soil and all, because the “heavy-duty” anchor decided to give up.
Honestly, I don’t think you’re overdoing it with a French cleat for a plant shelf. In these old houses, you never really know what’s behind the plaster until you drill in and find... lath, brick, or just empty space. I’ve resorted to toggles and even the occasional wood backing plate when I want something to actually stay put.
It’s not paranoia if it keeps your plants (and your sanity) intact. If anything, I’d say you’re just being practical. Load distribution is tricky—sometimes it feels more like an art than a science, especially with these unpredictable walls.
